Meghan MacLaren is in her third 12 months as an expert golfer on the Ladies European Tour (LET). Just shy of her twenty-fifth birthday, her game and her profile are regularly gaining floor. This month alone, she sandwiched a 2nd profession win between two top 10s. Her reward for that was slightly £19k. Had she been competing for the equal prize fund as the men at the PGA Tour over the same three-week period, she could have a pool within the lawn and Ferrari at the drive. Instead, she is agonizing over whether or not to make investments the equal of her winners’ cheque, £14k, on a TrackMan device to hone her sport still also.

This is the fact for the woman of the species trying to make professional golf pay. However, MacLaren’s journey changed into not so different to the expert male, a graduate of the American collegiate program, a superb newbie representing GB&I inside the 2016 Curtis Cup; the rewards for executing the same talents aren’t yet there. And that remains a supply of a few frustrations for girls.

A glance at MacLaren’s Twitter feed, which articulates the position powerfully, would inform you that. MacLaren isn’t always advocating equal pay. She understands the commercial landscape, how and why the money finally ends up gravitating towards the guys. Her red meat lacks visibility; this is denying ladies a platform to exhibit a sport equally compelling. In this, she is echoing the laments of her forebears.

Historic event Help may be handy. Next week, MacLaren is among 41 girls in a 123-participant line-up collaborating in a historical blended gender stroke play event in Jordan: the Mixed Jordan Open, bringing together players from the Staysure [senior] Tour, the LET, and the Challenge Tour over 54 holes. You will notice that none of the male participants are from the main European tour. Nevertheless, as MacLaren claims, this nonetheless represents progress. “The LET is sending its exceptional ladies but not against the great guys.

Shame this is how it has to go to develop the ladies’ profile, but it is an excellent opportunity for us and a massive credit score to folks that made it manifest. We want as lots of interest and exposure as feasible,” MacLaren stated. Given the problem golf faces with falling participation numbers, dwindling memberships at clubs, the game is screaming out for innovation, something new to shiver our timbers. In this forward-thinking, gender-sensitive, twenty-first-century international, you surprise why it has taken. See you later to give you a concept that features both men and women at the identical path competing against each different for equal cash – a $393k prize fund.

The direction set-up measures 7,152 yards for the Challenge Tour boys, 6,601 for the ancients, and six,139 for the girls. The objective is to have participants hitting approach pictures to the same club’s vegetables if no longer from an equal distance. Around the dance floor, there is little difference between the professional codes. Disappointingly, the event will not be televised; however, it will be dispensed as a highlights package and supported through social media.

Getting broadcasters and sponsors on board The obvious appeal for women is to show off their game, illustrate the inherent cost of looking women hit golfing balls, and persuade broadcasters and sponsors to get on board. MacLaren additionally factors out the critical price accruing to guys in having mixed-gender involvement. It’s not a one manner leg-up for girls but a jointly useful exercise. “The industrial truth manner innovation is continually needed to enhance the hobby. One of the pleasant things approximately golf is its capacity to deal with blended capacity. Go to any golfing membership this weekend, and there will be blended occasions going on, men and women playing together. This is something the expert recreation may want to profit by.

The common male golfer lacks out a lot by now not being uncovered to girls golfing because distance-sensible is far greater relatable. I experience looking at Rory [McIlroy] and Dustin Johnson hit three hundred backyard drives like a lot as the next man or woman. It’s first-rate to observe; however, you get a great deal of satisfaction from hitting a 3-iron stiff into the wind or getting up and down from a loopy lie. Every single golfer can relate to one’s matters. There is a lot to understand about the ladies’ expert recreation.

The scoring is just outstanding, and that displays the competencies on the show. People have a misconception that ladies’ golf isn’t appropriate sufficient. That’s not actual. We have the product it merely wishes to be showcased extra.” And to be clear, MacLaren isn’t making a case for salary equality. “In a wonderful world, that could be the case, but I apprehend commercially wherein the cash comes from. If the men are on TV, there is going to be extra cash. The LPGA gets extra money than the LET. They are each lady’s tours. So I get that. It all loops returned into the argument that if we can get seen, we will never get the cash we deserve.