August 13, 2025 • 33 mins
Our first season may be done but we're not going anywhere just yet! In this bonus episode, Tisha joins the Good Game with Sarah Spain podcast for “No Dumb Questions” golf edition, discusses what it’s like to share her love of golf with her half a million Instagram followers, and why she thinks the LPGA lags behind other women’s leagues when it comes to activism.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
What is up, y'all?
Speaker 2 (00:10):
I am so so excited because even though our first
season recently ended, we're actually not done having fun yet.
My team and I have a few extra bonus episodes
in the store for you over the next couple of weeks.
And to kick it all off, I wanted to share
a fun conversation I had earlier this year with Sarah Spain,
an award winning journalist, diehard supporter for women's sports and
host of The Good Game with Sarah Spain podcasts. And
(00:32):
this time I'm actually on the other side of the
micro one. So in case you missed it, please enjoy
this fun chat where I talk all about women's golf
and I get into the weeds on why the LPGA
lags behind other women's leagues when it comes to activism.
There may be a little tea spilled, there may be
a little honestly spilled. You're just gonna have to have
a listen. I hope you all enjoy.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Joining us now.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
She's a former professional golfer, hosted the Welcome to the
Party podcast here on iHeart Women's Sports, professional speaker and
social media star, A passionate advocate for junior golf, women's
sports and the LGBTQ plus community. She loves a TikTok
dance and she can do some mean tricks with a
club of ball and two feet.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
It's Tisha all In. Hi, Tisha, Hi, Sarah. It's so
good to meet you.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
I know we were at the same conference in New
York and I was watching you flip around some balls
from Afar, but we never actually got to chat. And
now you're part of the team. So welcome to the
Iheartwomen's Sports Podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Fam. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
It's very exciting. It's a new world for me. I
am learning a lot. I commend you for just you
just turn and burn this kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
It's a lot, daily shows, a lot.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
But we're happy to be here for the people and
we're glad you're here because we have a lot of
questions about golf. But before we get to our burning
questions about the LPG and the new season, I want
to know more about your story and particularly how you
get to half a million Insta followers dancing, doing tricks
and sharing your love of golf. So let's go back
to the beginning. You were born in Rockford, Illinois, which
you grew up in Cali. How did you first get
(01:58):
started playing golf.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
So actually, my dad got me into the game and
we got into the game at the same time, so
it was kind of like our means of just bonding.
He was a stay at home dad at the time,
and he'd go to the range bring me with him.
I'm three years old, and from that moment on, I
never stopped swinging a club. So I literally don't have
a memory where I wasn't a golfer. I don't know
what life is like without golf.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
It's pretty crazy.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Oh cool, Yeah, yeah, So how does he feel about
the fact that I guarantee you can absolutely trounce him
in golf, Like you started at the same time and
you're infinitely better, I presume.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah. I actually started beating him, I think at nine
years old, so it really wasn't that much longer that
I started to kind of catch up with him. And
then after that he just kind of became my coach
and he was cool with it. He would just literally
watch what he saw on TV. He'd like watch Tiger's
swing and be like, Okay, I think it's what you
need to do. So we were both just kind of
like doing it like on the fly, you know. But
he accepts that that I beat him, and on occasions
(02:52):
when we do play now, he'll see me hit a
shot and he's like wow, and I'm like, yeah, dad,
you grew you grew up watching me do this and
it just like it made him. And I think it's
a really cute kind of like full circle to be
like this is where he introduced me, and now I'm
able to make a living. Not professionally anymore, but you know,
still very much around the game.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
That's really sweet. And I bet I don't have kids,
but I bet it is true. Like when the kid
that you taught how to do something be to you, instead
of being mad.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
You're just like I did that. Yeah, yeah, I made that.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
So you played golf at cal State Fuller ten. There
isn't a draft for the LPGA, so unlike other sports,
you sort of have to like know and feel ready
to go pro and also qualify. So what's that process?
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yes, it's a great question, and I think it's a
really it's a big differentiator between other sports. Right because
we don't have a draft, it's really up to you
to be like, yo, I think I'm good enough. All right,
let's go do this thing. How do I do this thing? Oh,
you have to fund yourself. It's truly all up to you. Really.
The bottom line is that you do have to have
a certain handicap, which is essentially like a certain level
(03:52):
of playability. You had to be a decent enough golfer
to apply, and if you score too high on these
qualifying tournaments to qualify you as a pro, you can't
go back. So you can't like lie about this stuff basically,
But essentially there's a few different ways you can turn professionally.
But I literally you can graduate college and you can say, hey,
I'm declaring myself as a professional. And really the biggest
(04:14):
difference is that you're now getting paid to play. So
the moment that you try and enter a tournament for money,
you are now a professional. Doesn't matter if it's a
minor league event, a major league event, you know, just
any place where it's a sanctioned tournament and you can
win money, you are now a professional.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
So even if you don't win money, even if you don't.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Win money, but you entered into a tournament, you technically
are professional. But like a lot of people won't declare
themselves that until maybe they see a paycheck out of
like their own pride.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
You know, you could go back to amateurs at that
point if you haven't won. But once you've won some money,
then officially you're.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Yes, exactly, you're officially a pro. You can deem amateur
status back. Some people still like to do that. I
never have, so I'm still considered a professional. I just
haven't competed in a more legitimate event since twenty eighteen.
That's kind of when I put the back down. But
the actual qualifying process, there's a thing called Q School
or a Q Series that they keep changing the name,
(05:09):
and it's it's kind of like Hell Week. It's three
different huge ass tournaments and you have to basically beat
out like five hundred girls, go to second stage, beat
out two hundred fifty of the best girls, go to
final stage, beat out one hundred of the best girls,
and only top twenty get their card, Like.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
And then you do a cachstand and then that's it.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
And then that's it, and then you're back on the
road again.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
You're ready to go Hell Week for golf. Okay, wow, okay?
Speaker 3 (05:34):
And then can you get funding from sponsors or other
folks early on to help you fund this? Like you said,
if you're just starting out and not winning anything yet.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Absolutely, and so I think the beauty but also the
difficulty of it is is that it's all up to you.
It's up to you to self promote yourself. If you
get a sponsor, amazing, that's that's all on you. And
one of the hardest things coming out of college because
that's typically the traditional process. Some people, some women, some
men have gone professionally before not even going to college.
(06:03):
But typically you go to college. It's it's really just
like trying to showcase yourself, whether it's on social media
or getting creating partnerships and relationships with people, and really
just having good game to be recognized to get sponsors,
and it's not easy when you're not on the LPGA Tour,
(06:24):
which is the highest level. Right there's like a minor, middle,
and major leagues. It's the way I like to explain it.
The minor leagues are are basically like the it's kind
of like entry level tournaments. It's to kind of get
your feet wet. Then there's like the middle leagues, which
is considered it's called the Epsen Tour or Ladies European Tour,
and then there's LPGA well, those that are starting out
from ground zero or even on the EPSN Tour, which
(06:46):
is a really great tour. These girls don't often get sponsors.
It's not easy to get noticed unless you're actually on
the LPGA or you have some type of media value
outside of your ability. Right.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
So, because women, you.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Know, we actually we have to care about the way
we look, how we present ourselves on top of our ability.
It is a double edged sword in my opinion, compared
to men's sports.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Right, So, did you always know you wanted to get
into media and were you simultaneously building your media presence
before retiring, like while you were playing.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Yes and yes. So when I went to Kelsea Fullerton,
I was there on a D one scholarship. I played
number one. My college coach was a former LPGA player.
I knew that I always wanted to try and tern professionally,
but I fell in love with broadcasts and speaking at
a younger age, like eighth grade, you know, high school.
