It’s that time of year for the PGA Merchandise Show held in Orlando, Florida (Jan 25 – Jan 28). More than 1,000 golf companies are showing their products and among all the cool new products are some famous golf faces – including many of the LPGA players. I wasn’t able to attend the show but I’ve been following all the chatter on Twitter, watching the live show feeds, and thought I’d post some photos of the LPGA ladies who are attended the show to represent their sponsors.

Lexi Thompson on Demo Day at the Cobra tent. Photo by Tracy Wilcox/Golfweek.

Lexi Thompson talking to reporters at Demo Day. Photo by Tracy Wilcox/Golfweek.

Lexi Thompson on Demo Day at the Cobra tent. Photo by Tracy Wilcox/Golfweek.

Paula Creamer looking fabulous at the Sundog booth. Photo by Tracy Wilcox/Golfweek.

Blair O'Neil at Cobra booth. Photo by Tracy Wilcox.

Maria Hjorth with her daughter Emily McBride and LPGA golfer Ryan OToole (at Kikkor booth). Photo by Tracy Wilcox/Golfweek.

Nicole Smith, Mallory Blackwelder, and Brittany Johnson at the Pukka Headwear booth. Photo Mallory Blackwelder via Twitter.

Nicole Smith at the Pukka Headwear booth. Photo by Tracy Wilcox/Golfweek.

Nicole Hage shows her Pukka visor at Demo Day. Photo by Tracy Wilcox/Golfweek.

More photos coming… check back!

Pink Diva is continuing our series of interviews with LPGA and Symetra Tour players in 2012. I am super excited to have the opportunity to interview Tiffany Joh! Tiffany’s rookie year on the LPGA was in 2011, and if your a golf fan you’ve probably watched her very entertaining rap videos “She Beats It” and “Grip It”. Tiffany is super duper funnnnnny – an extremely talented golfer with lots of personality – on and off the course! Her Twitter bio says she’s a “LPGA rookie, turtle-lover, and fine peace-loving citizen. drop beats not bombs”. Hilarious! Tiffany’s best finish on the LPGA in 2011 was 2nd place to Lexi Thompson at the Navistar LPGA Classic.
…

Tiffany Joh plays a tee shot during the final round of the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic (Photo courtesy of Darren Carroll/Getty Images North America)

Tiffany Joh Interview with Pink Diva Golf:

Tell us a little about yourself – hometown, where you live now, college, etc.
I live and have lived in San Diego for pretty much my whole life. I played golf for UCLA and graduated in 2009 in communications.

When did you start playing golf? Did you have any special mentors that have influenced your golf career?
I started a little late for most girls, I think I was around 12. Derek Uyeda was one of my first instructors that I met while part of The First Tee San Diego Chapter, and he probably mentored me the most growing up.

2011 was “officially” your rookie year – in 2012 with your full status on the LPGA what are your goals to be successful on the tour?
I think consistency will be key this year. I was only really legitimately in contention at a tournament once or twice this year, and I would LOVE to put myself in that position again.

Can you tell us about your experience at the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic. And what you meant when you said the tournament “was a speed bump on the way to history?”
Oh, haha, I meant I was a speed bump on LEXI’s way to history. I mean, I’m really proud of how I played, but I knew from the beginning of the final round it was pretty much going to be the Lexi show, but at least I had good seats!

Tiffany John acknowledges the gallery at the 18th hole during the final round of the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic. (Photo courtesy of: Darren Carroll/Getty Images North America)

What LPGA tournament will be your first event in 2012? What are you most looking forward at that tournament?
The Australian Open will be my first LPGA event, but I plan on playing the Aussie Masters the week before. I watched the President’s Cup on TV, so I think I’m looking most forward to curling up into the fetal position and openly weeping.

During the 2012 off-season – what part of your game are you working the hardest on?
Probably physical fitness. I was exhausted by the end of last season so I’m hoping I can get a program going that I can stick to throughout the season and finish as fresh as how I started.

Tiffany practicing at the range and getting ready for the 2012 season! Go Tiffany!

You’re known for your outgoing personality, your passion for golf and now famous for creating golf rap videos –can you tell us something else about “you” that most people don’t know? (Besides your love of Chipotle burritos!).
The people who know me best know that I’m a bit of an introvert. I can do low key hang outs with close friends, but afterwards it takes me a lot of “alone time” to recuperate.

Which LPGA golf pro has been your greatest inspiration and why?
Probably Katie Futcher, I met her earlier this year and while I was worrying about fitting in on tour, Katie always encouraged me to continue to walk to my own beat.

What’s in Tiffany John’s golf bag?
Driver: Ping g20
Irons: Ping s58s
Wedges: Callaway XS
Putter: Rife Antigua
Ball: Titleist ProvX
Footwear: Footjoy
Glove: Footjoy
Grips: Golf Pride & Lamkin
Sponsors: Titleist, Quagmire Golf Apparel

Who would be in your dream foursome?
Bon Qui Qui, Will Ferrell, Justin Timberlake, and Coach Carrie Forsyth (UCLA Women’s Golf Coach)

Drawing from Tiffany Joh.

