What’s stopping women’s golf from exploding in popularity? According to CBS golf broadcaster Amanda Balionis, it’s not the talent, not the golfers, and definitely not the audience. It’s the system. And she’s not afraid to say it. In a recent appearance, Balionis echoed the same sentiments that LPGA golfers have been speaking about for years, that the “quality of LPGA tournament broadcasts needs to get a lot better.”

On a recent episode of the ‘Well Played’ podcast, when Balionis was asked when the LPGA is going to receive its moment of spotlight like its male counterparts or even like other sports, she was optimistic. But also unmistakably candid. “So, I think the women’s game is gaining popularity. I think systemically there’s some change that needs to happen with the way it’s broadcast, where it’s broadcast,” Balionis admitted on the podcast.

The women’s game, she said, is growing, but the infrastructure around it is still stuck in the past. She highlighted an example of the PGA tour, stating that “you can turn it on at 3 p.m. Eastern time, either on CBS or NBC, you know, golf’s going to be on, right?” But the case for the LPGA? Starkly different. “The LPGA is a little bit hard to find right now. So, I think consistency is key,” Balionis continued. 

But Amanda Balionis didn’t just take a dig at the system. She also offered a subtle message to the new LPGA commissioner, Craig Kessler, with a healthy dose of optimism.

Her solution to the problem is “allowing them to tee it up at golf courses that fans want to see.” That ‘hard to find on television’ problem has haunted the LPGA for years. And Balionis thinks the answer is hiding in plain sight— give fans something to look at.

“Fans are turning on the PGA Tour often because they want to look at Pebble Beach. They want to look at Augusta National. They want to look at Riviera. They want to watch at TPC Scottsdale for the Phoenix Open, right? It’s just as much about the vibe in the course as it is about the competitors,” she highlighted.

What Balionis is pointing out here goes beyond just the golfers — it’s about atmosphere. When fans tune into Augusta or Pebble Beach, they’re not just watching golf — they’re experiencing a story that’s been building for decades.

And the onus of creating that story is something she laid on Kessler —“So, I think the new commissioner, the LPGA, I think he’s going to knock this out of the park, and he understands the difference. So, I do I think the evolution’s happening. I think it’s just going to continue to get better. ” 

To be fair, Kessler isn’t blind to the issue. Appointed in May, he’s already admitted that the LPGA is too hard to access — literally. “For so many sports, it’s easy to know when to turn on the TV or click open an app and find the golfers you want to see at predictable times. It’s really, really hard to do that today with women’s golf,” Kessler told Front Office Sports shortly after his appointment. And he has already been working on it, as evidenced by the changes ahead of the FM Championship in August.

But while the course and broadcast issues are clear, the golfers themselves have long voiced these concerns—so the question remains, is that enough to spark real change?

LPGA golfers Have Been Speaking Out for Months, Echoing What Amanda Balionis Said

LPGA golfers have been raising their voices about the challenges Balionis highlighted long before she spoke up. Charley Hull, for instance, didn’t mince words at the 2025 Evian Championship when she said, “The quality of LPGA tournament broadcasts needs to get a lot better.” Her blunt honesty captured a frustration shared by many — despite their skill and hard work, the women’s game often feels sidelined in terms of media attention and production value.

Stacy Lewis, who recently announced her retirement, echoed similar concerns with a focus on visibility. She praised the strides made in prize money but stressed that without more consistent TV coverage and recognition, golfers like Nelly Korda, who had a historic winning streak in 2024, don’t get the spotlight they deserve. “I wish she had gotten more recognition for that run she went on,” Lewis said, highlighting a disconnect between performance and public awareness. For Lewis and many others, better media coverage isn’t just about ratings; it’s also about inspiring the next generation of female golfers.

Even Megan Khang expressed confidence in the LPGA’s new leadership under Craig Kessler, yet she admits there’s plenty of room for improvement. “We definitely trust him and the direction he’s going in,” she said, but added that building a bigger fan base requires more than just good intentions — it takes consistent exposure, better broadcast deals, and events that capture fans’ attention. In this chorus of voices, Amanda Balionis’s call for systemic change echoes loud and clear — it’s time for the LPGA to claim the stage it’s long deserved.