Anchors Aweigh- Carolyn Bivens out, Marsha Evans in as new LPGA Commissioner
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Bill Jempty | Monday, July 13, 2009 |
Actually the new Commissioner will only take the job on a interim basis. Evans, a retired Navy Rear Admiral, has already made it clear she isn’t interested in the job long term. A search committee has been formed to find a new successor.
If you want a thorough run down on Evans life, read Ryan’s post at Waggleroom.
So the Brand Lady is out. I repeat what I said last week, it’s about time. The LPGA schedule isn’t just in taters, but a long list of tournament sponsors were seriously unhappy with the way they were being treated. Miss Bivens may not have liked it, but without tournament sponsors their wouldn’t be a tour and antagonizing them in foolish ways was beyond assinine. It was destructive to ladies professional golf in the United States.
Some bloggers, Stephanie Wei and Brent Kelley for two, think we’ll see the Bivens era in a more positive light after a few years have passed. I couldn’t disagree more strongly. The LPGA has been seriously damaged and it will take a few years at least to get its house back in order. The long term television contract that Bivens landed as nice as it looks, can’t change the fact that the Golf Channel will still often show LPGA tourneys on tape delay due to its PGA contractual obligations. Nor do I expect the Network to suddenly focus more attention on the LPGA. That’s unless Michelle Wie finally gets a grip on that talent she has and starts a run at #1 player in the world. I still think that can happen.
My own opinion is barring Michelle Wie taking off, the LPGA will still be a niche sport and a very weakened one because of Carolyn Bivens actions during her time as Commissioner.
Hound Dog, The Constructivist, and Jay Busbee are also blogging on today’s news.
- Michael Whan named next LPGA Tour commissioner
- CBS leaves the LPGA Ginn Club Open for a suspended play PGA Tour event
- LPGA + McDonald’s + The Golf Channel= A ‘Major’ Disaster
- Stick a fork in it- The LPGA’s Ginn Tribute is dead
- Nashville LPGA Event Shuts Doors
- Is LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens about to be ousted?
- Samsung ends LPGA Tournament sponsorship
- LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens has to go
- LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens speaks
- 2010 LPGA Tour preview
- Eight is Enough- Edmonton beats Chicago 8-4
- Lydia Ko wins New South Wales Open
- The Comeback I- Pittsburgh Penguins beat NY Islanders 5-0
- Seattle Mariners Outfielder Greg Halman stabbed to death at age 24
- Hee Young Park wins CME Titleholders Championship
- Oklahoma State Women’s Basketball Coach Kurt Budke dead at 50
- Costly mistake- Blackhawks waive Rostislav Olesz
- Manager Tony La Russa announces retirement
- Puck Drop- Florida Panthers start the 2011-12 NHL season
- 13-time PGA Tour winner Dave Hill dead at 74
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