Rory McIlroy started the 2025 PGA Championship with a frustrating three-over 74. Well, after the bad game, instead of facing the media, he moved straight to the range, and the criticism hit him fast. Stacy Lewis, watching from her perspective in women’s golf, saw more than a bad press moment, she saw a cautionary tale. “You know… players really have to take ownership of this tour,” she said, her voice calm but serious, the kind of tone that comes from someone who’s lived the highs and lows. “This is your tour. You’ve got to take care of it. You’ve got to care. And, um, you guys got to take ownership of it.” She wasn’t just talking in general, her words were meant for Nelly Korda, the current stars of the LPGA, and every rising player who could easily choose individual focus over collective responsibility.

Stacy, a former world number one, officially stepped away from the tour in September. She made her perspective clear during a recent appearance on the LPGA YouTube show with Hope Barnett and Emma Talley. Hope asked her directly, “Um, you definitely left the tour in a better place, Stacy… with players like Nelly Korda… how do we stay on this trajectory?” And Stacy’s answer was firm. “You guys got to take ownership of it. You got to take care of it. Um, you have to care. You know, if you see trash on the ground, pick it up. Clean out your locker at the end of the week. Like, do all these little things that, you know, make sure these tournaments want us coming back. Not only the sponsors but make sure the golf course wants us coming back every year.” But this wasn’t the only problem!

Then there was the lesson on the media, which McIlroy had made acutely aware by his moment.. “Take care of the media. Answer the questions, um, as much as you can. You know, there are definitely times where I said no and, like, I needed a minute to kind of unwind… but if you can take 10, 15 minutes and then come back and answer the questions, it really means a lot.” She credits the legends before her for shaping the mindset she lives by. “Beth Daniel and Meg Mallon told me, ‘You’re going to be asked to do a lot. You need to do as much as you can.’” Stacy calls it the difference between being a star and being a steward of the sport.

“I think we’re on a good path,” she said, before adding the part that matters most. “We really got to get the TV side of things figured out… Get our players to be stars outside of our little golf world.” And that’s where she drew the line in the sand. “The golf world is pretty small. So, um, get ourselves seen outside of that golf world so that, um, you know, we can reach other fans and bring more people in.” Her advice and warning hit especially hard because media still underexposes women’s golf players like Nelly Korda.

Nelly Korda and others struggle for coverage

Women golfers may dominate the leaderboard and achieve major championship titles, but many feel unnoticed once the cameras are off. Lydia Ko and Nelly Korda are frequently discussed within golf circles, yet they struggle to gain visibility beyond that niche audience. Limited airtime and budget restrictions have hindered their exposure. “It’s not the golfers’ fault,” Ko stated, noting the broadcast limitations and the absence of lucrative TV rights deals. With ESPN’s contract nearing its conclusion and the PGA Tour securing a joint agreement until 2030, it has become evident that women still don’t receive the same visibility as men.

“I feel like it’s a double-edged sword,” Ko explained. “We need a bigger budget for more cameramen and airtime. But without that investment, we won’t gain the exposure we need.” Nelly Korda expressed similar frustrations at the 2025 AIG Women’s Open, stating, “We need more investment in us, network TV and anything that pushes us forward will always help.” She believes the LPGA is “trending in a great direction” but insists the tour must “never be content.”

Although there is a new $55 million Fortinet contract for the Founders Cup, the greater challenge remains visibility. The narrative surrounding the growth of women’s golf does not fully reflect the broadcast figures, as industry observers point out. LPGA stars possess talent and an expanding fanbase, yet media neglect and inadequate publicity overshadow even the most prominent figures in mainstream sports.