If you were in charge of “growing the game of golf for women” what would you suggest or change to get more women involved with the game?
I think especially for the younger female population, accessibility. Most girls today who play were introduced to the game by someone in their family, whether it be a parent or close family friend. No one in my family played, but I was fortunate that my dad worked next to a First Tee chapter and I fell in love with the game there. I don’t know about other cities, but in San Diego golf can be pretty costly and I feel that making golf more financially accessible especially to young girls is huge. Get ‘em while they’re young!

If you could impact women’s golf, what would you want your legacy to be?
Ooh good question. I haven’t thought that far into the future yet, I hardly know what I’m doing for dinner tonight haha! For now, I’m doing what I love and having fun. I try not to get too ahead of myself, do what you love and be kind to others and a legacy will sort itself out on its own.

Tiffany’s website – follow her on Twitter, and YouTube!

Tiffany good luck on the LPGA tour in 2012 – we hope to see you in the winner’s circle very soon!

Support the LPGA and the Symetra Tour – attend a LPGA tournament in 2012!

Support your local First Tee Chapter! www.thefirsttee.org

Dance party at the 18th hole! Tiffany Joh & Jenny Suh at the RR Donnelly Founders Cup.

The 2012 LPGA Schedule has been released!  And with the addition of four more events!

One big surprise: a return to Williamsburg, Va., for the Sept. 6-9 Kingsmill Championship. Kingsmill.

“I’m so thrilled to be returning to Kingsmill this year,” said Cristie Kerr, a past champion. “It’s one of my favorite tournaments and it was a shame when it went away a few years ago. I really look forward to going back!”.

The Wegmans LPGA Championship moved two weeks earlier, to June 7-10, allowing more breathing room before the U.S. Women’s Open. The Ricoh Women’s British Open has moved to September to avoid clashing with the Summer Olympics in London. This year’s event will be played for the first time at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England.

Total prize money for the year increased from $40.4 million to $47 million, with the RR Donnelley Founders Cup, which debuted last year with mock earnings, featuring a legitimate purse of $1.5 million.

Below is the full 2012 LPGA schedule:

1. ISPS HANDA AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S OPEN - FEB. 9-12

2. HONDA THAILAND - FEB. 16-19

3. HSBC CHAMPIONS - FEB. 23-26

OFF MARCH 1-4

OFF MARCH 8-11

4. RR DONNELLY FOUNDERS CUP -  MARCH 15-18

5. KIA CLASSIC - MARCH 22-25

6. KRAFT NABISCO CHAMPIONSHIP - MARCH 29-APRIL 1

OFF APRIL 5-8

OFF APRIL 12-15

7. LPGA LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP - APRIL 18-21

8. MOBILE BAY LPGA CLASSIC -  APRIL 26-29

OFF (HSBC LPGA BRAZIL CUP – UNOFFICIAL) - MAY 3-6

OFF MAY 10-13

9. SYBASE MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - MAY 17-20

OFF MAY 24-27

10. SHOPRITE LPGA CLASSIC - JUNE 1-3

11. WEGMANS LPGA CHAMPIONSHIP - JUNE 7-10

OFF JUNE 14-17

12. MANULIFE FINANCIAL LPGA CLASSIC - JUNE 21-24

13. WALMART NW ARKANSAS - JUNE 28-JULY 1

14. U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN - JULY 5-8

OFF JULY 12-15

OFF JULY 19-22

15. EVIAN MASTERS -  JULY 26-29

OFF AUG. 2-5

16. JAMIE FARR TOLEDO CLASSIC -  AUG. 9-12

17. SAFEWAY CLASSIC - AUG. 17-19

18. CN CANADIAN WOMEN’S OPEN - AUG. 23-26

OFF AUG. 30-SEPT. 2

19. KINGSMILL CHAMPIONSHIP - SEPT. 6-9

20. RICOH WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN -  SEPT. 13-16

21. NAVISTAR LPGA CLASSIC -  SEPT. 20-23

OFF SEPT. 27-30

OFF OCT. 4-7

22. SIME DARBY LPGA MALAYSIA - OCT. 11-14

23. LPGA HANABANK CHAMPIONSHIP - OCT. 18-21

24. SUNRISE LPGA TAIWAN CHAMPIONSHIP - OCT. 25-28

25. MIZUNO CLASSIC -  NOV. 2-4

26. LORENA OCHOA INVITATIONAL - NOV. 8-11

27. CME TITLEHOLDERS - NOV. 15-18

Download: the 2012_LPGA_schedule

Are you ready for some……. GOLF!  The 2012 PGA Tour starts TODAY January 6 with Hyundai Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii.  AHOLA!

Watch all the action on the Golf Channel: 2012 PGA Tour

The Hyundai-sponsored event is worth 500 points in the FedEx Cup and has a $5.6 million purse with the winner being able to take home $1,120,000.  Follow the tournament on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HyundaiTOC and on Twitter @HyundaiTOC1 to get updates and a behind-the-scenes look at the tournament.

