"WTF are we doing so wrong?" - LPGA boss told by former pro to sort out Solheim Cup

Former European Solheim Cup star Mel Reid has called on LPGA Tour commissioner Craig Kessler to improve the event's marketing after disappointing TV viewing figures for the latest edition of the biennial contest were revealed.

Anna Nordqvist's Europe completed a two-point victory over Angela Stanford's United States side on September 10.

According to Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal, only 179,000 tuned in to the Golf Channel to watch the action unfold on Saturday, and it dropped to 170,000 for the Sunday singles.

Of course, it should be pointed out that the matches, at Bernardus Golf Club in the Netherlands, began in the early hours of the morning for American viewers. Viewing figures from Sky Sports haven't been made available. 

Yet it was alarming that the audience figures were substantially lower compared to the last time the Solheim Cup was staged on European soil, with 227,000 average viewers for the same time zone.

Reid told the Quiet Please podcast: "First of all, I'm not trying to defend this, but the timing was a bit odd, obviously because we're in Europe and the timing of it was the middle of the night for you guys, so I do get that.

"I don't know what the f--- we're doing so wrong, to be quite honest with you, because that is literally one of the greatest sporting events that we get to witness all year - men or women, especially women.

"This is where I get frustrated, because I do feel like the players are delivering the entertainment.

"The players are delivering everything that we're asking them for.

"Why is it that we just can't get people to watch?

"Yes, I think they were down because of the hours, but how do we get more people to tune in and watch it?"

Reid continued: "I think marketing's a big problem on the LPGA, I really do.

"I think that's the number one thing that [LPGA commissioner] Craig Kessler [needs] to do better at.

"The marketing budget is horrific, and we've spoken about this, but we need people to watch, we need people to watch a regular LPGA event.

"The fact that viewership was for the f---ing Solheim Cup is actually really heart-breaking to me. It's really heart-breaking. It's the best of the best."

"It's golf on steroids which happens when you get passionate and play for your country and the flag that's on your chest, but it's just really sad.

"The budget as well for the Solheim Cup - I was on that side of it - it's literally nothing.

"Obviously compared to the men's, and I understand the difference with the marketing and what they bring in is significantly different, and I'm very aware of that.

"But even our budgets for our team stuff, what we can do with the team room, what we can do with the locker room at the golf course, it's wild to me that it's such a significant change.

"Why is that? Why are we not closing that gap for a product that is, in my opinion, sensational?"