Blast from the Past: DuPont May Return to Sponsor LPGA Championship

by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 16, 2010 1:06 PM EST in Pro Golf

It was an emotional week in Delaware in 2004, when the final LPGA Championship was played at DuPont Country Club in Wilmington. The tournament was moving to Havre de Grace, Maryland, and Bulle Rock GC. After five years there, the LPGA took ownership of its flagship event and sought to heighten its profile.

The combination of poor leadership and a worse market made that goal almost impossible for 2010. Fortunately, the LPGA was able to secure Wegmans as a one-time sponsor of the LPGA Championship and move the event to Rochester for this summer. Long-term plans have yet to be established for the tournament beyond this year.

Beth Ann Baldry reports, though, that DuPont may be back in the mix as not only host of the tournament at their course, but also as sponsor.

Seems like Mike Whan is running a pretty interesting course here early in his commissionership. (That's not a word, is it?) He is expanding abroad where he can, until the US becomes an option again, and working hard to regain the traditional LPGA footing that had eroded under Carolyn Bivens.

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Thanks a PANTload, RB !!

Geez – when I think of a “blast from the past” – I think of the 80’s or earlier – YOU think of 6 years ago ! :-P

More good news for the LPGA – another feather in the cap for the Admiral and Michael Whan – and another shot at the Bivens years. When Dupont pulled out in ’04, that was the most upset I can remember seeing the players across the board for a tournament that was going away.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Feb 16, 2010 1:18 PM EST reply actions

man of the year

I don’t care what the category or context, Mike Whan deserves them all.

Truth has a well-known liberal bias.

by dianemarie on Feb 16, 2010 1:30 PM EST reply actions

With Dupont for the LPGA

Then Wegman’s is back as a regular tour stop. A tournament gain, a full field event, and a U.S. based event.

by Bill Jempty on Feb 16, 2010 2:37 PM EST reply actions

I told everybody

when Bivens left and things looked dim….HOLD YOUR HEAD UP, HOLD YOUR THUMBS and think positive thoughts, and repeat 3 times after clicking your heels together…I wanna nother tournament, I wanna nother tournament, I wanna nother tournament….see, it works….STUB

by thinker on Feb 16, 2010 4:23 PM EST reply actions

I’m sorry to say that we can’t lay the loss of dupont at Bivens’s doorstep. This occured before she took over as commissioner when mcdonald’s still owned the event, which is why i’m glad they don’t own it anymore.

by dbagley on Feb 16, 2010 6:51 PM EST reply actions

Yeah, but...

Maybe MickeyD will create a new full field event a Bulle Rock. I loved watching golf there, especially 17 and 18 on Sunday.

Truth has a well-known liberal bias.

by dianemarie on Feb 16, 2010 6:59 PM EST reply actions

Doubtful, the only reason mcdonald’s stayed on was because herb lotman owned and ran the event, and when he felt that the tour was ready, he handed it over to them. Plus i also heard that he wanted to retire as well.

by dbagley on Feb 16, 2010 7:17 PM EST reply actions