Suzann Pettersen: ‘Women’s golf is lagging behind and there is no reason’

As a European Solheim Cup skipper and major-winning player, Suzann Pettersen is one of women’s golf’s most recognisable figures.

But she believes the sport still has some way to go as it seeks to hang onto the coattails of surging interest in female sport.

England’s Red Rose winning Rugby World Cup team competed in front of a record-breaking sell-out crowd at Twickenham, while England’s footballers defended the European Championships watched on by huge TV audiences.

Pettersen has set up VOXA, a company entirely dedicated to elevating professional women’s golf. Asked on The PGA’s GBQ Podcast, hosted Sky Sports Golf presenter Sarah Stirk, about the progress of golf within that landscape, Pettersen said: “I still believe it’s lagging behind and there is no reason.

“I think [Aryna] Sabalenka [tennis player] said it best after winning the US Open and she was asked, ‘do you guys deserve the same prize money as the guys? The guys play five sets. You play three’.

Suzann Pettersen: ‘We’re in 2025, you would think the equality of prize money in the game of sports was in a better state’

“I think she answered it correctly. The only difference between men and women is the physical aspect of it. The work they put in is equal. There is no difference in the effort and workload they put into this game.

“Women golfers don’t do any less work to become the best at their game in comparison to the best men. Charley [Hull] doesn’t work any less than Rory and Jeeno [Thitikul] doesn’t work any less than Scheffler.

“So why is there a difference? We’re in 2025, you would think the equality of, especially, prize money in the game of sports was in a better state.

“All we can do is [keep] investing, elevating, raising and building the profiles. You see with Charley, how she has built her profile. She has achieved more followers.

“She’s engaging with fans. I think it’s a collateral effort from everyone in the industry to make this possible.”

Now have your say

What do you make of Suzann Pettersen’s thoughts? Is women’s golf still lagging behind? Let us know in the comments, or talk to us on X.

• NOW READ: We’ve got to do something about the L word

• NOW READ: Should your gender determine the golf clubs you use?