Have you ever stopped to think about what it must have been like for those thirteen women in 1950 who decided to start something new with golf? I doubt they knew they were about to change the game forever when they launched the Ladies Professional Golf Association—the LPGA. Remarkably, it’s now the longest-running women’s pro sports organization out there—75 years. It started with just 15 tournaments, which had a total prize fund of $40,250, and here we are in 2025 with 32 events and a massive $131 million on the line.

They’re competing in 12 countries and 14 states, with players coming from 33 different nations. It’s clear women’s golf isn’t just holding its own—it’s making waves worldwide. Still, I can’t help but notice it doesn’t always get the recognition it should. You see, the PGA Tour has this knack for turning players like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth into big names everyone knows. You’ve got documentaries, insider videos, and all kinds of coverage, keeping them in the conversation. The LPGA, though? It’s still working to catch up in that department. Things like the Drive On campaign are helping, but there’s more ground to cover to get its stars the same kind of spotlight.

This is despite the fact that women have been playing golf for ages (there was even a tournament recorded back in 1811 in Scotland). So if anyone understands the struggles female golfers face, it is Lydia Ko. The Olympic gold medalist talked about how special this 75th season feels. After her round at the Ford Championship, she said:

“Yeah, you know, it’s obviously always an exciting thing to be a part of history. Thanks to our 13 founders, now I have the opportunity to live my dream and all those that came past them, all the pioneers. It’s a huge honor. It’s an exciting time for women’s sports and especially women’s golf. It’s cool to be in this era where there’s been a lot of growth in the game, and I’m excited to see where it goes.”

But here’s the twist: Ko’s already thinking about stepping away. Even with all her recent wins, she’s still planning to retire before she hits 30. Most athletes dodge that topic, but she is open about wanting to explore other things down the line. So, will she be out there when the LPGA hits its 100th anniversary in 2050? She doesn’t think so. She laughed and said, “I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be playing in the 100th anniversary, but I’ll be cheering from afar.”

She had some thoughts for the younger players, too. She stated: “We have a lot of junior golfers that are out here watching us this week. Just keep focusing on your game and just have fun, and sometimes it’s not going to be an easy ride, but if you enjoy it, I think your time will come. So I’m excited to root you on from afar.”

It’s cool to think that even if Ko’s not competing in 2050, she’ll still have left her mark. And if the LPGA keeps building like this, I bet those thirteen founders from 1950 would be pretty thrilled to see how things look today.

Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports

Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports

Ko’s words reflect the progress the LPGA has made—not just in promises, but in tangible results. And as the tour continues to evolve, that growth is becoming more evident to fans, players, and rising stars alike.

The LPGA Tour is preparing for the future!

Have you heard about what the LPGA Foundation is doing these days? It’s not just about golf—it’s about tearing down walls and giving women and girls a real shot at the sport, especially those who might not have had a chance otherwise. I was blown away to learn that over 120,000 people feel the impact of their LPGA USGA Girls Golf program every year. It really shows how golf can belong to anyone. Since it got going in 1991, the foundation has turned into something pretty incredible. Take the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program—it’s bringing 100,000 young girls into the game each year. And that’s just the start. They’ve got Leadership Academies building up future trailblazers, scholarships and grants helping out those who need a boost, and a network of 16,000 LPGA Amateurs who just love getting out there to play.

For Cheyenne Woods, this wasn’t just some side project—it’s where her whole golf story began. She has been an advocate for diversification of the sport. After all, she is the sixth African American to play on the LPGA Tour and wanted people from all walks of life to be able to play the sport. No wonder in 2016, she helped raise $15,000 to bring fresh water wells to remote areas of Zambia. She did this with her partnership with “Golf ‘Fore’ Africa” Fundraiser.

She has also volunteered at the USGA Girls Golf program in Phoenix, and through this she got the opportunity to encourage junior golfers. So it is more than just a sport for her.

The LPGA made some serious strides, no question, but there’s still plenty left to tackle. I think the more we share stories like Cheyenne’s, the more young girls will realize they’ve got a spot in this sport, too. So, what do you think—how can the LPGA keep reaching out to new players and spark that fire in the next wave of champs?