LPGA Taking Control of Its Championship

by Mulligan Stu on Jun 6, 2008 5:51 PM EDT Comment 3 comments

Today was moving day at the LPGA Championship. Yes, I know that the phrase "moving day" refers to the third round of a tournament. But I'm not talking about what was happening on the course. I'm talking about what was happening off it.

And that is this: The LPGA Tour announced today it is taking over the LPGA Championship. Funny thing, the LPGA has never owned its title event. Imagine the PGA of America not owning the PGA Championship. That's the situation that has existed in women's golf. Businessman and philanthropist Herb Lotman has owned the LPGA Championship - the tournament and the right to run it and the right to place it where he wants - for more than a decade.

But the LPGA will take over ownership and management of its signature tournament beginning in 2010.

This is long overdue, and kudos to Commissioner Carolyn Bivens for making this happen.

McDonald's has added a lot to this tournament over the years and deserves thanks for its support. In fact, the tournament has enountered financial problems in the past, and the LPGA Tour may never before have been in a position to make a move like this. But it is now.

And now it can go about turning the LPGA Championship into an event of much greater stature, and event that truly feels like a major championship. By dropping the title sponsor, to start with. The tour's announcement included the news that beginning in 2010, there will be no more title sponsor. (A "presenting sponsor" - as in, "LPGA Championship presented by Waggle Room" - may still be sought.)

The next step: Placing the LPGA Championship on the best courses in the country. No offense to Bulle Rock, but let's face it: That course is only about the 23rd best Pete Dye course. It's not a best-in-show golf course.

The LPGA Championship needs to visit the great courses around the country, and the newer buzzworthy courses, too. That will lend more of a major feeling to the proceedings, also. The LPGA didn't address this possibility in today's announcement, except to say that the location of the 2010 tournament is not yet determined.

This is a major move by the LPGA, and I love it.

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I'm with you

I like the move.

The one thing that has always bothered me about majors on the LPGA Tour is that they have always been up for sale. The Weetabix Women’s British Open just doesn’t carry the same weight as “THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP”. No offense to McDonalds and Kraft, but putting a corporate name in front of anything that is supposed to be a major really cheapens the whole thing. I just hope that the economy doesn’t cause this bold move to boomerang against them and they come out way ahead.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Jun 6, 2008 9:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bulle Rock 23rd?

hmm, every publication lists it in the top 50 or so public courses in the country, and golf digest even has it as one of 12 5-star public facilities.

The problem with the ladies at bulle rock is that it wasn’t designed for them. The holes don;t play as they were designed because they move so many of the tees up. The 18th hole is a joke from where they play it, all the par 3’s are 150-ish, and all forced carries get eliminated.

by beerduffer on Jun 9, 2008 4:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

apples and oranges

good point about how the course plays for the women – but does that have anything to do with the ranking ?

in all honesty – there are NO courses that are designed to the specs of an LPGA tournament, but you are right – the par 3’s don’t need to be so repetitive – and 18 could use a little more length to make them think more about the water on the left.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Jun 9, 2008 4:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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