Jon Show of Sports Business Journal/Daily reported this morning that sources near him say that Carolyn Bivens is open to negotiating a buyout.  Further, the LPGA Board of Directors is contacting potential replacements.

Carolyn Bivens is amenable to taking a buyout from her post, and the LPGA BOD has authorized a golf industry exec to contact potential candidates to replace her, said sources close to the situation. As of last night, the board was not actively negotiating a buyout, said a source, but talks are expected to commence soon. While the outcome of any negotiation is uncertain, industry sources said a buyout of a basic employment contract such as Bivens’ could be completed in a week.

She is owed roughly $500,000 per year for the final two years of a three-year extension signed in ’08. Meanwhile, a representative authorized to speak on behalf of the board is contacting sports industry execs to gauge their interest in the job. It could not be determined how many candidates have been contacted.

Jon and I will be speaking on The 19th Hole Golf Show next week, but more updates as needed.