Asia a crucial market as LPGA Tour celebrates Diamond Jubilee with leadership reboot
Attention will turn to Malaysia's Mirabel Ting at the Evian Championship.
As the LPGA Tour enters the back nine of its milestone 75th anniversary season, it is primed to capitalise on the global growth of women's golf – thanks to recent leadership appointments and the continued rise of Asia-Pacific golfers – both of which should strengthen the tour's foundation for longevity and deepen its impact on its fans worldwide.
In recent months, the LPGA named its 10th commissioner in 40-year-old Craig Kessler, whom the search committee was wowed by his passion for the women's game and, more importantly, by his astute vision to take the organisation forward through four key pillars he has outlined.
Kessler, who holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, assumes his new role on July 15 and brings a broad range of leadership experience across sports and business, most recently serving as chief operating officer of the PGA of America.
Closer to home, the LPGA appointed Chris Madsen as its new managing director for the Asia-Pacific region, a critical market in its global strategy. The region will host eight tournaments this year, including upcoming stops in China, South Korea (two), Malaysia and Japan, beginning in October.
Since Pak Se-ri's historic triumph at the 1998 US Women's Open – where she became the first Asian golfer, male or female, to win a Major championship – women's golf in Asia has flourished.
Currently, seven Asia-Pacific players sit inside the top 10 of the season-long Race to CME Globe points list, led by world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, No. 2 Minjee Lee of Australia and third-ranked Rio Takeda of Japan. Of the 17 tournaments played so far this year, 10 have been won by women from the region.
'Asia is central to the LPGA's identity, not only because of the events we host there, but also because of the many world-class players from the region and our global corporate partners based there,' said Liz Moore, who served as interim commissioner from December until Kessler's appointment.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Singapore to hire more than 1,000 new educators annually in the next few years, up from 700
Singapore COE prices rise for all categories
Asia Malaysia confirms existence of document central to ex-PM Najib's house arrest bid, say reports
Singapore Man who killed cats by throwing them off HDB blocks has jail term doubled to 27 months
Singapore $43k fine for undischarged bankrupt doctor who failed to disclose assets worth over $4m
Singapore Female primary school teacher charged over alleged sex acts with underage male student
Singapore Goodbye fraudsters? Dating app Coffee Meets Bagel rolls out identity verification
Asia Amid handshakes and familiar friends, Asean navigates tariffs and tension in KL
The effervescent Jeeno, 22, a five-time LPGA winner, is part of a new wave of Asian superstars, and the talent pipeline remains strong.
Japan's Mao Saigo, Rio Takeda, and Chisato Iwai have all secured wins in 2025, while South Koreans Kim A-lim, Kim Hyo-joo, Ryo Hae-ran, Lee So-mi and Im Jin-hee have also triumphed.
Minjee Lee recently claimed her third Major at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, and Lydia Ko of New Zealand, the 2024 Olympic gold medallist, continues to be among the tour's marquee attractions.
The talent pool is also set to deepen further.
When the Evian Championship, one of five LPGA Majors, tees off this week in France, all eyes will be on Malaysia's Mirabel Ting.
The 19-year-old phenom turned professional last week and will make her debut after a stellar collegiate season at Florida State University, where she won five of nine starts and ended the season ranked No. 1 in the US. Ting was awarded the 2025 Annika Award, which granted her an exemption into the Evian field.
'In my 25 years, she's (Ting) by far the best ball-striker I've ever seen,' FSU coach Amy Bond told Golf Week.
The LPGA is also bolstering its development pathways.
The newly launched LPGA Collegiate Advancement Pathway will create opportunities for top college golfers in the US to transition to the professional ranks, such as the Epson Tour.
This complements the existing LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway which rewards top amateurs with LPGA memberships, mirroring the successful PGA Tour University model that has produced stars like Ludvig Åberg.
Once Kessler officially begins his role, his priorities will be to build trust, raise the visibility of LPGA stars globally, grow the fan base, and solidify the tour's financial foundation.
Among future plans is hosting the largest fundraising initiative in the tour's history, a 75th anniversary Pro-Am at Pebble Beach Resorts next January, in support of the LPGA Foundation's mission to inspire the next generation of female golfers.
