The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, a crown jewel of women’s professional golf, is poised for a technological revolution courtesy of a groundbreaking partnership between KPMG, a global professional services network, and the telecommunications giant, T-Mobile.
This year’s Championship, held at Sahalee Country Club from June 20 to 23, promises to be the most technologically advanced event in LPGA history. The collaboration between longtime sponsor KPMG and industry-leading mobile network provider T-Mobile aims to elevate the fan experience and empower players with deeper performance insights.
The centrepiece of the partnership is the launch of “KPMG CHAMPCAST presented by T-Mobile.” This innovative platform, accessible online and through an app, offers fans a game-changing experience. Real-time, shot-level data is available for every player, mirroring the technology used on the PGA Tour. Fans can expect to see shot trails, 3D imagery, and radar data, providing a richer and more immersive viewing experience.
Furthermore, KPMG Performance Insights, a data analytics platform launched in 2021, has received a significant upgrade this year. Players, media, and fans benefit from real-time data and analytics delivered directly to them. A crucial addition is “strokes gained,” a new statistic specifically introduced for the LPGA tour. This metric goes beyond total score, offering valuable insights into a player’s strengths and weaknesses across different areas of their game.
T-Mobile’s industry-leading 5G network will be deployed throughout the tournament. This robust network will enable faster data transmission, enhancing broadcasting capabilities and facilitating a more immersive experience for fans on-site. Additionally, it will improve the overall efficiency of event operations.
KPMG U.S. Chair and CEO Paul Knopp emphasized the commitment to elevating women’s golf through technology, “In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, this new collaboration with T-Mobile is the latest milestone in our effort to advance the women’s game by utilizing and integrating the latest technology.
“If you think about coming off the course after your rounds, (the players) now have real-time data to understand their game. If they didn’t shoot quite what they wanted to shoot, they can diagnose whether it was their short game, putting, or driving using the data we’re capturing and then they can improve their game on the putting green or driving range. We’re really excited about this advancement. It’s only possible because of the amazing partnership between the PGA of America and T-Mobile to make sure we have the right technology. And more importantly, it’s the same technology the men use.
“It’s another example of how we’re trying to elevate and create more equity in the women’s game.”
LPGA Tour No. 1 Nelly Korda echoes this sentiment, “This championship is one of the biggest weeks in women’s golf and I’m looking forward to competing at Sahalee. T-Mobile’s support of the event has elevated it even further and the technology improvements give us, and the fans, a chance to engage with data from every shot throughout the week like never before.”
Stacy Lewis, a KPMG Brand Ambassador, underscores the broadcast advantage, noting how data visualization enhances storytelling and viewer engagement, “It makes the broadcast move along and makes it more entertaining. I love the predictive part of this person had a zero percent chance to win and all of a sudden, they do. There is just some really cool stuff to that. They just make the broadcast more interesting for those watching. I’m excited the CHAMPCAST though, being able to go on that app – because the guys have had this forever – know where you can pinpoint and see all the shots.”
LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan emphasized the role of technology in showcasing the talent of LPGA players, “Technology is a great equalizer in sports. We are grateful to the commitment of KPMG, T-Mobile and our partners at the PGA of America to help tell the story of the LPGA Tour players more aggressively and more accurately than ever before. The talent on our tour is unbelievable and a technology solution like CHAMPCAST, combining with our season-long KPMG Performance Insights platform helps advance interest in the game and understanding of how incredibly talented these athletes are.”
The 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship promises to be a landmark event, not just for its groundbreaking technology, but also for its impact on the future of women’s professional golf.
USA’s Lexi Thompson currently leads after round one, shooting an impressive 68. Nelly Korda and Patty Tavatanakit are close behind, tied at 69. India’s Aditi Ashok is four strokes behind tied at even par (72). Round two begins today at 7:30 PM IST.