Does the LPGA and Carolyn Bivens "lack integrity" as Shoprite officials claim?
Why does the LPGA insist on creating controversy for both it’s players and sponsors? Last year, the LPGA was blasted by some of it’s golfers for it’s season-ending ADT Championship $1 million prize which could easily distort the golfers on the money list. This year one of it’s tournament hosts is ready to sue over being shoved out of the way by a new event.
Jay Coffin at Golfweek states that legal action is being sought by officials of the Shoprite LPGA Classic because a date that was originally promised to host their tournament has been given to Ginn Sports Entertainment, sponsors of a newly created second event on the LPGA tour schedule.
Annika Sorenstam will host the Ginn Tribute next year from May 31-June 3 in South Carolina.
While this appears to be a better move for the LPGA, Larry Harrison (Shoprite Classic GM) is seething, claiming that, “they (LPGA) offered us dates that were ludicrous – none of them will work".
Contracts have not been signed with the LPGA since 2001 but Harrison claims that it’s because the LPGA has been dragging it’s feet. I think it’s because the LPGA was shopping for a better deal. The Ginn Tribute is expected to offer up $2.6 million for the event. The Shoprite Classic offers a total purse of half that amount but has also donated millions to charity during the years of it’s sponsorship.
Do bigger dollars necessarily make for a better tour?
Although this issue was first mentioned before Carolyn Bivens took the helm of the LPGA, it is now up to both her as well as the powers that be to assuage the stiuation and come to some amicable agreement.
Mr. Harrison stated, “she (Carolyn Bivens) has no integrity. None. And if the (LPGA) board (of directors) doesn’t do something soon, the whole tour will have no integrity".
The LPGA draws such a small audience can they afford to lose such a loyal sponsor?
Golf may be a business but loyalty creates a successful business.
6 comments
Bivens has gone out of her way to alienate the press and tournament organizers
"Do bigger dollars necessarily make for a better tour?"
Not if you have organizers that don't trust your word as an organization. I can't really see the LPGA wanting that kind of a reputation for double dealing.
Bivens may be a hotshot broker/dealer in the magazine industry but she is really looking underhanded and sly in her dealings as the Commish of the LPGA.
I would want a team of the best lawyers to go over any contract she offered if it was my organization that was dealing with her.
Nope, I see no reason to trust her
Would you rather be the guy that occasionally misses an apostrople or would you rather be the annoying, unlikable tight-ass that corrects Internet grammar???
Pull the stick out.
I hope that readers will appreciate and discuss the content provided putting aside the occasional grammatical mistakes. :-)
Bivens has to do what she has to do. Ask the folks in Endicott, NY and other small-market venues how they feel about Tim Finchem. Don't see anyone writing about him and his tough-guy tactics. Good for Bivens, playing hard ball. She has a product to shape and sell, and if she ignores some bloggers or pisses off some tournament hosts along the way, be glad she considered you a worthy enough bump in the road to take notice.
What will it be, folks, madonna or whore? Notice that men in business have many more options than that. Time to give a female CEO the same choices.
Comment feed for this postComments are closed for this post.
Recent comments