Kessler has also hit the road in recent weeks to hold discussions with stakeholders and players to shape the LPGA's next chapter.
In golf, timing is everything, and for the LPGA, its 75th anniversary, also known as its Diamond Jubilee, arrives at a perfect moment.
As the saying goes, diamonds are forever, and under Kessler's transformational leadership, women's golf looks set to sparkle for decades to come.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
37 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Iran defeat Jordan to complete line-up for Women's Asian Cup
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Iran handed Jordan a 2-1 defeat in Amman on Saturday to claim the final berth at next year's Women's Asian Cup finals, which will be held in Australia in March. Second-half goals from Sara Didar and Negin Zandi earned Marziyeh Jafari's team a win that secured top spot in Group A of the preliminaries ahead of the Jordanians due to their better head-to-head record. The Iranians are the last team to qualify for the finals after matches in Group A were postponed due to the recent Israel-Iran conflict. Australia will host the 12-team tournament in Sydney, Perth and Gold Coast from March 1 to 21 and Joe Montemurro's home side will be among the favourites to lift the trophy. Defending champions China, who have won the title a record nine times, will also be joined at the finals by South Korea, Japan, Bangladesh, India, Taiwan, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, the Philippines and North Korea. The draw will take place in Sydney on July 29. "There's a real energy building, not just here in Australia but across Asia, and this diverse, high-quality line-up shows just how far women's football has come," said Sarah Walsh, the event's chief organising officer. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Singapore HSA extends hotline hours, launches new platform to report vaping offences Singapore No unified guidelines? Animal shelters chart their own paths on welfare standards Asia Tearful relatives await news of Vietnam boat capsize rescue as death toll rises to 38 Multimedia How to make the most out of small homes in Singapore Singapore Minor Issues: Why I didn't send my daughters to my brand-name primary school Opinion I thought I was a 'chill' parent. Then came P1 registration World Diplomats dismissed: Inside the overhaul reshaping Trump's foreign policy "With so much talent and so many great stories coming together, this is going to be a tournament to remember." The competition will also serve as Asia's qualifying tournament for the Women's World Cup in 2027 with six automatic berths available at the finals in Brazil. A further two nations will progress to a series of intercontinental playoffs. REUTERS
Business Times
37 minutes ago
- Business Times
Trump tariffs to decimate China profits: Bloomberg Economics
Most of China's industries can't survive US President Donald Trump's tariffs at current levels, according to a new analysis by Bloomberg Economics (BE). Tariffs now set at roughly 40 per cent compare with average industrial profit margins of about 14.8 per cent in 2024. That gap could prompt more intense price cuts, weakening profits, and – in the worst case – layoffs and potentially a wave of bankruptcies and closures, analysts Chang Shu, David Qu and Maeva Cousin found. Among industries most at risk are textiles, IT and communication equipment and furniture manufacturing. Of 33 industrial sectors that analysts considered, only five have margins that are wider than tariff rates. They include pharmaceuticals, tobacco and oil and gas extraction. 'Some companies with a heavy dependence on the US market may not survive,' economists led by Chang Shu wrote in a research note on Thursday (Jul 17). 'Others will scramble to adapt – accepting lower margins, laying off workers, cutting wages, and potentially flooding the domestic and other foreign markets with cut-price goods.' The findings underscore the economic risks that tariffs pose to the world's second-largest economy at a time when domestic consumption remains sluggish. Trade officials continue to negotiate with US counterparts on a bilateral deal to avoid another escalation in levies; earlier this year, tariffs on China soared to 145 per cent. Data last week underscored the Asian giant's reliance on industrial production and exports to fuel growth. While gross domestic product advanced 5.2 per cent in the second quarter, outpacing analysts' estimates, it was helped by shipment frontloading and manufacturers cutting prices, both of which are tough to sustain. Nearly half of China's industrial sectors rely on overseas markets to absorb 10 per cent or more of their output, the BE analysis found, and the US remains the country's largest single-country trading partner. Elevated tariffs could, in the long run, prompt companies in the US to source goods from other countries, the analysts wrote. To be sure, there are factors that could cushion the blow to China's industry, including exports to other countries in which goods don't face the same trade barriers. Some products may also be absorbed by domestic demand. Some sectors have also cornered the global market, making it difficult or impossible for US firms to find needed items elsewhere. China's government could also step in with additional fiscal support. BLOOMBERG
