Vast pay difference highlights problems facing ladies’ golf

The big pay disparity between men and women in golf has underlined the work needed to re-invigorate the ladies’ game.

The huge challenges facing women’s golf were laid bare this week in a study examining the pay gap between men and the fairer sex in sport.

Golf was one of the sports where the gap was biggest, which wasn’t a surprise. Equal pay is not on the horizon, but we must try to reduce the gap.

However, it was good to hear Helen Grant, the Minister for Sport, getting involved in the debate and putting the issue into the public domain.

The difference between earnings on the two tours is enormous. Suzann Pettersen leads the Order of Merit with £315,000, but that is small fry compared to Rory McIlroy’s multi-million dollar winnings.

In fact, Pettersen’s earnings would only be enough to put her in 87th place on the Race to Dubai rankings.

But money is only half the story. While the European Tour has struggled with a loss of tournaments on the Continent because of the economic downturn, the effect on the Ladies’ European Tour has been profound.

July was the only month this year when there has been a tournament every week.

Forget about equal pay, it’s important to develop a robust schedule that will create a healthy tour.

There are signs of optimism, but they must try to develop national Opens, similar to how the men’s tour got going. Ladies’ golf is a good barometer for the health of the sport, and at the moment it’s struggling, especially at grassroots level.

It was so important the R&A accepted lady members because they can be at the forefront of generating more interest for women’s golf and getting more young girls to try the sport.

The biggest opportunity for women’s golf is the Olympics in Brazil.

It’s even more important than for the men’s game.

And they will compete on an equal footing in Rio because the winners of each event will receive the same thing a gold medal.

It’s the ideal showcase because it’s the best platform for female sport.

Think of all the women who won medals for Team GB in London, and how they’ve inspired young girls to try cycling, judo or taekwondo.

We want that for golf, and those four days in 2016 can be the best possible initiative.