Video: Legends of Women’s Golf Inspire Others

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WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) — When Nancy Lopez won the women’s professional golf tour money title in 1985, she made just under $600,000. Today, the women’s tour leaders make almost $3 million.

But more than anything Lopez and her generation helped put women’s golf on the map. Today, women’s college golf is growing in scholarships, attention and popularity but it owes much of that to those who came before. WCBI’s Alyssa Martin talks to a top college coach who was one of that generation and now sees the opportunities its meant for young players today.

When the top women’s college golf teams at Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Alabama sign autographs or are recognized on campus, they may have some people they don’t even know to thank for the increased attention.

This week, those legends of women’s golf are at Old Waverly for the LPGA Legends Tour Handa Cup competition. It’s a chance for young players and even the public to meet the American and International players who took women’s golf to the world stage 20 and 30 years ago.

“And then turning professional and seeing her name on the locker at the U.S. Open, I had to mentally get there and know that I should compete with all of them. So they were inspirational throughout my competitive career as well. They’re just the legends, literally,” said MSU Women’s golf coach, Ginger Brown-Lemm.

Men’s professional golf has a long history of big names and big money winners…from Ben Hogan to Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus to Tiger Woods. But in 1980, the total women’s golf tournament pay outs were about $5 million. Today, it’s more than $41 million. The LPGA is a regular on TV and draws good crowds. But today’s generation of college golfers don’t always realize the role golfers from the 1980’s and 1990’s played in that growth.

“But I’m not so sure that they don’t understand what these ladies had to do, had to accomplish, had to change society’s view of women’s sport, to some extent. So, I hope that this does a lot toward that end,” said Leem.

The Legends tour features more than 100 members, including 12 LPGA and World Cup Hall Of Fame members.