I was doing my newscast for my high school and
(07:40):
all that stuff like that. I got an internship with
like ABC when I was in college, and I have
a broadcast journalism degree in communications, and so for me,
I knew that if there came a time that professional
golf wasn't it for me. I always wanted to talk
about golf. But at the same time, when I graduated,
which was in twenty fifteen, I said I'm going to
(08:02):
turn pro, and then I said, oh shit, how am
I going to afford to turn pro? Well, there's this
thing called Instagram. Now, I guess I should probably showcase
myself and let's see what happens. It was very, very
new at the time. The word creator or influencer was
never a thing, and in my opinion, not something I
ever wanted to call myself because I'm a professional golfer.
At the end of the day, I was just using
(08:22):
this thing as a tool to hopefully, you know, if
I got just one view from someone who wanted to
sponsor me, maybe they liked my swing, maybe they saw
my scores, it could mean something. And then that's actually
what happened. And then I kept growing and growing and
growing from there. So I didn't wake up with half
a million followers or a million on TikTok or what
have you. It's just been a really slow growth since
(08:44):
twenty fifteen. And eventually I learned to love the media
side more than the playing side.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
What did you see when you started to create content
for up and coming women golfers or just golf fans.
What did you see missing from existing content that you
were like, oh, I want to put that out there.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Literally that just up and coming, like like welcoming content
for newer female golfers. I think that was the biggest thing.
And I know I knew that for myself just being
a female would already resonate so much because golf, just
like I'm sure a lot of other sports, it is
very male dominated, very very male dominated, a lot of
tradition that goes into it. And so if you ask
(09:22):
any woman getting into golf, no matter how how long
they've been playing or not, almost every woman can probably
say or attest to the fact that they've had a
negative experience with a male coach, or they've been talked at,
or they have been you know, just negative connotation. And
for me, I was like, well, I don't have the
ability to teach everyone every single day. What can I do?
Oh my gosh, I'm gonna share content where I can
(09:44):
be relatable, make it digestible, make it very simple, because
I know I'm good at explaining things and breaking things
down and also just like making women feel like, yeah,
you can do this and you can be really badass
and do this. So that's where I would balance like
the teaching content of you know, golfers and also showing
like the badass like events they get to go to
and the trick shots and the pros they get to
(10:04):
be around, so that they can see like you can
do it, you can get there.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Yeah, and you can do cool shit golf through golf yeah, yeah,
it is extremely male dominated. I actually spoke to the
PGA of British Columbia probably like three or four hundred
folks last January, and there were I think four women,
because in Canada the LPGA doesn't really have the same hold.
If you're a professional up there, you're often in the
PGA instead, even as a woman. And so all these
(10:29):
pros like helping them understand whether their policies and their
way of doing things was inclusive and actually welcoming women
to their clubs, into their spaces, or whether they were
unintentionally perpetuating some of those traditions that made women feel
like they weren't allowed. There's a great satirical video where
they flipped the switch and it looks like a guy
is being allowed to join his girlfriend at the club.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
It's an all women's club. Oh I love that. Yeah,
it's a hailehy ledbetter I think, is that?
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Oh Hollie, yes, oh my cours.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
I love how it's such a great way of like
rethinking and being like, yeah, this is what it feels
like as women going into these spaces all the time,
and like seeing it flipped really brings it to light.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Okay, so we've got your background and how you've turned
golf into this amazing thing and made it more accessible.
We need our listeners and me too, to get a
little more information so we can jump in and understand
more about it. So it's time for No Dumb Questions
Golf Edition. So for the listeners that know a ton,
this will be a reminder, But for those of us
(11:43):
that want to get started and watch more, we're going
to use my patented method for this stars steaks, stats
and stories. So I actually want to start with steaks first.
What counts as a great season in golf is that
like a couple of big tournament wins for a player.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Absolutely tournament wins really help your rankings, but at the
end of the day, it comes down two rankings. There
are two different ranking systems I believe one is called
the Rolex Rankings. The other one I'm blanking on. But
just know that they both matter because they weigh in
for big events for like, for example, the Solheim Cup,
which is our team USA versus Team Europe event. It's
a big deal. Like rankings matter for that. Rankings also
(12:17):
matter for for your pay. Essentially you can get bonuses.
It matters just for you know, you know, rankings because
they matter, and so that is essentially. Yeah, that's that's
how it rolls.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Okay, So a couple big tournament wins is good.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Yes, absolutely? Are those bonuses coming from sponsors? Are they
coming from the LPGA, Like, if you're getting bonuses for
your rankings, where's that money coming from?
Speaker 2 (12:37):
So oftentimes it is a lot from sponsors. They do
actually have a challenge, I believe it's also going on
this year. It's called the a On Risk and Reward Challenge.
And although that's not really a bonus, but it's another
it's another.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Thing to go fight tw a season law.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Yes, yes, essentially like accumul Yeah, it's basically where aon
is a sponsor, and they would at each event they
would have a specific holding sponsor and whoever has the
lowest average score on that hole and it's all comprised,
you know, the compilation of all the tournaments, and they're
a hole from each tournament. Whoever has like the lowest
(13:16):
you know, scoring average will win a million dollars.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
And my good friend angel Yann who's on the LPGA Tour,
one that was it, and I think it was in
twenty twenty three, and it was just like, I mean,
it's an amazing, amazing additional paycheck to end no kids
in with, right.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Yeah, that's like when I play in the like low
obviously clearly low level celebrity golf tournaments here where they
pair me with a bunch of guys from like a
construction company. Yeah, there's always like one hole where closest
to the pin and get surprised or longest drive and
it's specific to that hole. But it's like that on
steroids because it's across the entire and for a million dollars. Ye,
I did win closest to the pin once. In case
(13:53):
anyone was wondering, Okay, how can we tell by looking
at the calendar which tournaments are the biggest and are
probably featuring the top towent.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
So usually when you're looking at a calendar, they'll they'll
typically have it boulded of some sort or there will
be a note that it is a major. But there
are a few tournaments that that are very notably clearly majors.
For example, the US Women's Open, hands down, very big
one that one takes place in the States. Then there's
a women's British Open, which is essentially like the US Open,
but of UK, and it's just as big and so
(14:23):
and then.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
And everyone can play in those.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
No, you have to either qualify to be in there
or you have to have the correct you know, a
high enough ranking.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
But I mean like it's not a specific to British players. Oh,
it's like the French Open tennis. Everybody plays and it's
just in fan exactly. So British Open, US Open might
have similar fields exactly where they're being held.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Correct, like Wimbledon or yeah, yeah, US Open and Tests,
yeah exactly that. Yeah, So there's five big majors. One
of them is Another one is the Evyon Championship. Again
a sponsor name. I totally get It's so funny because
as a golfer, I don't think of it. It's just like, oh,
I know that's a major, but I'm like, oh my god, No,
other people may not know that's a big deal. So
there has to be like an addition.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
In my life, especially when the sponsors changed, because like
one year you'll be like, oh, I heard that's a
big one, and the next year is a different name.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
You're like, I don't know, is that the same thing?
Good point?
Speaker 2 (15:09):
You know, I don't gonna have to bring that back.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
Yeah, Okay, let's talk stars.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Yes, last year even the most novice of watchers knew
about Nelly Korda.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Yes, that's a good pace seven.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Events that she won LPGA Player of the Year. Tell
us more about her and what makes her so good,
you know.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
So Nelly has always been a very first late her
and her sister are very strong players. So there's Nelly
and Jessica Korda. So Jessica has taken a step back
and is actually more on the commentating side now, but
she's had many wins under her belt too, and leading
up until last year, Nelly was always a very solid player,
like you would always see her in the top ten rankings.
