Rear Admiral Marsha Evans named acting LPGA commissioner; Carolyn Bivens resigns
The LPGA announced in a press release Monday that Rear Admiral Marsha J. Evans, U.S. Navy (retired) will serve as the player association's acting commissioner, effective immediately. Commissioner Carolyn Bivens also announced her resignation Monday.
In addition to this appointment, the association also announced that Annika Sorenstam will become an advisor to the tour's board of directors.
“Obviously, I will do everything possible to ensure that the LPGA remains the pre-eminent women’s sports association in the world,” Sorenstam said in a release from the tour. “I’m committed to getting up to speed quickly on the challenges facing the board right now, and will assist the LPGA in a number of ways both immediately and long-term.”
LPGA board member Leslie Greis, as well as board members Juli Inkster, Helen Alfredsson and Bill Morton, will lead the executive search committee, with the help of the executive search firm Spencer Stuart.
“We’ll soon have in place a commissioner to lead us into 2010 and beyond, but until then, it’s important that we immediately appoint an acting commissioner whom we know and trust,” Board of Directors Chairman Dawn Hudson said in the release. “As a board of players and independent directors, we wanted an acting commissioner with experience leading large organizations, one who appreciates and listens to our player members and tournament owners, understands sponsors and their challenges and needs, and has a track record that commands respect. We’re pleased that Marty Evans will be our acting commissioner, as she fits all the criteria necessary during these challenging economic times for sports leagues."
During her career, Evans has held top positions at the American Red Cross and Girl Scouts of the USA. Most recently she has served on the Board of Directors of the LPGA.
Recently, several prominent players met during the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic to discuss their displeasure with Bivens's reign as commissioner. Since 2007, the LPGA has lost seven tournaments. The players then sent a letter to the board of directors calling for Bivens to resign. According to Golf Week, the letter said the tour's problems couldn't all be blamed on a poor economy and "expressed a desire to rebuild relationships with longtime sponsors."
In the release, Bivens stated that she was proud of what she accomplished during her tenure at the LPGA.
"My job was to be a change agent, to help move the LPGA into the strongest possible position to ensure its future. Those changes were only possible because the members are dynamic women who provide great value to our sponsors and tournaments," she said. "It is time to turn this organization over to someone who can build on the solid foundation we’ve established. I wish the LPGA and its members nothing but fairways and greens as it enters its 60th year.”
LPGA Board of Directors President Michelle Ellis was also quoted in the release: “We respect Carolyn’s decision to resign since she has led this organization professionally and passionately the past four years. We appreciate the unwavering commitment that she provided the LPGA, and during her four years, Carolyn accomplished a great deal for the LPGA and its player members.”
Posted by: Joy Sieminski | Jul 14, 2009 11:24:23 AM
The Asian players are very interesting if the press would do stories on them! I am sure their personal stories are every bit as compelling as their golf! Appreciate their talent!!
Posted by: Joy Sieminski | Jul 14, 2009 11:20:23 AM
Why were Michelle Wie and Natalie Gulbis excluded? Have they all gone mad?
Posted by: Elton Kirkpatrick | Jul 14, 2009 12:12:47 AM
First of all, it was the USGA, not the LPGA, that excluded Michelle Wie and Natalie Gulbis. World rankings did not enter into this. Secondly, I watch EVERY LPGA tournament that is televised. I had much rather see these ladies play than Tiger and Phil. The PGA has thes same robots that others seem to see only on the LPGA. Golfweek Magazine and other publications reveal much information about the foreign players that I find interesting. I wonder if the person who criticized Kerr for kicking her bag has never lost his self control over a bad shot.
Posted by: Hen Bang | Jul 13, 2009 11:34:32 PM
It is about time the biggest racist Carolyn Biven gets kicked out of LPGA. She has single-handedly damaged the goodwill of the world. Based on her eveil intention, Champion like Angel Cabrera would not have a chance at Master or US Open. Hope we never have to her from this eveil racist again!
