LPGA Comment on Ginn Situation

I spoke with the LPGA Tour today to get an update or comment on the Ginn situation.  I received a statement attributed to Carolyn Bivens.

"We are extremely disappointed and surprised by yesterday's announcement by the Ginn Company that they have terminated all sponsorships in professional golf, including the Ginn OPEN. While we are keenly aware of the challenges that all businesses are facing in today's economy, we had been led to believe by the Ginn Company that the event would be held as scheduled in 2009. The Orlando community has been terrific throughout the years and the LPGA looks forward to returning to the Orlando market in the future."

Her sentiments seems to reflect those of Bivens' predecesor Ty Votaw, quoted in Steve Elling's piece.

"We were involved in discussions to address whatever issues there may have been in their ability to perform their contract," Votaw said Thursday. "We were disappointed and surprised with the suddenness of the announcement without any forewarning."

Both were "disappointed and surprised."  Disappointed seems appropriate, but surprised doesn't seem to be.  When Ginn pulled out of the Ginn Tribute and Ginn sur Mer Classic at the end of 2008, the writing was probably on the wall that this house of cards was tumbling. 

Certainly, Ginn did appear to give assurances that the Ginn Open would happen in 2009.  But, it was also openly known that Ginn may also be seeking a buyout for that sponsorship, or sell it to a third party.  We had heard no reports of assurances about the future of the Ginn Champ Tour event.

Still, a good amount of blame should fall square on Ginn for even hinting that they would be able to meet their financial responsibilities and then to cancel with 11 weeks' notice.