But last year when she won six tournaments in a
(15:47):
row and then finished out with the seventh, I think
later in the season, like, I don't think people really
understand the gravity of how insane that is. Like that's
a that's like a Tiger Woods year, you know, like
and when he was in his prime. And and she
was literally unstoppable last year. And she even claims that
she went through a low point. I think any any
(16:10):
high level athlete will consider themselves like there's a low
point in any high But I'm like, girl, you still
want seven events.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
I think every one of the best years ever you so.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
And and I think she already had a really strong
finish coming into this year, and this season just began,
so we're we're just now getting started. Majors don't happen
until the spring season, so it's really just warming up
basically up until then. But Nellie Corda you absolutely have
to watch. She's also a great follow and you know
she's growing to become more than just her ability, but
also her personality, which I think is such an interesting
(16:42):
thing in golf because unlike other sports like w NBA
and and NWSL, women in golf we are kind of
trained to not speak out right, like we've always been
kind of like submissed. You know, you don't don't don't
talk outwardly about you know, inequalities and stuff. And it's
kind of just now becoming more mainstream. And Nelly has
(17:03):
also spoken about it, like, you know, slow play, we
need to fix this girl, like the girl's schedule, We
need to fix this, and so she should she can
because she's the best player right now.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
So like using that influence to speak out. And you
mentioned how golf culture has sort of historically relied on
women not speaking up and how it's a different culture
than other sports. And what we found is in some cases,
the activism is actually what draws fans to women's game,
whether that's WNBA or NWSL, and maybe has kept fans
away from golf. For instance, the LPGA has had some
of the most restrictive policies when it comes to trans athletes.
(17:35):
Organization didn't make much of a statement when Roe versus
Wade fell. They had a recent partnership with Barstool Sports,
which I found really problematic. It just feels different from
women's leagues. Do you think that the golf world realizes
that the lack of activism and the partnerships they choose
maybe has prevented the sport from growing a fan base.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
I mean, I completely agree with everything you're saying, and
I think the hardest thing with golf, as I mentioned,
is traditional background. Right that you're raised and it's always
been raised to be a man's sport, and we have
consistently pushed the boundaries, and I've always told everyone that
golf is always just a few years behind because of
the tradition. Like if I could, if I were the
(18:16):
commissioner and I got to have all to say, I
would literally be following exactly what the other sports are doing.
Because I truly believe too that the activism is exactly
what draws outside fans into the game, a newer generation
into the game. How can you play a sport that
you don't simply feel welcome in. I'm a part of
the LGBTQ plus community. I didn't see I didn't see
(18:37):
much voice in that until a lot later in my
years when I really needed it most, you know, And
that's why I speak so avidly about it, because I'm like,
God forbid, there's someone younger than me who wants to
golf and doesn't feel welcome, you know, like that's why
I feel the need to press so hard. So I
do agree with you that I think that the lack
of activism or the lack of pushing harder, I suppose
(18:59):
because they I can't say that they don't do nothing.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
They do.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
And I understand them to the degree where if you
if you try and put anything down your audience's throat,
it will never be received well. And I know that
they're doing their best to try and create change, but
not in such a way that's so drastic that it
then creates like a huge, you know, a huge negative reaction.
And I think that's a really hard balance with golf. Also,
(19:23):
I think what's really difficult is that golf is an
individual sport. So at the end of the day, for
men and women combine. If I'm feeding my people, I'm
feeding my camp.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Do I really need to look at picture right.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
But when you're in a team atmosphere, I feel like,
especially with like women's basketball and the NWSLF, you have
your other teammates to give you the confidence to speak up.
You have other strong women who are like, if you fall,
I catch you. There is not a lot of that
in women's golf, and golf is such a solo sport,
literally blinders up because you're just training by yourself. That
(19:58):
I don't blame these women too, because they weren't also
given the tools and maybe not necessarily maybe also not
the knowledge to be able to speak on it. I
think a lot of them also feel uncomfortable because they're
still trying to figure out where they stand or the
right words, or they're afraid to get canceled.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Yeah, where with sponsors even Yeah, if sponsors are wanting
to be more traditional, has there ever been conversation about
a union for the players?
Speaker 2 (20:20):
That's a great question. I think it's been brought up
amongst the They have like a leadership advisory board that
are the professionals, and I think that's I think that's
something that they definitely bring up. But it's also something
that they absolutely fight because there is not much protection
for let's say the players on tour who are mothers
and need care right and or like paid to leave.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
We don't get that you take time.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
A like a union might help and give that support
that maybe individuals need.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
Absolutely I agree.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Okay, so who's been atop the leader board pretty consistently
in recent years.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
What's another name or two we should now so Lydia Coe.
Lydia Coe, she is amazing.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
She won the Women's British Open last year and she
has I think two or all three Olympic medals under
her belt from the past, and she was a young
starlight still killing it on the tour, and she she's
just someone that you want to follow, not only because
she's a great player, but she has she's genuinely such
a really good human being, you know what I mean,
(21:29):
Like not jaded by the industry or the media. She
just keeps doing what she does and she does it
very well. So Lydia Co absolutely, I'm gonna have to
throw out my friend who I mentioned before, Angel Yan
out there. She is a player who I feel like
has always been on the rise, and she's had one
LPGA win, but I think she's just waiting kind of
like for that consistent winning moment. But she's always been
(21:51):
right there. She just finished i think top ten in
the last event, and she has a really big personality
and I appreciate any big personalities on the t And
the last one that I will say is Megan Kang,
who is also another like always been top twenty players.
She played in last year's Solheim Cup, which I mentioned
was a really big tournament and Team USA took home
the win. Thank goodness we got the cup back. And
(22:13):
she's also just an amazing personality. She's not afraid to
dance on the golf course. She's not afraid to, like, hey,
like pump up the you know, bring the crowd up
and whatnot, and like that's I think what we mean
more of in golf sure, and I think that the
younger generation of golfers that are now coming into the
league or into the tour are bringing that energy.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
And I think there's probably even if it's unspoken or
sort of subconscious, if you enter a space that's been
more welcoming to women throughout the entirety of your life,
you're more likely to bring some spice to it than
women golfers who arrived at a time when there were
still so many clubs that didn't even allow women members,
and that's so clearly discriminated against women in the space.
I think with every year that passes where it's more normal,
(22:52):
there's more sponsors and funding and interest and resources for
women golfers, they feel more comfortable demanding more. We've seen
that across every single sports space is more secure and solid.
The athletes feel more empowered to speak out about the
things that they want to need. Okay, let's talk stories.
Are there any players you just mentioned a couple, but
any other players we might fall in love with if
we knew more about them. I'm thinking about they're representing
(23:13):
a group that isn't usually seen in golf. They've got
a fun side gig, they're coming back from injury, They've
got a great social media presence.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
I'm thinking in part like Charlie Hall.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Heard much about her such a good saw a clip.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
Where she's like bumming a sig off someone in the
gallery in the middle of I'm not advocating for that.
I hate cigarettes, but I'm like, this is a unique
person that I need to hear more about.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Why is she smokeing heaters midway through them? At Yes?
Speaker 2 (23:41):
I mean gosh. Charlie is also another big fan favorite,
and shout out to Malbourne. It's it's a golf brand
and the way they've brought streetwear into golf, and she's
wrapped by them, and so she's playing well, she's ripping
cigarettes and she's looking good out there, and she honestly
she just gives.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Yeah, she's not care.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Not what we not we advise, but but she is
definitely a player to look out for because she she
also just had a win last year and she is
a player that she like nothing fazes her. Like you
can you can do no wrong by her. You can
try and heckle her, you can do all you want.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
She doesn't.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
She doesn't care. She literally does not care. And I
love that about her. So definitely her, I think, gosh,
I mean, I know I keep bringing up Angel, but
she's she's such a good she's such a good story,
and I think I'm waiting for that big moment for her.
Lily Avou is another one. They're kind of like Angel
and Lily kind of I feel like, always competed together
when they were younger coming up. And Lily is a
(24:38):
very strong player as well. Was also in the Sol
Hymn Cup, and I think she she also had a
few injuries, and so I think for her waiting for
that big moment. It's hard in golf.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Because you you you lose.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Far more than you win, right like, if anything, if
you're you're lucky to have a win in your career period.
But you know, I recently also began this podcasting journey, right,
and I just had a couple of young girls on
my pod, Christine Christine.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
Wang and Amari Avery, who are USC grads.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
They're in the Middle League tours, fighting the way to
the top, and I think that they're just great personalities.