Posted by: BobP | Jul 13, 2009 10:44:34 PM
I am a 48 year old male golfer of European descent, and I have to admit I enjoyed watching the final two rounds of the women’s US Open this year, and was very impressed when I saw Eun-Hee Ji’s putt drop on the 18th. That was as impressive a win as I can recall in recent years. I can’t help but wonder why there is a difference in our collective reaction to Eun-Hee Ji’s victory yesterday vs. our reaction to Angel Cabrera, the fiery Argentinean who has now won two majors on US soil? I hope everyone reading this can just take a moment to ponder that, it would do us all a bit of good to reflect on that…
Posted by: Sheldon Chernove | Jul 13, 2009 8:13:32 PM
At the risk of being considered a male chauvanist (which I am not as I am the father of two young women who were competitive athletes at very high levels in gymnastics and track), women's golf suffers from what other women's sports suffer from: it is not very compelling to the largest sports audience: men. No matter how hard women's golf tries it will always be a niche sport, attractive to a few die hard golf fans. It has nothing to do with the ethnicity of the golfers, their personalities, or the commissioner of the LPGA. If it were about sexy young women running around half naked you would think that professional beach volleyball would be more popular. Even women's gymnastics is only compelling once every 4 years during the Olympics. Women's sports is not even interesting to women, who, for the most part are more interested in participating than they are in watching. The LPGA needs to understand itself before it can deliver a product others might find interesting.
Posted by: John Corey | Jul 13, 2009 7:56:13 PM
I love watching the LPGA tour. The golf is very competitive, the women never back up and it is a great finish at every Sunday. Less people watch when Tiger is not in the hunt and the LPGA is less interesting when Natalie and Michelle are not in the field and Paula, Christie and Morgan are not on the first page of the leaderboard. This is not a shocker. If you really love the Golf, you will enjoy the talent of the Asian players and take time to pay attention to who they are and learn about their character. Times are tough but the LPGA will find its stride again becuase they are putting an amazing product in front of us and people will want to see it.
Posted by: mrchipshot | Jul 13, 2009 7:25:31 PM
The LPGA are Their own worst enemies. 95% of the woman on tour treat the fans and the volunteers as noting more than an annoyance. The asian spectators are rude to any and all American players and fawn all over the Asian players. I know of where I write since I was a marshall for 15 years at the BIg Apple Classic until it moved to N.J. I really don't care where your from, just treat the fans and the volunteers with a little respect. I will not even watch them on TV anymore they ARE boring and toally indifferent to the Fans.
Posted by: Bob Elliott | Jul 13, 2009 5:59:18 PM
I can't believe the real problem is that there are too many "non english speaking" pro's and that situation would be much different if there were more US players. Quite frankly, the problem is with the media. When was the last time you saw a feature story on any "non English speaking" pro or some up an coming star other than Michelle Wie. Where is the media? It is pretty hard to know someone let alone root for them if all you have is a name and face. What is the media's role in creating the "buzz". Surely, these are not just "Korean robots". It would be very interesting to learn what the golf guru's really know about these players.Who are these women. Where did they come from. What's their story. How hard was it for them to be able to get to play on the LPGA.The Admiral better get the "press" on board. Don't blame the public, don't blame the players. Those who cover the LPGA have not done the tour any favours.
Posted by: Nutinpa | Jul 13, 2009 5:34:51 PM
For those of you bristling about "jingoistic" comments or that that in the UK, Scots and Brits embraced American golfers....I am afraid your arguments, while well intended, are baseless. The LPGA and all of pro golf for that matter, differ greatly from Baseball and other "national past times". With regard to golf...fans, naively or not, seek to 'relate" to golf pros --and corporations depend on Pro golfers to heaven forbid, interact with clients at special events and Pro Ams. It is this fact that is lost upon those outside of golf (like Barney Frank and those of his ilk) -- that it is indeed different from other sports. Corporations buy luxury boxes for other pro sports, but they do not expect to interact with the athletes -- if they do, it is at a separate venue. Bottom line...for those of you trying to take a stand on political correctness, that is your prerogerative...but I have to say, respectfully, that has nothing to do with this. This is a business enterprise and if the customer cannot relate to the "product", the process goes no further and in this case, it puts the LPGA at severe risk for the long term -- weak economy or not.
