Cristie Kerr gives Angela Stanford a double dose of anguish, this time at CN Canadian Women's Open

I think this is as good of an example of how the LPGA has shot it's self in the foot with the change in leadership and the TV situation. Last year there was a lot more LPGA on TV than this year and I think the fans will be falling by the wayside. From what little I know, the new LPGA Commissioner, Carolyn Bivens, is the main reason for all the problems. I'm totally amazed that the golf news media isn't voicing more than they are about it. This is going to cause growth probelms for the LPGA. I was starting to watch more last year but have lost some interest this year. I think the CN would have had a lot of viwers this weekend if it had been on cable or a network.

The golf weeklies - Golf World, GolfWeek - are all over the internal problems of the LPGA. You probably won't read or hear anything about it on thegolfchannel.com. Too much lovey-dovey there.

I agree TW. ALthough I rarely catch every day of a golf tournament, I like to keep involved during the final rounds. Carolyn Bivens must be doing more behind the scenes than in the public eye.

We don't see any action yet from Bivens but I hope that we will see a dfference by the 2007 season. If not, it might be time for a change again. I guess the devil you know (Votaw) is better than the devil you don't know...

I was on the anti Bivens bandwagon for a bit. And while not entirely sold on her yet as the best choice, after reading the speech she was going to give to the TOA event she skipped I can understand better where she is coming from. She really is trying to bring the LPGA up by adding better events and hopefull;y more television coverage. A lot of it is the usual people fighting change it sems to me. Here's a link to that speech:

http://www.golfweek.com/pro/pro_lpga/286637006667033.php

I'm really not for, or against, Bivens. The LPGA is comprised of many members who determine which direction to take. The problem I have is, as a lover of golf, I can't seem to find the women's events anywhere.

Take, for example, the recent Scandinavian TPC. Both Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa were going blow-for-blow, but we, the viewers and supporters of women's golf, did not get to see any of it. For heaven's sake, these two women are the top players in the world but they only showed up on internet radar.

I know the networks would never give up the opportunity to televise an event in which Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were going head-to-head.

I agree about the television coverage Stacy. I've mentioned in a couple of blogs here my thoughts on that.It needs to be better for the LPGA to truly grow. Personally I see CNBC or another large cable market as a viable option for weekend coverage, but what do I know. I don't know what they are looking at as far as television, and given from what we have seen of the coverage this year, perhaps neither do they. I don't see the the major networks picking them up full time, not only because of PGA coverage already committed to, but other sports as well. I follow the PGA closely because i know I can see it live all the time. But I am a lifelong golf fan and that includes the LPGA. Some would call me a relic on here but I have been watching pro golf since the 60's. Granted the coverage is a lot better now and more frequent of all golf since that time, but the LPGA needs better coverage. For one you see more of the top echelon of the LPGA players playing much more often than you see on the top men playing on the mens tour. I've been fortunate enough to be to a couple of LPGA events. the old skins tournament when it was at Stonebriar Country Club in Frisco Texas and the Samsung World Championship when it was at the Woodlands in Houston a couple of years ago. Those ladies can play. And they are much more fan friendly than their PGA counterparts. i've been to PGA events in Houston and New Orleans. True there is a different skill level, especially in distance, but the LPGA is a great product. They need to find a better way to give us a chance to view it every weekend, live not taped.

The ladies are definitely more fan-friendly than the guys on tour, although it was pretty easy for me to talk with a few of the men the Wednesday of the Open. If you want to get up close and personal, that's the day to do it!

Regarding the difference in skill level, some people want to see long drives, others want to see more accuracy. "Bombing" a drive isn't the most important part of the game. That's why I love watching both the LPGA and the Champions Tour. Pin-seekers versus long hitters... a great debate topic!

LOL I've been in that debate before on the shotmakers side. Maybe you should get one started here. I'm all for pot bunkers on American courses, who says the Europeans have the market cornered on them. Lets bring accuracy back to our game.

I'm in total agreement. For me, it's more fun to hit a great bunker shot that rolls inches from the pin than to hit a long drive. Just as much fun is hitting a wedge shot and having it check up on you. That's priceless and it makes you feel as if you're as good as the pros!