One is a lot more social media heavy, really shows
it behind the scenes.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Of professional golf life.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
And amar Avery, who has been a Starlight golfer, was
was on justin Timberlake's documentary show called The Short Game
or something like that on Netflix, and and she's up there.
She's already played a few LPG events and so just
very excited to see the younger generation and come onto
the scene.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
You've mentioned Starlight twice. Is that a lower level kind
of golf.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
No, I wouldn't say that. It's more just like they
are just future stars in the making.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
Okay, got it? Yeah, And they are assigned that specific
name or is that your own? That's just my own thought.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
It was like a star Lights like I thought it
was like a like a like but you have your
own my little star Lights.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
I just wanted to point out because this is something
I was surprised by when I was researching for the
show Lexi Thompson retiring. She has this massive name in golf,
and then I looked and she has fifteen professional wins.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
Okay, that's not a lot for how long she played.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
It is a lot for golf though, Like if you
don't know about golf and you're like, she played how
many years and she won fifteen times? And that helped
me kind of put into perspective and recognize that to
your point, you're lucky if you get a win a
season and you could still be one of the best
players in the world.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Right, right, I think that Yeah, again, very different from
other sports, right, Like if it's not like basketball and soccer,
where there is a winning team at the end of
the day, right, like half of the people are going
to be happy, right, Well, in golf, there's really one
person that's happy. And even though second and third and
fourth and fifth they're becoming great you know, purses and
money bags, but they're still not happy because they came
(26:47):
here to win. And every tournament you're going up against
ninety plus top female golf huge feral right, So when
you look at it, Alexi's record at the end of
the day. She turned pro when she was sixteen, so yeah,
her career was really long. But anyone who has double
digit wins at the end of their career, in my opinion,
I'm like, you're goaded because it's really which is why it's.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
So insane that Nelly Quarter won seven times in one year. Yes,
which is now we're putting it all together exactly how
this works? Okay, stats for the novice interviewer, how can
they look at a golfer's final scorecard and figure out
how they've done, especially since it clearly depends on the course.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
This is where golf gets kind of interesting and intricate.
So what's what's really neat is like, if you actually
are an avid golf follower, if you download the LPGA app,
you can literally hit every player and you can do
it live. You can see their shots live, and you
can actually see their legitimate statistics live there, which I
think is actually very interesting if you want to know. So,
(27:47):
for example, some statistics that you want to know are
like average score. That's that's like the very very basic.
The the lower your score, the better, And I think
Nelly had like an average of a sixty nine or low.
And so for those that are completely brand new to golf. Right,
the average the par of a given golf course on
average is seventy two. That means that you want if
(28:09):
you want to beat the course, seventy two is a number.
Well just to average, seventy two is already a stretch.
And Nelly averages a sixty nine, three shots below averaging.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
That means that she had a lot.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Of scores that were like sixty three, sixty four, sixty five.
That is incredible to be able to get an average
at that, Like players would die to just have to
score sixty nine's all the time. So that is a
stat you also want to look at. And then if
you're really really into it, or maybe you're already a
golfer that's like wanting to get into it more and
you're like, oh, I want to compare my stats, then
you can look at like the average fair aways hit,
(28:44):
the average greens hit on average, the LPGA Tour hits
I think about thirteen greens, so there's eighteen holes. If
a player averages thirteen greens, that means that they're getting
it on the dance floor around thirteen times per round.
I think many people think that, oh, every pro just
hits the green every single time. I won't know they
miss often, they just know how to recover. So it's
actually a really interesting interesting thing to compare men's and
(29:07):
women's stats because women are just far more accurate. They
may not pound the ball, you know, three hundred and
fifty four hundred yards like the guys, but the accuracy
in comparison, I think, if I remember, it's like a
woman's five iron is comparable to like a man's nine iron,
which means a five iron is a much longer club,
it's a much more difficult club to hit, and they're
(29:29):
able to have the accuracy of a man's nine or
eight iron. That's pretty crazy. So yeah, saying women are
pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
Well, yeah, and you can look at something like drive
length and be impressed by it. But somebody could have
the longest drives and not be enough and then have
many more shots coming down the course that they have
to make up for the fact that their drive one
into the woods or otherwise.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
Okay, so this is just personal for me.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
When the average golfer, not a professional, talks about his
or her handicap, what number should I pretend to be
super impressed by single digits.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
It's like, yeah, absolutely single digits. So remember when I said, like, okay,
the if a score average is seventy two and someone
says they're a scratch golfer, that means that they average
seventy two even with really right, So scratch is good
For the longest time, I was a scratch player. Now
I kind of say I'm like a four because and people.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
Take the money.
Speaker 3 (30:19):
That's in context of like, obviously, since it's so impressive
that Nelly Quarter is under that, that's a scratch golfer
for like an average course you'd go out to at
your local club, which is not the same as being
a scratch golfer at professional courses.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
Well, actually, if you were to give Nelly a handed handicap,
so when you actually average underpar, it's kind of like
a mind twist, you put a plus in front of
the number. So if I'm you're above, yes, like let's
say I'm a four handicap, she's probably a naga or sorry,
a plus like six point something. If you actually were
to do the numbers, yeah, right, And it's just it's insane,
(30:54):
like how good the pros are. So basically if you're
chatting it up and you're going to like a celebrity
golf event and they're like, oh, I'm a single, I'm
a single handicapper, or I'm scratch. If they I think
are saying they're under like a six handicap, I think
that's a pretty strong player.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
And very quickly, very quickly.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
When I'm playing in these events, because I do a
lot more celebrity events now that I'm doing media, they're like, oh, yeah,
I'm like a two or three, and I can see
if I can see the they're swinging their first swing
on the first hole and I see the result, I'm like.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Immediately, like your lives, you just know too long, I
just know.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
I just tell everyone when I arrive, I don't have
a handicap. So that's a great start.
Speaker 3 (31:32):
How rarely I play, yes, and I'm going to blast
the ball every once in a while, and then I'm
also just gonna just take another ball out of my
bag and drop it wherever we think my ball might
have landed that we can't find. Yeah, Okay, final question
for you, what are some tips to help us be
a better golf viewer? Like, what can we watch for
besides just whether the ball goes into the fair wind
then goes in the hole.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Well, if you want to have just like better education
on it, I do think that whether it's just simply
following your favorite players, Like maybe you don't know much
about golf, but but you love the idea of Nelly.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
We'll go follow her, go support her.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
I love that. If you want to actually get to
follow golf, absolutely follow the LPGA Tour and turn on
your freaking TVs and go tune in. Because the annoying
fight that I'm sure other sports go through too is like,
oh why invest in women's golf, like the viewership that
there is no ROI yeah whatever, bs right, Like I
think it's unfair because we never had the platform given.
Speaker 1 (32:27):
Right, you have to give it a chance. You have
to give it a freaking chance.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
Yeah, And I'm like, we can say tune in all
this and whatnot. But then again, like the LPGA isn't
even given as many cameras as a PGA tour, so
how are we going to even showcase as many women? Right?
But the best we could do is tune in when
the tournament is on, show some love, especially on social media,
and really just like get that conversation going with other
influential people around you. I do it all the time.
(32:51):
I'm constantly talking to whether it's investment funds or what
have you, like, invest in women's golf. Investing women's golf
and watch the culture change. You have to help girls
change the culture. It's hard to just count on them
individually because it is an individual sport. Like, let's give
them the tools and the confidence so they feel like
they have a team behind them.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
Well, you're doing that. You're doing that.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
Million followers, You're half a million followers and your podcasts,
so everyone go check it out.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
Thanks so much. I learned a ton on this, so
thanks so much for coming on.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Of course, I'm so happy to be here. Welcome to
the party with Taisha Allen is an Iheartwoman's sports production
in partnership with Deep Blue Sports Entertainment.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
I'm your host, Tisha Allen.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
Christina Everett is our executive producer, and Jennifer Bassett is
our producer. Sound mixing and mastering by Mary Doo. Special
thanks to Jesse Kassett iHeart, and to Jess McCallister and
the teams at GERSH and Catalysts nine. Listen to Welcome
to the Party with Tisha Allen on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
What is up, y'all?