Posted by: rf | Jul 13, 2009 5:00:32 PM
To follow up on the "how the world has changed" ... yes it has, like it or not but if you're going to sell a product, someone has to want to buy it. White, asian, it makes little difference, except there has to be something people are going to want to buy. Right now what do we buy? What's missing is pizzazz. I agree with words like "flat", "characterless", "boring". Give me some characters like other sports have (including Men's golf) to attract the viewer. Someone once said that Baseball is about as exciting as watching the grass grow. But you know what made it America's Pasttime? It was the characters in the game that brought people in, those characters created the rivally, and THAT is what brought in the fan. That's what's missing.
Posted by: Chuck Wilson | Jul 13, 2009 4:56:08 PM
Quite frankly, I did not enjoy last weeks U.S. Open at all. When Michelle Wie, the 25th ranked player in the world is left out of the Open, I personally don't feel like watching the tournament at all.
And I really don't have any interest in watching Korean players on the American tour. As one other poster commented, American players have lives outside of golf. The whole fibre of the LPGA is tainted by the over abundance of foreign players.
Posted by: Isobel McLaren | Jul 13, 2009 4:47:38 PM
Korean TV stations are the largest revenue earners for the LPGA.All these jingoistic comments about foreign players are sad;as a Scot we have watched Americans win The Open year after year and never are there any coments about "foreigners" ...the best players just win.
Posted by: JRC | Jul 13, 2009 4:41:16 PM
The Tour is virtually faceless, nameless, without personality. Where are the equivalents of Nancy Lopez, Patty Sheehan, Joanne Carner, Annika Sorenstam to name a few? There is no "star power" driving the product.
Posted by: gilbone | Jul 13, 2009 4:40:14 PM
The LPGA suffers because quite frankly its a womans sport that isn't too appealing to mainstream Americans! Notice I said Americans not Hispanics, African-Americans, Asian-Americans but Americans. Some of you posting here think that this is about White-America but its not. Our world has changed and so have the global economies. Do you retract from watching Baseball because it has too many Latino players? Or soccer for that matter? Some of you need to get over the fact that America is not Norman Rockwells paintings of the 50's. The reason the Asian players are so much better is that they want it more. This is America where you can become whatever you set your mind to. As for the scholarships its the same for the Men but you don't here them complaining. Just because you have the money doesn't mean you get your cake and eat too...
Posted by: Dave | Jul 13, 2009 3:46:20 PM
Bivens came across as very arrogant, it is not hard to see how she alienated a lot of sponsors and players. Her idea about wanting the foreign players to be able to speak English was right, but she went about it in the wrong way, help them learn English, don't threaten them with suspensions. The LPGA has some marketable assets, Ochoa, Creamer, Kerr, Pressel, Petterson, Wie, although she needs to win SOMETHING, but, and I don't mean this to sound racist, but quite frankly the influx of Asian players that don't seem to relate much to fans, media, and the sponsors is a public relations and marketing nightmare. It is not hard to see how corporate America would want to pull back in this economy. The tour needs stars, to be blunt, American stars, and it needs rivalries, is there anything more compelling than Tiger vs Phil. OK, now that the obvious problems have been stated, what is the solution. Simple, promote, promote, promote, every player and LPGA official's Job One requirement is to be a goodwill ambassador to the sponsors, the fans, and the media. Cocktail parties, pro ams, clinics, autograph sessions, every opportunity to build relationships and connect might give this tour a chance to survive. Fail to do so, and it will continue to shrink until it occupies the same importance as roller derby.
Posted by: Brian | Jul 13, 2009 3:35:00 PM
The obvious solution is that a top shelf Asian tour needs to be established, and then at premier events you get to see the top players from the US/European tour and the Asian tour. This works well with the European Tour and the PGA tour. Let the american fans find some favorites via watching the bread and butter weekly events, then they will have someone to root for in the majors and the "world" events. Maybe Carolyn will spearhead the new Asian Tour.
