Tournament of Champions Was a Win For The LPGA

This week was much needed for the LPGA. The Tournament of Champions brought out a myriad of good vibes, from hilarious mic'ed up moments to between round concerts—there was a lightheartedness to the tour's first event of the season.

TOC by design is meant to be more fun for everyone involved, players and fans alike, and it appears to have been a hit. This was undoubtably a win for the LPGA, here's why:

A Wire-to-Wire Victory

A Lim Kim set the tone from round one. This was her event to lose. Despite world No. 1 Nelly Korda chasing her down, Kim held her own en route to her third LPGA Tour Victory.

The Magic Continues for Korda

No one is shocked by seeing Korda’s name near the top of the leaderboard, but you can never assume a player’s form each week. Korda played herself into contention over the weekend, making this her 6th top-10 finish at HGVTOC. Despite it not being a full field, we can and should take her runner up finish as a good sign that the magic of last season is carrying over.

Pay Attention to Asterisk Talley

Playing from the same tees as the pros and leading with a score to place her atop the celebrity field, Asterisk Talley is a name you’re going to want to remember. The 15-year-old wasn’t listed on either leaderboard due to her amateur status, yet she hung in there and held her own over the course of the tournament. After making the cut at last year’s U.S. Women’s Open, the teen is an up and coming player to keep an eye on this season.

The Tour Played the Social Game Really Well

The golf product of the LPGA has always been good—but the coverage…not so much. Network time slots don’t play them any favors either, so how do you remedy that? You must draw attention through other mediums. This week’s social content across the Tour’s platforms and the host (Hilton Grand Vacations) accounts has been incredibly well done. We’re getting highlight reels, mic’ed up moments, and TikTok trends starring Larry the Cable Guy that created buzz.

Looking Ahead, and Keeping Momentum

With some of the biggest stars getting early reps with positive results, social content creating buzz—this is a promising start for the 75th season of the LPGA. Next week will be the first full field event of what we can only hope to be another exciting season.