Speaker 2 (00:10):
I am so so excited because even though our first
season recently ended, we're actually not done having fun yet.
My team and I have a few extra bonus episodes
in the store for you over the next couple of weeks.
And to kick it all off, I wanted to share
a fun conversation I had earlier this year with Sarah Spain,
an award winning journalist, diehard supporter for women's sports and
host of The Good Game with Sarah Spain podcasts. And
(00:32):
this time I'm actually on the other side of the
micro one. So in case you missed it, please enjoy
this fun chat where I talk all about women's golf
and I get into the weeds on why the LPGA
lags behind other women's leagues when it comes to activism.
There may be a little tea spilled, there may be
a little honestly spilled. You're just gonna have to have
a listen. I hope you all enjoy.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Joining us now.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
She's a former professional golfer, hosted the Welcome to the
Party podcast here on iHeart Women's Sports, professional speaker and
social media star, A passionate advocate for junior golf, women's
sports and the LGBTQ plus community. She loves a TikTok
dance and she can do some mean tricks with a
club of ball and two feet.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
It's Tisha all In. Hi, Tisha, Hi, Sarah. It's so
good to meet you.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
I know we were at the same conference in New
York and I was watching you flip around some balls
from Afar, but we never actually got to chat. And
now you're part of the team. So welcome to the
Iheartwomen's Sports Podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Fam. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
It's very exciting. It's a new world for me. I
am learning a lot. I commend you for just you
just turn and burn this kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
It's a lot, daily shows, a lot.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
But we're happy to be here for the people and
we're glad you're here because we have a lot of
questions about golf. But before we get to our burning
questions about the LPG and the new season, I want
to know more about your story and particularly how you
get to half a million Insta followers dancing, doing tricks
and sharing your love of golf. So let's go back
to the beginning. You were born in Rockford, Illinois, which
you grew up in Cali. How did you first get
(01:58):
started playing golf.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
So actually, my dad got me into the game and
we got into the game at the same time, so
it was kind of like our means of just bonding.
He was a stay at home dad at the time,
and he'd go to the range bring me with him.
I'm three years old, and from that moment on, I
never stopped swinging a club. So I literally don't have
a memory where I wasn't a golfer. I don't know
what life is like without golf.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
It's pretty crazy.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Oh cool, Yeah, yeah, So how does he feel about
the fact that I guarantee you can absolutely trounce him
in golf, Like you started at the same time and
you're infinitely better, I presume.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah. I actually started beating him, I think at nine
years old, so it really wasn't that much longer that
I started to kind of catch up with him. And
then after that he just kind of became my coach
and he was cool with it. He would just literally
watch what he saw on TV. He'd like watch Tiger's
swing and be like, Okay, I think it's what you
need to do. So we were both just kind of
like doing it like on the fly, you know. But
he accepts that that I beat him, and on occasions
(02:52):
when we do play now, he'll see me hit a
shot and he's like wow, and I'm like, yeah, dad,
you grew you grew up watching me do this and
it just like it made him. And I think it's
a really cute kind of like full circle to be
like this is where he introduced me, and now I'm
able to make a living. Not professionally anymore, but you know,
still very much around the game.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
That's really sweet. And I bet I don't have kids,
but I bet it is true. Like when the kid
that you taught how to do something be to you, instead
of being mad.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
You're just like I did that. Yeah, yeah, I made that.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
So you played golf at cal State Fuller ten. There
isn't a draft for the LPGA, so unlike other sports,
you sort of have to like know and feel ready
to go pro and also qualify. So what's that process?
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yes, it's a great question, and I think it's a
really it's a big differentiator between other sports. Right because
we don't have a draft, it's really up to you
to be like, yo, I think I'm good enough. All right,
let's go do this thing. How do I do this thing? Oh,
you have to fund yourself. It's truly all up to you. Really.
The bottom line is that you do have to have
a certain handicap, which is essentially like a certain level
(03:52):
of playability. You had to be a decent enough golfer
to apply, and if you score too high on these
qualifying tournaments to qualify you as a pro, you can't
go back. So you can't like lie about this stuff basically,
But essentially there's a few different ways you can turn professionally.
But I literally you can graduate college and you can say, hey,
I'm declaring myself as a professional. And really the biggest
(04:14):
difference is that you're now getting paid to play. So
the moment that you try and enter a tournament for money,
you are now a professional. Doesn't matter if it's a
minor league event, a major league event, you know, just
any place where it's a sanctioned tournament and you can
win money, you are now a professional.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
So even if you don't win money, even if you don't.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Win money, but you entered into a tournament, you technically
are professional. But like a lot of people won't declare
themselves that until maybe they see a paycheck out of
like their own pride.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
You know, you could go back to amateurs at that
point if you haven't won. But once you've won some money,
then officially you're.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Yes, exactly, you're officially a pro. You can deem amateur
status back. Some people still like to do that. I
never have, so I'm still considered a professional. I just
haven't competed in a more legitimate event since twenty eighteen.
That's kind of when I put the back down. But
the actual qualifying process, there's a thing called Q School
or a Q Series that they keep changing the name,
(05:09):
and it's it's kind of like Hell Week. It's three
different huge ass tournaments and you have to basically beat
out like five hundred girls, go to second stage, beat
out two hundred fifty of the best girls, go to
final stage, beat out one hundred of the best girls,
and only top twenty get their card, Like.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
And then you do a cachstand and then that's it.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
And then that's it, and then you're back on the
road again.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
You're ready to go Hell Week for golf. Okay, wow, okay?
Speaker 3 (05:34):
And then can you get funding from sponsors or other
folks early on to help you fund this? Like you said,
if you're just starting out and not winning anything yet.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Absolutely, and so I think the beauty but also the
difficulty of it is is that it's all up to you.
It's up to you to self promote yourself. If you
get a sponsor, amazing, that's that's all on you. And
one of the hardest things coming out of college because
that's typically the traditional process. Some people, some women, some
men have gone professionally before not even going to college.
(06:03):
But typically you go to college. It's it's really just
like trying to showcase yourself, whether it's on social media
or getting creating partnerships and relationships with people, and really
just having good game to be recognized to get sponsors,
and it's not easy when you're not on the LPGA Tour,
(06:24):
which is the highest level. Right there's like a minor, middle,
and major leagues. It's the way I like to explain it.
The minor leagues are are basically like the it's kind
of like entry level tournaments. It's to kind of get
your feet wet. Then there's like the middle leagues, which
is considered it's called the Epsen Tour or Ladies European Tour,
and then there's LPGA well, those that are starting out
from ground zero or even on the EPSN Tour, which
(06:46):
is a really great tour. These girls don't often get sponsors.
It's not easy to get noticed unless you're actually on
the LPGA or you have some type of media value
outside of your ability. Right.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
So, because women, you.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Know, we actually we have to care about the way
we look, how we present ourselves on top of our ability.
It is a double edged sword in my opinion, compared
to men's sports.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Right, So, did you always know you wanted to get
into media and were you simultaneously building your media presence
before retiring, like while you were playing.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Yes and yes. So when I went to Kelsea Fullerton,
I was there on a D one scholarship. I played
number one. My college coach was a former LPGA player.
I knew that I always wanted to try and tern professionally,
but I fell in love with broadcasts and speaking at
a younger age, like eighth grade, you know, high school.
I was doing my newscast for my high school and
(07:40):
all that stuff like that. I got an internship with
like ABC when I was in college, and I have
a broadcast journalism degree in communications, and so for me,
I knew that if there came a time that professional
golf wasn't it for me. I always wanted to talk
about golf. But at the same time, when I graduated,
which was in twenty fifteen, I said I'm going to
(08:02):
turn pro, and then I said, oh shit, how am
I going to afford to turn pro? Well, there's this
thing called Instagram. Now, I guess I should probably showcase
myself and let's see what happens. It was very, very
new at the time. The word creator or influencer was
never a thing, and in my opinion, not something I
ever wanted to call myself because I'm a professional golfer.
