PITTSFORD, NEW YORK, June 5, 2012 – The LPGA continues to encourage fans to “See Why Its Different Out Here” this week by officially debuting caddie bibs that feature players’ Twitter handles beginning at the Wegmans LPGA Championship. The bibs will be worn all four tournament days and will feature the last name of the player with their Twitter handle below (see photo). Fans at Locust Hill Country Club and those watching on Golf Channel and the LPGA’s many international television partners will be able to read the player’s Twitter handles and directly connect with them through this social media platform.

The LPGA and the Wegmans LPGA Championship will be the first golf tour and golf event to feature this type of program. The LPGA expects to continue the program at the majority of tournaments on the 2012 schedule.

“We’re excited to launch this innovative idea to further connect our players to our fans,” said LPGA Chief Marking Officer Jon Podany. “Everyone at the LPGA is working hard to get our message out and create more awareness for the Tour and our players. Our goal is to be forward thinking and the early response to this idea has been terrific. We feel that our players are among the most accessible and fan friendly athletes in sport. This is yet another reason for people to ‘See Why It’s Different’ on the LPGA Tour.”

Twitter provides a direct pathway for fans to connect and engage with LPGA players. To date, a total of 119 LPGA players are on Twitter, including 93 players in this week’s Wegmans LPGA Championship field. Earlier this season, the Tour launched a brand campaign video spot about Twitter featuring Michelle Wie (@themichellewie) and Suzann Pettersen (@suzannpettersen). The video can be viewed on the LPGA’s YouTube page at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCuj1YJiYhk&feature=plcp

“The LPGA really embraces new media and I think it’s such a great way to get our Twitter names out there,” said Michelle Wie, who has more than 82,000 Twitter followers. “Putting the Twitter names on the caddie bibs will help the fans get to know us better.”

“I think this idea is brilliant,” said Suzann Pettersen. “I'm surprised no one has come up with it before because it seems like such a good thing to do. The space is right there and this is how the fans love to kind of interact with us, and for us to kind of get people involved in our own life and what we're doing.”

The LPGA, its players and tournaments currently have 1.2 million followers across a variety of social media platforms. Natalie Gulbis (@natalie_gulbis) leads the LPGA with more than 116,000 followers on Twitter, while Paula Creamer (@ThePCreamer) has more than 90,000 and Wie has more than 82,000.

It’s Official! @LPGA Steps Up Social Media Efforts With Twitter Handles on Caddie Bibs at Wegmans LPGA Championship

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