LPGA Tour refutes report of Bivens buyout talks
Sports Business Daily reported today that embattled LPGA Tour Commissioner Carolyn Bivens is agreeable to a buyout of the final two years of her contract, but a source close to the situation has told GOLF.com that the LPGA is refuting the story.
The story also said that the board has "authorized a golf industry exec to contact potential candidates to replace" Bivens, but that the board was not "actively negotiating a buyout."
More information is expected in the next few hours. Last week, several prominent players met over dinner to discuss Bivens's performance, and Golfweek reported that the dinner led to a letter, signed by several top players, that called for Bivens to resign.
The U.S. Women's Open, one of the biggest events in women's golf, started today and has so far been overshadowed by reports of the player insurrection.
UPDATE: LPGA Chief Communications Officer David Higdon has released a statement:
"As we've said throughout the week, we want all of those interested in women's professional golf to focus on the play here at the U.S. Women's Open, which has started today and will conclude this weekend when the 2009 champion is crowned. Out of respect to the USGA and the amazing work that they've done and continue to do in producing and hosting this great event, we will not respond to media reports on internal matters related to the LPGA business. The LPGA players, staff and Board care deeply about our Tour, and we're all working hard to achieve the same long-term objective to grow our Tour. We look forward to a great week of golf."
Posted by: joe salters | Jul 10, 2009 4:18:59 PM
I'm sure the recession is the largest cause of less tournaments & the lpga is suffering the worst, which its probably always been third, I agree the great number of foreign players is not helping either. A new leader might help?
Posted by: joe salters | Jul 10, 2009 4:15:18 PM
all the tours are suffering due to the recession but lpga the worst, I'm sure all the foreign players aren't helping either , why can't they get more girls out of college intersted, I'm sure theres many good young players here in America.
Posted by: james | Jul 9, 2009 8:36:10 PM
No matter how good foreign players are, nobody cares to watch. They are all powder puff hitters. Like watching a singles hitting baseball game. The only really exciting long ball hitter is Michele Wie.
Posted by: j.Kahn | Jul 9, 2009 8:27:19 PM
hope that self control of non-English speaking player's numbers be enforced
Posted by: Don Lehman | Jul 9, 2009 6:47:48 PM
Agree with Scott. Nobody cares about the LPGA because it is dominated by foreign non English speaking players.
Posted by: Don Lehman | Jul 9, 2009 6:46:23 PM
I agree with Scott. Nobody cares about the LPGA because it is dominated by many foreign players who cannot even speak English. I believe this will prevail until there are competitive US players with personality and emotion.
Posted by: Never like that woman | Jul 9, 2009 5:28:20 PM
Never like that woman. Too many baggages.
Posted by: Scott | Jul 9, 2009 3:05:16 PM
Their failure has nothing to do with their leader. No one watches soccer, the worlds most poplular sport, because we can't even name 5 of the top 10 players. The fact that the LPGA is dominated by foreign players with very little emotion is the reason for its failure.They should move 70% their tournaments overseas, like tennis.
Posted by: arnie's army | Jul 9, 2009 2:37:05 PM
she's as good as gone. she's just holding out to take more to the bank. hard to blame her for that
Posted by: uug | Jul 9, 2009 1:35:59 PM
LPGA Orgamization and Players deserve better! Fire Bivens!