At the end of the day, I was just using
(08:22):
this thing as a tool to hopefully, you know, if
I got just one view from someone who wanted to
sponsor me, maybe they liked my swing, maybe they saw
my scores, it could mean something. And then that's actually
what happened. And then I kept growing and growing and
growing from there. So I didn't wake up with half
a million followers or a million on TikTok or what
have you. It's just been a really slow growth since
(08:44):
twenty fifteen. And eventually I learned to love the media
side more than the playing side.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
What did you see when you started to create content
for up and coming women golfers or just golf fans.
What did you see missing from existing content that you
were like, oh, I want to put that out there.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Literally that just up and coming, like like welcoming content
for newer female golfers. I think that was the biggest thing.
And I know I knew that for myself just being
a female would already resonate so much because golf, just
like I'm sure a lot of other sports, it is
very male dominated, very very male dominated, a lot of
tradition that goes into it. And so if you ask
(09:22):
any woman getting into golf, no matter how how long
they've been playing or not, almost every woman can probably
say or attest to the fact that they've had a
negative experience with a male coach, or they've been talked at,
or they have been you know, just negative connotation. And
for me, I was like, well, I don't have the
ability to teach everyone every single day. What can I do?
Oh my gosh, I'm gonna share content where I can
(09:44):
be relatable, make it digestible, make it very simple, because
I know I'm good at explaining things and breaking things
down and also just like making women feel like, yeah,
you can do this and you can be really badass
and do this. So that's where I would balance like
the teaching content of you know, golfers and also showing
like the badass like events they get to go to
and the trick shots and the pros they get to
(10:04):
be around, so that they can see like you can
do it, you can get there.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Yeah, and you can do cool shit golf through golf yeah, yeah,
it is extremely male dominated. I actually spoke to the
PGA of British Columbia probably like three or four hundred
folks last January, and there were I think four women,
because in Canada the LPGA doesn't really have the same hold.
If you're a professional up there, you're often in the
PGA instead, even as a woman. And so all these
(10:29):
pros like helping them understand whether their policies and their
way of doing things was inclusive and actually welcoming women
to their clubs, into their spaces, or whether they were
unintentionally perpetuating some of those traditions that made women feel
like they weren't allowed. There's a great satirical video where
they flipped the switch and it looks like a guy
is being allowed to join his girlfriend at the club.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
It's an all women's club. Oh I love that. Yeah,
it's a hailehy ledbetter I think, is that?
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Oh Hollie, yes, oh my cours.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
I love how it's such a great way of like
rethinking and being like, yeah, this is what it feels
like as women going into these spaces all the time,
and like seeing it flipped really brings it to light.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Okay, so we've got your background and how you've turned
golf into this amazing thing and made it more accessible.
We need our listeners and me too, to get a
little more information so we can jump in and understand
more about it. So it's time for No Dumb Questions
Golf Edition. So for the listeners that know a ton,
this will be a reminder, But for those of us
(11:43):
that want to get started and watch more, we're going
to use my patented method for this stars steaks, stats
and stories. So I actually want to start with steaks first.
What counts as a great season in golf is that
like a couple of big tournament wins for a player.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Absolutely tournament wins really help your rankings, but at the
end of the day, it comes down two rankings. There
are two different ranking systems I believe one is called
the Rolex Rankings. The other one I'm blanking on. But
just know that they both matter because they weigh in
for big events for like, for example, the Solheim Cup,
which is our team USA versus Team Europe event. It's
a big deal. Like rankings matter for that. Rankings also
(12:17):
matter for for your pay. Essentially you can get bonuses.
It matters just for you know, you know, rankings because
they matter, and so that is essentially. Yeah, that's that's
how it rolls.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Okay, So a couple big tournament wins is good.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Yes, absolutely? Are those bonuses coming from sponsors? Are they
coming from the LPGA, Like, if you're getting bonuses for
your rankings, where's that money coming from?
Speaker 2 (12:37):
So oftentimes it is a lot from sponsors. They do
actually have a challenge, I believe it's also going on
this year. It's called the a On Risk and Reward Challenge.
And although that's not really a bonus, but it's another
it's another.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Thing to go fight tw a season law.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Yes, yes, essentially like accumul Yeah, it's basically where aon
is a sponsor, and they would at each event they
would have a specific holding sponsor and whoever has the
lowest average score on that hole and it's all comprised,
you know, the compilation of all the tournaments, and they're
a hole from each tournament. Whoever has like the lowest
(13:16):
you know, scoring average will win a million dollars.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
And my good friend angel Yann who's on the LPGA Tour,
one that was it, and I think it was in
twenty twenty three, and it was just like, I mean,
it's an amazing, amazing additional paycheck to end no kids
in with, right.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Yeah, that's like when I play in the like low
obviously clearly low level celebrity golf tournaments here where they
pair me with a bunch of guys from like a
construction company. Yeah, there's always like one hole where closest
to the pin and get surprised or longest drive and
it's specific to that hole. But it's like that on
steroids because it's across the entire and for a million dollars. Ye,
I did win closest to the pin once. In case
(13:53):
anyone was wondering, Okay, how can we tell by looking
at the calendar which tournaments are the biggest and are
probably featuring the top towent.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
So usually when you're looking at a calendar, they'll they'll
typically have it boulded of some sort or there will
be a note that it is a major. But there
are a few tournaments that that are very notably clearly majors.
For example, the US Women's Open, hands down, very big
one that one takes place in the States. Then there's
a women's British Open, which is essentially like the US Open,
but of UK, and it's just as big and so
(14:23):
and then.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
And everyone can play in those.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
No, you have to either qualify to be in there
or you have to have the correct you know, a
high enough ranking.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
But I mean like it's not a specific to British players. Oh,
it's like the French Open tennis. Everybody plays and it's
just in fan exactly. So British Open, US Open might
have similar fields exactly where they're being held.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Correct, like Wimbledon or yeah, yeah, US Open and Tests,
yeah exactly that. Yeah, So there's five big majors. One
of them is Another one is the Evyon Championship. Again
a sponsor name. I totally get It's so funny because
as a golfer, I don't think of it. It's just like, oh,
I know that's a major, but I'm like, oh my god, No,
other people may not know that's a big deal. So
there has to be like an addition.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
In my life, especially when the sponsors changed, because like
one year you'll be like, oh, I heard that's a
big one, and the next year is a different name.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
You're like, I don't know, is that the same thing?
Good point?
Speaker 2 (15:09):
You know, I don't gonna have to bring that back.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
Yeah, Okay, let's talk stars.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Yes, last year even the most novice of watchers knew
about Nelly Korda.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Yes, that's a good pace seven.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Events that she won LPGA Player of the Year. Tell
us more about her and what makes her so good,
you know.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
So Nelly has always been a very first late her
and her sister are very strong players. So there's Nelly
and Jessica Korda. So Jessica has taken a step back
and is actually more on the commentating side now, but
she's had many wins under her belt too, and leading
up until last year, Nelly was always a very solid player,
like you would always see her in the top ten rankings.
