08/26/2026
The CPKC Women's Open at Royal Mayfair Golf Club
I have been a huge golf fan for most of my life. A number of years ago, I started to watch the LPGA Tour and I couldn't figure out why it didn't get more air time and why most golf fans didn't seem to watch it or show it the same interest as the men's game.
Over the years, the womens game has gone from strength to strength. The prizes have become larger, attendances have increased and TV stations have begun to finally see value in the LPGA.
Last week in Edmonton, I also saw another side to the LPGA that I hadn't seen before. The characters behind the golfers.
Yes, their ability is undeniable, their dedication to their craft is unmatched and their faces may be familiar to some. That is not what sets them apart. The real difference is the people.
I watched as the players engaged with fans, showing an active interest in them. PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN was asking people where they had travelled from and chatted back and forth. Nelly generously gave her time signing autographs and taking photos with supporters. Julia Lopez Ramirez missed the cut but still smiled and engaged with both kids and adults after her round. Cassie Porter chatted to fans as though they were old friends and showed a warmth towards people (even while on the course) that I have rarely seen in a professional athlete.
The winner of the tournament, Miyu Yamash*ta, spent hours on media duties after her victory, yet, even in an extreme rush to catch her flight to the next tournament, stopped to take photos with fans and hand out signed golf balls.
For professional athletes, it is easy to become detached from the world and regular people. This week, the LPGA women proved that you can be elite, but still be human.
