Written: Alexandra Canal
Associate Producer
As the conversation over U.S. women’s soccer’s pay inequality reaches a fever pitch, another sport is grappling with a similarly polarizing debate: Golf.
In the wake of the U.S. Women’s National Team clinching back-to-back World Cup wins, 20-time Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) champion Cristie Kerr believes there’s a need to close the gap with male golfers.
She told Yahoo Finance in an interview that more work needs to be done at a business level to achieve true pay equality.
“The [LPGA] may not be exactly the same product as the PGA Tour from a TV perspective, from the money perspective…but we are an amazing product,” Kerr said during a recent YFi PM interview.
“I’m not saying we deserve equal because we’re not the same product yet but we need to close the gap,” she added.
GUADALAJARA, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 11: Cristie Kerr of the United States kisses the trophy after winning the fifth edition of the LPGA Lorena Ochoa Invitational
GUADALAJARA, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 11: Cristie Kerr of the United States kisses the trophy after winning the fifth edition of the LPGA Lorena Ochoa Invitational
More
Why the LGPA ‘Doesn’t Deserve’ such large gender pay gap
The prize money for the upcoming Women’s British Open — despite rising 40% to $4.5M — is still significantly less than the $10.75M purse for the men’s tournament.
“It dwarfs it,” Kerr said. “We don’t deserve to make 10 to 15% of what they make.”
A male-dominated sport, golf has often been criticized for its severe gender pay disparity. Some studies in recent years have revealed that male caddies earn even more money than some of the top female players.
###