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Manny Pacquiao held to draw by Mario Barrios in world title return
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Mario Barrios (left) retained his belt despite being dominated for several rounds by Manny Pacquiao. LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao's bid to make a fairytale return to boxing at the age of 46 ended in disappointment on July 20, as the Filipino icon was held to a draw by defending WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in Las Vegas. Barrios, 30, retained his belt despite being dominated for several rounds by Pacquiao, making a comeback to the ring after a four-year retirement . He was awarded the fight 115-113 by one judge, with the other two cards scoring it 114-114. The result drew a subdued reaction from the MGM Grand Garden Arena crowd, who had roared on Pacquiao during a cagey, hard-fought contest. At times, it seemed as if Pacquiao was poised to write another improbable chapter in his 30-year professional career as he used all of his guile and experience to frustrate Barrios. But Barrios rallied furiously over the final three rounds – he was deemed the winner of those rounds on all three cards – to do just enough to force a result that sees him retain his title. 'I thought I won the fight,' Pacquiao said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Singapore HSA extends hotline hours, launches new platform to report vaping offences Singapore No unified guidelines? Animal shelters chart their own paths on welfare standards Asia Tearful relatives await news of Vietnam boat capsize rescue as death toll rises to 38 Multimedia How to make the most out of small homes in Singapore Singapore Minor Issues: Why I didn't send my daughters to my brand-name primary school Opinion I thought I was a 'chill' parent. Then came P1 registration World Diplomats dismissed: Inside the overhaul reshaping Trump's foreign policy 'I mean, it was a close fight. My opponent was very tough. But it was a wonderful fight. 'I was trying to find a way to finish the fight but my opponent was so tough. He threw punches in combination and with defense, so it was hard.' Barrios, meanwhile, felt he had done enough to deserve the draw. 'I thought I pulled it out,' he said. 'But I still tip my hat to Manny. It was an honor to share the ring with him, somebody with so much experience who has accomplished so much in this sport. We left everything in the ring, nothing but love and respect.' Barrios also admitted he had been awed by Pacquiao's energy and stamina. 'That's crazy – his stamina, he can still crack and he's still strong as hell. His timing, his rhythm, everything. He was still a very awkward fighter to figure out,' he added. 'I was really pressing him, trying to make him feel old. But he has some good legs – a lot of the tank and a lot of fight left in him.' As for the future, Pacquiao hoped to continue fighting, and would be open to a rematch with Barrios. 'Of course, of course,' he replied when asked if he wanted to continue his career and face Barrios again. 'That's the only legacy that I can leave behind – to give inspiration to the Filipino people and to be proud wherever you are.' Pacquiao, whose last win came in 2019, had been regarded as a heavy underdog against his taller, rangier opponent from Texas. But the Filipino eight-division champion, one of the most beloved fighters of the era, showed little sign of being troubled for long periods. Fighting in flurries and landing crisp combinations throughout, Pacquiao consistently looked the busier fighter during the early and middle rounds. Barrios, by contrast, appeared tentative, reluctant to risk going toe-to-toe early on against the experienced Filipino. Yet for all of Pacquiao's craft, he was unable to seriously hurt Barrios, who regrouped impressively in the later rounds to connect with several jabs and do just enough to force the draw. Elsewhere, Oleksandr Usyk cemented his status as the outstanding heavyweight of his generation with a fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois in their undisputed world title bout at London's Wembley Stadium. Victory saw Ukraine's Usyk extend his unbeaten professional record to 24 fights as the WBA, WBC and WBO champion added his British opponent's IBF belt to his collection. '38 is a young guy, remember!' Usyk told DAZN in the ring after dropping to his knees in celebration. '38 is only start! I want to say thank you to Jesus Christ. I want to say thank you to my team and Wembley, thank you so much! It's for the people. 'Nothing is next. It's enough, next, I don't know. I want to rest. My family, my wife, my children, I want to rest now. Two or three months, I want to just rest.' AFP, REUTERS
