IMG & Octagon Can't Buy LPGA Tour, But Will Happily Run It

In the midst of Bivenswatch '09, I wondered in this space if IMG or Octagon - owners, operators, or managers of a vast percentage of the LPGA Tour schedule - would be interested in taking over the LPGA Tour, or spinning its events off into its own Tour.  Well, as Jon Show in SBJ tells us, neither is interested in owning the LPGA Tour. 

Actually, the LPGA cannot be bought.  It's a nonprofit organization.  But IMG or Octagon would happily operate it.

There has been speculation that IMG or Octagon — which both run LPGA events and represent players — would be open to assuming ownership of the LPGA, but neither agency is interested in such a scenario, said high-ranking executives with IMG and Octagon.

IMG and Octagon, not surprisingly, would be open to a formal consulting relationship or a role managing all or part of the tour’s operations, said senior executives with each agency.

"Certainly [the LPGA] could use help in some areas, particularly strategy and sponsorship sales," said Chris Higgs, co-managing director of Octagon Golf and former COO of the LPGA.

The Higgs quote is particularly interesting considering that he is speculated to be a contender for the vacant LPGA Commissioner job.

Because IMG and Octagon have so much of a stake in the health of the LPGA Tour, it would make sense that they would be happy to help ensure its health by running it.