Check out the PGA 2012 Schedule here: www.pgatour.com/r/schedule

Golf enthusiasts planning their Myrtle Beach golf vacation now have a one-stop shop to conveniently book tee times – www.GolfNow.com.  More than 50 courses in Myrtle Beach – long recognized as one of the world’s premiere golf vacation destinations – have been added to Golf Channel’s online tee-time service, offering golfers the opportunity to book exclusive tee times directly through the website, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

GolfNow.com is the first national tee time booking service to enter the Myrtle Beach market.  Top area courses, such as Barefoot Resort’s Dye, Fazio and Love Courses; TPC Myrtle Beach; King’s North at Myrtle Beach National; and Caledonia Golf & Fish Club join the more than 2,400 golf courses throughout North America on the GolfNow.com platform.  The Myrtle Beach area, better known as “The Grand Strand,” hosts more than 1 million golfers playing more than 4 million rounds annually.

“Expanding into Myrtle Beach has long been a goal for GolfNow, and we are very excited to be offering consumers one easy, convenient location to book tee times at this premiere vacation destination,” saidGene Pizzolato, chief operating officer for Golf Channel New Media Ventures.  “Golf Channel continues to focus on developing innovative ways to promote the growth of golf and make golf courses across the country more accessible to the active recreational golfer, and we are very happy with the opportunity that this expansion presents.  We are excited to build on this roster of courses in Myrtle Beach as we head into 2011 and beyond.”

GolfNow.com offers access to golf courses from 45 states and is partnered with more than 2,400 courses across the U.S. and Canada. Through easy-to-implement solutions that sell tee times to golfers, GolfNow.com helps thousands of golf courses sell more rounds, increase revenues and, in turn, helps to grow the game.

Golfing World catches up with Mike Whan at the CME Group Titleholders in Orlando, FL. Whan talks about the Founders Cup, Yani Tseng and he recaps 2011.  Nice recap from Mike Whan – there’s a fire burning at the top of the Rolex Rankings!  Can’t wait for the 2012 season to start.  Although I’m super-duper disappointed the LPGA still can’t seem to bring a tournament back to Northern California.  Read the article to get the scoop.  I’m still hoping next year they can make it happen!

…

The LPGA Futures Tour has been known as “the Road to the LPGA” and since 1999, it has been designated as the LPGA’s developmental tour.  In November 2011, Symetra Financial Corporation is the new title sponsor and has been renamed:  “Symetra Tour — Road to the LPGA”. The goal of the Symetra Tour is to provided rising stars in women’s golf with an opportunity to prepare for a career on the LPGA Tour.

As part of a multi-year agreement with the LPGA, Symetra will receive official naming rights to the tour, widespread branding, an online presence, customer engagement activities, clinics, tickets and hospitality programs. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“This is an exciting day for Symetra. Not only are we announcing a title sponsorship with one of the great names in sports — the LPGA — we’re unveiling a new company logo that will be part of the Symetra Tour’s new identity as well,” said CEO Tom Marra. “Like the rising stars of the LPGA, Symetra is a company on the move. So our new logo incorporates a brand icon — the swift — one of the fastest fliers in the animal kingdom. It represents the energy, speed and agility our business partners and customers expect from us in delivering valuable retirement, benefits and life insurance products.”

With naming rights to the Symetra Tour, the company is making an important investment in its brand, which is represented by thousands of employee benefit consultants, financial institutions, and independent agents and advisors across the country. “Our partnership with the LPGA gives us a unique opportunity to build brand awareness on a national scale while advancing women’s professional golf,” said Marra.

The Symetra Tour further expands the company’s sports marketing portfolio, which also includes the “Symetra Heroes in the Classroom” program honoring outstanding teachers in partnership with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers; the “Badges for Baseball” program for at-risk youth with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation; “Together We Play,” a children’s fitness and education initiative with the Seattle Sounders (Major League Soccer); and sponsorship of PGA Tour player J.J. Henry.

***

Shop for Pink Diva Golf BLING Apparel & towels! Click here.

Just in time for the holidays – six new women’s golf towels from Pink Diva Golf!

Each golf towel has a strip of colorful fabric at the bottom of each towel. 16 x 25″ plush towel and comes with a grommet and hook so you can easily attach to any golf bag.

A great gift for your favorite women golfer! Click on link to buy the towel now!

Teed Off Golf Towel – 19.99

Swirly Girl Golf Towel – $19.99

Green Girls Golf Towel – $19.99

Girly Golfer Towel- $19.99

Girly Golfer Towel (Pink) – $19.99

Pink Ribbon Towel – $19.99

See all new Pink Diva Golf Towels, click here!

Presidents Cup Opening Ceremony

The start of the 2011 Presidents Cup was made official Wednesday in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, as the United States and International Teams were formally introduced. Courtesy of PGA.com.

Natalie Gulbis stops by Golf Channel’s Morning Drive to visit talk LPGA and the season-ending event, CME Group Titleholders.