But last year when she won six tournaments in a
(15:47):
row and then finished out with the seventh, I think
later in the season, like, I don't think people really
understand the gravity of how insane that is. Like that's
a that's like a Tiger Woods year, you know, like
and when he was in his prime. And and she
was literally unstoppable last year. And she even claims that
she went through a low point. I think any any
(16:10):
high level athlete will consider themselves like there's a low
point in any high But I'm like, girl, you still
want seven events.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
I think every one of the best years ever you so.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
And and I think she already had a really strong
finish coming into this year, and this season just began,
so we're we're just now getting started. Majors don't happen
until the spring season, so it's really just warming up
basically up until then. But Nellie Corda you absolutely have
to watch. She's also a great follow and you know
she's growing to become more than just her ability, but
also her personality, which I think is such an interesting
(16:42):
thing in golf because unlike other sports like w NBA
and and NWSL, women in golf we are kind of
trained to not speak out right, like we've always been
kind of like submissed. You know, you don't don't don't
talk outwardly about you know, inequalities and stuff. And it's
kind of just now becoming more mainstream. And Nelly has
(17:03):
also spoken about it, like, you know, slow play, we
need to fix this girl, like the girl's schedule, We
need to fix this, and so she should she can
because she's the best player right now.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
So like using that influence to speak out. And you
mentioned how golf culture has sort of historically relied on
women not speaking up and how it's a different culture
than other sports. And what we found is in some cases,
the activism is actually what draws fans to women's game,
whether that's WNBA or NWSL, and maybe has kept fans
away from golf. For instance, the LPGA has had some
of the most restrictive policies when it comes to trans athletes.
(17:35):
Organization didn't make much of a statement when Roe versus
Wade fell. They had a recent partnership with Barstool Sports,
which I found really problematic. It just feels different from
women's leagues. Do you think that the golf world realizes
that the lack of activism and the partnerships they choose
maybe has prevented the sport from growing a fan base.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
I mean, I completely agree with everything you're saying, and
I think the hardest thing with golf, as I mentioned,
is traditional background. Right that you're raised and it's always
been raised to be a man's sport, and we have
consistently pushed the boundaries, and I've always told everyone that
golf is always just a few years behind because of
the tradition. Like if I could, if I were the
(18:16):
commissioner and I got to have all to say, I
would literally be following exactly what the other sports are doing.
Because I truly believe too that the activism is exactly
what draws outside fans into the game, a newer generation
into the game. How can you play a sport that
you don't simply feel welcome in. I'm a part of
the LGBTQ plus community. I didn't see I didn't see
(18:37):
much voice in that until a lot later in my
years when I really needed it most, you know, And
that's why I speak so avidly about it, because I'm like,
God forbid, there's someone younger than me who wants to
golf and doesn't feel welcome, you know, like that's why
I feel the need to press so hard. So I
do agree with you that I think that the lack
of activism or the lack of pushing harder, I suppose
(18:59):
because they I can't say that they don't do nothing.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
They do.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
And I understand them to the degree where if you
if you try and put anything down your audience's throat,
it will never be received well. And I know that
they're doing their best to try and create change, but
not in such a way that's so drastic that it
then creates like a huge, you know, a huge negative reaction.
And I think that's a really hard balance with golf. Also,
(19:23):
I think what's really difficult is that golf is an
individual sport. So at the end of the day, for
men and women combine. If I'm feeding my people, I'm
feeding my camp.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Do I really need to look at picture right.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
But when you're in a team atmosphere, I feel like,
especially with like women's basketball and the NWSLF, you have
your other teammates to give you the confidence to speak up.
You have other strong women who are like, if you fall,
I catch you. There is not a lot of that
in women's golf, and golf is such a solo sport,
literally blinders up because you're just training by yourself. That
(19:58):
I don't blame these women too, because they weren't also
given the tools and maybe not necessarily maybe also not
the knowledge to be able to speak on it. I
think a lot of them also feel uncomfortable because they're
still trying to figure out where they stand or the
right words, or they're afraid to get canceled.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Yeah, where with sponsors even Yeah, if sponsors are wanting
to be more traditional, has there ever been conversation about
a union for the players?
Speaker 2 (20:20):
That's a great question. I think it's been brought up
amongst the They have like a leadership advisory board that
are the professionals, and I think that's I think that's
something that they definitely bring up. But it's also something
that they absolutely fight because there is not much protection
for let's say the players on tour who are mothers
and need care right and or like paid to leave.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
We don't get that you take time.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
A like a union might help and give that support
that maybe individuals need.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
Absolutely I agree.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Okay, so who's been atop the leader board pretty consistently
in recent years.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
What's another name or two we should now so Lydia Coe.
Lydia Coe, she is amazing.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
She won the Women's British Open last year and she
has I think two or all three Olympic medals under
her belt from the past, and she was a young
starlight still killing it on the tour, and she she's
just someone that you want to follow, not only because
she's a great player, but she has she's genuinely such
a really good human being, you know what I mean,
(21:29):
Like not jaded by the industry or the media. She
just keeps doing what she does and she does it
very well. So Lydia Co absolutely, I'm gonna have to
throw out my friend who I mentioned before, Angel Yan
out there. She is a player who I feel like
has always been on the rise, and she's had one
LPGA win, but I think she's just waiting kind of
like for that consistent winning moment. But she's always been
(21:51):
right there. She just finished i think top ten in
the last event, and she has a really big personality
and I appreciate any big personalities on the t And
the last one that I will say is Megan Kang,
who is also another like always been top twenty players.
She played in last year's Solheim Cup, which I mentioned
was a really big tournament and Team USA took home
the win. Thank goodness we got the cup back. And
(22:13):
she's also just an amazing personality. She's not afraid to
dance on the golf course. She's not afraid to, like, hey,
like pump up the you know, bring the crowd up
and whatnot, and like that's I think what we mean
more of in golf sure, and I think that the
younger generation of golfers that are now coming into the
league or into the tour are bringing that energy.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
And I think there's probably even if it's unspoken or
sort of subconscious, if you enter a space that's been
more welcoming to women throughout the entirety of your life,
you're more likely to bring some spice to it than
women golfers who arrived at a time when there were
still so many clubs that didn't even allow women members,
and that's so clearly discriminated against women in the space.
I think with every year that passes where it's more normal,
(22:52):
there's more sponsors and funding and interest and resources for
women golfers, they feel more comfortable demanding more. We've seen
that across every single sports space is more secure and solid.
The athletes feel more empowered to speak out about the
things that they want to need. Okay, let's talk stories.
Are there any players you just mentioned a couple, but
any other players we might fall in love with if
we knew more about them. I'm thinking about they're representing
(23:13):
a group that isn't usually seen in golf. They've got
a fun side gig, they're coming back from injury, They've
got a great social media presence.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
I'm thinking in part like Charlie Hall.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Heard much about her such a good saw a clip.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
Where she's like bumming a sig off someone in the
gallery in the middle of I'm not advocating for that.
I hate cigarettes, but I'm like, this is a unique
person that I need to hear more about.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Why is she smokeing heaters midway through them? At Yes?
Speaker 2 (23:41):
I mean gosh. Charlie is also another big fan favorite,
and shout out to Malbourne. It's it's a golf brand
and the way they've brought streetwear into golf, and she's
wrapped by them, and so she's playing well, she's ripping
cigarettes and she's looking good out there, and she honestly
she just gives.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Yeah, she's not care.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Not what we not we advise, but but she is
definitely a player to look out for because she she
also just had a win last year and she is
a player that she like nothing fazes her. Like you
can you can do no wrong by her. You can
try and heckle her, you can do all you want.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
She doesn't.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
She doesn't care. She literally does not care. And I
love that about her. So definitely her, I think, gosh,
I mean, I know I keep bringing up Angel, but
she's she's such a good she's such a good story,
and I think I'm waiting for that big moment for her.
Lily Avou is another one. They're kind of like Angel
and Lily kind of I feel like, always competed together
when they were younger coming up. And Lily is a
(24:38):
very strong player as well. Was also in the Sol
Hymn Cup, and I think she she also had a
few injuries, and so I think for her waiting for
that big moment. It's hard in golf.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Because you you you lose.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Far more than you win, right like, if anything, if
you're you're lucky to have a win in your career period.
But you know, I recently also began this podcasting journey, right,
and I just had a couple of young girls on
my pod, Christine Christine.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
Wang and Amari Avery, who are USC grads.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
They're in the Middle League tours, fighting the way to
the top, and I think that they're just great personalities.
One is a lot more social media heavy, really shows
it behind the scenes.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Of professional golf life.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
And amar Avery, who has been a Starlight golfer, was
was on justin Timberlake's documentary show called The Short Game
or something like that on Netflix, and and she's up there.
