'That's BS': $81.43 Billion Giant Backing Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda & Co Lashes Out at LPGA Over a Glaring Error
The Annika 2024 had the golf world abuzz last weekend, drawing massive media coverage and viewership. With elite players like Nelly Korda, Rose Zhang, and Charley Hull at the peak of their game, the tournament was a nail-biter until the very last minute. The dramatic final round saw the world no. 1 pull off an incredible comeback, scoring five birdies on the back nine to clinch her seventh title of the season. But while this thrilling victory made headlines, it wasn’t the only thing that caught fans’ attention.
The real excitement came on Wednesday, during the Pro-Am tournament, when a surprise crossover captivated everyone: WNBA star Caitlin Clark stepping into the golf universe. She teamed up with legends Nelly Korda and Annika Sörenstam, drawing viewers from all corners of the sports world to see how the basketball phenom would fare on the golf course. The pairing generated tremendous buzz, and fans weren’t disappointed—Clark’s charisma and talent transcended her usual sport, adding a unique thrill to the event.
On that same day, the CME Group made a big announcement, extending its sponsorship of the season’s final event, the CME Group Tour Championship, until 2027. While the exciting Pro-Am stole the show, the broadcast quality fell short of expectations. Despite the $81.43 billion company backing the LPGA Tour, a significant portion of the event didn’t make it to live broadcast on the Golf Channel due to a conflict with a PGA Tour event. This decision did not sit well with CME Group’s CEO, Terry Duffy, who recently spoke out against the situation.
Duffy didn’t hold back, stating, “I think that’s inappropriate for a tournament of this magnitude to be on tape delay. I have told Mollie I don’t like that. I will leave it in her hands to see where that ultimately ends up.” He made it clear that he expects Mollie Marcoux Samaan, the LPGA commissioner, to address the issue. Duffy passionately added, “If you are going to continue to build women’s sports, you have to give them the same billing as men and stop the nonsense of saying we have to show the men’s tournament because they’re the men.” His frustration with the prioritization of men’s golf over women’s was evident, and his call for change resonated with many.
The LPGA’s biggest star, Nelly Korda, echoed similar sentiments following her victory at The Annika 2024. “I think we need primetime TV. We need more hours on TV. I mean, we have a great product out here. We have so many amazing stories. We just need to be on primetime TV,” Korda remarked. As the face of women’s golf, Korda has gone above and beyond to bring exposure to the sport, even participating in a photo shoot for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2025 to attract a broader audience.
While Duffy and Korda stood firmly against the LPGA’s lack of TV time, there were other voices with different opinions. Not everyone saw the decision as unfair—some acknowledged the commercial realities of broadcasting, while others focused on the progress the LPGA has made over the years. It seems the debate about women’s sports coverage is far from over, but one thing remains clear: the desire for equal treatment is stronger than ever.
