New LPGA Tournament Announced...Sort Of
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 16, 2009 3:00 PM EDT
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PrintWith the domestic LPGA Tour schedule nearly in shambles and foreign events staged exclusively as invitationals that shaft rank-and-file players, Acting Commissioner Marsha Evans needed to act immediately to get some new, stable tournaments.
She did just that. For women older than 45! May I present to you the first major on the senior ladies' tour scheudle: The Legends Tour Open Championship.
The Legends Tour, the official senior tour of the LPGA and comprised of the greatest female golfers of all time, will play its first major championship at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in November. The Legends Tour Open Championship will be contested on Innisbrook’s Island Course from November 20-22, 2009, and feature a $300,000 purse.
The 36-hole stroke play tournament, which is sanctioned by The Legends Tour, will feature two days of competition, a pro-am, and community outreach programs like children’s and women’s golf clinics.
Well, at least they got Innisbrook. It's a start to bring this event to the US - it had been played previously in Japan and Australia.
Still, seems like an inopportune time to focus on a near decade-long side project of the LPGA when its LPGA Tour and Duramed Futures Tours are in deeper trouble.
Either way, can we please stop using age-neutral terms for senior tours? Between the Legends Tour and the Champions Tour, it makes their younger counterparts sound like chop liver!
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Nothing new
The Legends Tour is not a new side project. It’s been around for about a decade. Likewise, this tournament was not dreamed up and announced yesterday. It’s simply a reworking of an event that’s been on the schedule for many years — previously played in Japan and in Australia.
It is a side project in that it gets almost zero attention.
The new aspects of the event are that it has been promoted to major status and will be played here for the first time. Hence the “sort of” comment in the headline.
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 16, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
FWIW, I did update it a bit to make my language a little clearer
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 16, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
that’s cheating, you know – makes our posts look like we weren’t paying attention – so a big Bronx Cheer to you ! (lol)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
That’s why I put that in here so no one thinks anyone made a bonehead comment :)
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 16, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
a 36 hole stroke play event…played over 3 days ??
Love the “sanctioned by the Legends Tour” – woohooo – that’s one !
Not sure what you’re trying to get at – saying that it’s an “inopportune time to focus on a side project.” This kind of thing has been on the table for a couple of years now. They finally get someone who wants to watch 210 yard tee shots and 150 yard 5 irons. How is that “inopportune” ? Seems like a VERY opportune time – especially if you’re over 45. Good for them.
I think it’s time to start looking forward for the LPGA. Enough with the doom and gloom. The problem has been basically rooted out with the ousting of Bivens. Take a deep breath and let them figure out the new leadership and get the ball rolling again. Sponsors interested in the LPGA have to be feeling better – so let’s see what happens instead of adding an extra anchor. (see RB ? Even I can come up with something nautical !) :-)
The Futures Tour is plugging along. They have basically the same schedule they have had the last few years.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Futures Tour lost four (gained two, net minus two) events last year, and their schedule is notably smaller. They’re in as much rough and tumble as the LPGA Tour.
I don’t have anything against the Legends Tour getting a major. Good for them. It just doesn’t make sense to me to announce something like this when LPGA events going on for three decades are teetering.
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 16, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
yes – two would be noticable – but one of the two was a one year event that was never really a solid fixture for the tour. And it’s not 7 with a possibliity of double digits. They are doing pretty darn well.
why NOT announce it ? It has nothing to do with the LPGA’s main problems – it is GOOD news, and the LPGA umbrella can use some good news.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Again, not taking away from good news – just seems like there should be a total panic mode about the LPGA schedule and getting Toledo & Rochester signed yesterday.
Looked back on my article and it looks like three tournaments were lost and five were added for a net loss of two.
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 16, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
you lose 3 and add 5 – and that’s a net loss of 2 ? I got out of grade school before the new math kicked in…but that doesn’t seem quite right. :-)
why do you WANT the LPGA to be in a “total panic mode” ? that’s just downright mean ! (lol)
‘if’ by rudyard kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Haha, two typos in one day? There must be something wrong with me. I’ll try again tomorrow :)
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 16, 2009 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions
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