She's already played a few LPG events and so just
very excited to see the younger generation and come onto
the scene.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
You've mentioned Starlight twice. Is that a lower level kind
of golf.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
No, I wouldn't say that. It's more just like they
are just future stars in the making.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
Okay, got it? Yeah, And they are assigned that specific
name or is that your own? That's just my own thought.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
It was like a star Lights like I thought it
was like a like a like but you have your
own my little star Lights.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
I just wanted to point out because this is something
I was surprised by when I was researching for the
show Lexi Thompson retiring. She has this massive name in golf,
and then I looked and she has fifteen professional wins.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
Okay, that's not a lot for how long she played.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
It is a lot for golf though, Like if you
don't know about golf and you're like, she played how
many years and she won fifteen times? And that helped
me kind of put into perspective and recognize that to
your point, you're lucky if you get a win a
season and you could still be one of the best
players in the world.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Right, right, I think that Yeah, again, very different from
other sports, right, Like if it's not like basketball and soccer,
where there is a winning team at the end of
the day, right, like half of the people are going
to be happy, right, Well, in golf, there's really one
person that's happy. And even though second and third and
fourth and fifth they're becoming great you know, purses and
money bags, but they're still not happy because they came
(26:47):
here to win. And every tournament you're going up against
ninety plus top female golf huge feral right, So when
you look at it, Alexi's record at the end of
the day. She turned pro when she was sixteen, so yeah,
her career was really long. But anyone who has double
digit wins at the end of their career, in my opinion,
I'm like, you're goaded because it's really which is why it's.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
So insane that Nelly Quarter won seven times in one year. Yes,
which is now we're putting it all together exactly how
this works? Okay, stats for the novice interviewer, how can
they look at a golfer's final scorecard and figure out
how they've done, especially since it clearly depends on the course.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
This is where golf gets kind of interesting and intricate.
So what's what's really neat is like, if you actually
are an avid golf follower, if you download the LPGA app,
you can literally hit every player and you can do
it live. You can see their shots live, and you
can actually see their legitimate statistics live there, which I
think is actually very interesting if you want to know. So,
(27:47):
for example, some statistics that you want to know are
like average score. That's that's like the very very basic.
The the lower your score, the better, And I think
Nelly had like an average of a sixty nine or low.
And so for those that are completely brand new to golf. Right,
the average the par of a given golf course on
average is seventy two. That means that you want if
(28:09):
you want to beat the course, seventy two is a number.
Well just to average, seventy two is already a stretch.
And Nelly averages a sixty nine, three shots below averaging.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
That means that she had a lot.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Of scores that were like sixty three, sixty four, sixty five.
That is incredible to be able to get an average
at that, Like players would die to just have to
score sixty nine's all the time. So that is a
stat you also want to look at. And then if
you're really really into it, or maybe you're already a
golfer that's like wanting to get into it more and
you're like, oh, I want to compare my stats, then
you can look at like the average fair aways hit,
(28:44):
the average greens hit on average, the LPGA Tour hits
I think about thirteen greens, so there's eighteen holes. If
a player averages thirteen greens, that means that they're getting
it on the dance floor around thirteen times per round.
I think many people think that, oh, every pro just
hits the green every single time. I won't know they
miss often, they just know how to recover. So it's
actually a really interesting interesting thing to compare men's and
(29:07):
women's stats because women are just far more accurate. They
may not pound the ball, you know, three hundred and
fifty four hundred yards like the guys, but the accuracy
in comparison, I think, if I remember, it's like a
woman's five iron is comparable to like a man's nine iron,
which means a five iron is a much longer club,
it's a much more difficult club to hit, and they're
(29:29):
able to have the accuracy of a man's nine or
eight iron. That's pretty crazy. So yeah, saying women are
pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
Well, yeah, and you can look at something like drive
length and be impressed by it. But somebody could have
the longest drives and not be enough and then have
many more shots coming down the course that they have
to make up for the fact that their drive one
into the woods or otherwise.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
Okay, so this is just personal for me.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
When the average golfer, not a professional, talks about his
or her handicap, what number should I pretend to be
super impressed by single digits.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
It's like, yeah, absolutely single digits. So remember when I said, like, okay,
the if a score average is seventy two and someone
says they're a scratch golfer, that means that they average
seventy two even with really right, So scratch is good
For the longest time, I was a scratch player. Now
I kind of say I'm like a four because and people.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
Take the money.
Speaker 3 (30:19):
That's in context of like, obviously, since it's so impressive
that Nelly Quarter is under that, that's a scratch golfer
for like an average course you'd go out to at
your local club, which is not the same as being
a scratch golfer at professional courses.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
Well, actually, if you were to give Nelly a handed handicap,
so when you actually average underpar, it's kind of like
a mind twist, you put a plus in front of
the number. So if I'm you're above, yes, like let's
say I'm a four handicap, she's probably a naga or sorry,
a plus like six point something. If you actually were
to do the numbers, yeah, right, And it's just it's insane,
(30:54):
like how good the pros are. So basically if you're
chatting it up and you're going to like a celebrity
golf event and they're like, oh, I'm a single, I'm
a single handicapper, or I'm scratch. If they I think
are saying they're under like a six handicap, I think
that's a pretty strong player.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
And very quickly, very quickly.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
When I'm playing in these events, because I do a
lot more celebrity events now that I'm doing media, they're like, oh, yeah,
I'm like a two or three, and I can see
if I can see the they're swinging their first swing
on the first hole and I see the result, I'm like.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Immediately, like your lives, you just know too long, I
just know.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
I just tell everyone when I arrive, I don't have
a handicap. So that's a great start.
Speaker 3 (31:32):
How rarely I play, yes, and I'm going to blast
the ball every once in a while, and then I'm
also just gonna just take another ball out of my
bag and drop it wherever we think my ball might
have landed that we can't find. Yeah, Okay, final question
for you, what are some tips to help us be
a better golf viewer? Like, what can we watch for
besides just whether the ball goes into the fair wind
then goes in the hole.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Well, if you want to have just like better education
on it, I do think that whether it's just simply
following your favorite players, Like maybe you don't know much
about golf, but but you love the idea of Nelly.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
We'll go follow her, go support her.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
I love that. If you want to actually get to
follow golf, absolutely follow the LPGA Tour and turn on
your freaking TVs and go tune in. Because the annoying
fight that I'm sure other sports go through too is like,
oh why invest in women's golf, like the viewership that
there is no ROI yeah whatever, bs right, Like I
think it's unfair because we never had the platform given.
Speaker 1 (32:27):
Right, you have to give it a chance. You have
to give it a freaking chance.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
Yeah, And I'm like, we can say tune in all
this and whatnot. But then again, like the LPGA isn't
even given as many cameras as a PGA tour, so
how are we going to even showcase as many women? Right?
But the best we could do is tune in when
the tournament is on, show some love, especially on social media,
and really just like get that conversation going with other
influential people around you. I do it all the time.
(32:51):
I'm constantly talking to whether it's investment funds or what
have you, like, invest in women's golf. Investing women's golf
and watch the culture change. You have to help girls
change the culture. It's hard to just count on them
individually because it is an individual sport. Like, let's give
them the tools and the confidence so they feel like
they have a team behind them.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
Well, you're doing that. You're doing that.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
Million followers, You're half a million followers and your podcasts,
so everyone go check it out.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
Thanks so much. I learned a ton on this, so
thanks so much for coming on.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Of course, I'm so happy to be here. Welcome to
the party with Taisha Allen is an Iheartwoman's sports production
in partnership with Deep Blue Sports Entertainment.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
I'm your host, Tisha Allen.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
Christina Everett is our executive producer, and Jennifer Bassett is
our producer. Sound mixing and mastering by Mary Doo. Special
thanks to Jesse Kassett iHeart, and to Jess McCallister and
the teams at GERSH and Catalysts nine. Listen to Welcome
to the Party with Tisha Allen on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Host
Tisha Alyn
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