LPGA - Beauties of the Fairway

What is the most popular female sport in America? Perhaps the better question is who are the popular female athletes in the nations eyes? I think Women's Tennis comes right to mind with Anna Kournikova's burst into stardom, despite the lack of winning in singles tournaments. The Williams sisters and their dominance of the sport for a few years, and the new tennis darling, Maria Sharapova who is in many eyes everything Kournikova couldn't be, successful at both being a model and at tennis. How did the sport get this revitilization? Using the tool that appeals to men, sex and beauty.

Womens soccer, trying to get off it's feet used the success of the Olympic squad a few years back where Brandi Chastain took off her jersey is a show of celebration and took advantage of the attractive women of the sport, like Mia Hamm to bring press and viewers to the sport. Women's softball, they have a dominating young pitcher in Jennie Finch who is extremely attractive, but has the skills that can strikeout men who are proffesional baseball players. Open wheel racing is getting new found publicity and attention as they have the vibrant Danica Patrick driving in the IRL and having a good run of things. All these sports have attractive, intelligent women who not only look good but can play the sport really, really well.

That brings me to the LPGA, women's golf. The PGA didn't see the mainstream attention it has now until Tiger Woods burst onto the scene and proceeded to amaze viewers with his talented skills. Now on the LPGA side, there is Annika Sorenstam who has just recently put together a good run of years that is comparable to Tiger's dominance around 2001. While Annika is carrying the sport on her back, a fresh crop of young female golfers are starting to cross the horizon with the skill to be champions and the beauty to be a media darlings and pick up the slack and push the LPGA to heights of popularity it has yet to experience.

Natalie Gulbis, the oldest of the three young women golfers that will be mentioned in this article. Just 22 years old and 5'9", her rookie year in the LPGA was in 2002. At the age of 14, Gulbis won the California Women's Amateur Championship. That same year, she became the youngest player to Monday qualify for an LPGA tournament (1997, Longs Drugs Challenge), a record that stood until Michelle Wie Monday qualified at the 2002 LPGA Takefuji Classic at age 12. Natalie also has her own Web site, www.nataliegulbis.com, and her own 2004 calendar. She is having her best year as a professional with 7 top-10 finishes and over $650,000 earned this season.

Paula Creamer is just 18 years old and is currently on her rookie year with the LPGA. She's also 5'9" and has started her career off splendidly with 5 top-10 finishes, 1 win and has earned over $680,000 so far this season. Last year as an amateur, she became both the youngest ever and the first amateur to win the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament Presented by American Airlines.

Michelle Wie is still an amatuer but is already playing in LPGA and PGA tournaments at the age of 15. She is a lean 6'0" and has a driving game that is comparable to most men on the PGA. Born in Hawaii, the young female golfer has shown her mettle in competition, having a tie for the lead of the US Women's Open going into Sunday this year. Wie, recently qualified for a PGA event, all her previous dips in the PGA had been from the use of sponsor exemptions.

These 3 are part of the future of the LPGA, and I think the sport is going to be in great hands. They have the look, the skill and the friendly demeanor to have success in a sport that dearly needs media darlings. I know I'll be watching if they're in contention on Sundays.