Posted by: Ken Lee | Jul 13, 2009 3:24:54 PM
Sorenstam and Ochoa are also foreigners. It's just that they are the succesful top golfers, while Korean girls have just started to score big. At the root of the problems are the lack of skill, hard work, self-control, and professionalism by local golfers that hurt their own games. Look, how Kerr did to ruin her golf at the last two holes of her game at US open. Kicking a golf bag !! Asian golfers never do such a mindless thing. Pls don't direct them to the language. It's just tiny part of the problems.
Posted by: Sherry | Jul 13, 2009 3:23:56 PM
First of all, the LPGA has been struggling partly due to the economy but mostly due to Bivens 'my way or the highway' mentality. Personally I hope that the new leadership pays attention to the influx in the international movement and finds a way to get the US talent on track and FOCUSED. It is rather disheartening to not be able to hear directly from the US Open winner because she can't speak English. This is not meant as anything other than it was a shame that she could not share her thoughts directly after winning the most prestigious event in women's golf. For me it took away some of the glamor of the exciting finish.
The LPGA product certainly needs some attention to 1) help the players reach 'outside the ropes' and draw the fans in via personality,talent and communication. 2) get more televised coverage of the events that are still being played and 3) try to win back old sponsors and attract new sponsors and venues.
There is much to be done to 'right the ship' and the players have a tremendous role in this as well. Robots on the course don't endear fans and sponsors alike. This is a business not just a game. If sponsors and fans cannot relate then the product is doomed. Personally I don't care what the players wear as long as they realize who pays their checks and they become more and more attentive to that element. So if learning English is needed then 'get it done'. It's hard to recognize and build rapport with sponsors and fans if there is a language barrier. Good golf is part of the package but not the sum total of the issues at hand.
Good luck to the interim commissioner, good move to bring Annika in but are they overlooking one of the best 'tools' in their arsenal - Nancy Lopez?
Posted by: GDP | Jul 13, 2009 3:23:38 PM
The problem with the international players isn't going to go away but in fact it is only going to get worse. The junior tours are full of kids from Korea and Taiwan; their parents are sending them over here to "academies" and host parents are putting them up. Its pretty bad when the American kids are feeling like the "strangers" on these tours. And then lets talk about all of the college scholarships being given to foreign players who haven't paid a dime of taxes in this country; that's what really pisses me off!! The American kids have lives away from golf; we don't choose to turn them into golfing robots!
Posted by: chuck barr | Jul 13, 2009 3:14:21 PM
LPGA needs to take notice of lack of stars from the American sector ( don"t eliminate legitimate draws like Michelle Wie ,set up courses that reward risk -takers and make sure that TV contracts call for weekly coverage on networks or Golf Channel !!!!
Posted by: DrBob | Jul 13, 2009 3:12:23 PM
I agree with Rick F and Nutinpa. The LPGA is in the entertainment business in a very competitive marketplace. If their product doesn't capture you, you have other choices. The Open this year was great theater down to the end. Suddenly, the whole thing went flat with the interview with Ms. Ji's interview... Good golf, yes. Entertaining, certainly. Buzz, gone.
Posted by: Rick F | Jul 13, 2009 2:47:27 PM
All the comments are also my feelings too. One other comment would be that none of the Asian ( Korean ) players seem to care much about the fans who spend big bucks to come and watch plus they never acknowledge the applause, plus they can't speak English, the language of The United States, they do not recognize the sponsers on TV and probably don't care. The LPGA US Open also should change the requirements to play. Limit the number of international players to, lets say 3 from each country. I would much rather watch the LPGA on television because I can relate to their shot making a lot better. Thank you. Rick
Posted by: rf | Jul 13, 2009 2:42:31 PM
All the comments are "spot on". Golf on TV is "theater", and until you get an American player to compete and be part of the drama, you'll lose the American viewer. This is not racist, it's a fact - plain and simple. The LPGA does not have a "Tiger", no "Phil", no "David Duval", no "John Daly", thus "no show". Until then, the PGA and Champions Tour's will get the viewers. It's a shame, but it is a fact.
Posted by: Jay Russel | Jul 13, 2009 2:33:45 PM
I may be in the minority here - but I liked Commish Bivens move to get the players to all speak english - - - what American business executive would want to pay big bucks to play in a pro-am - - with a non-communicative pro? Dave Stockton, Fuzzy Zoeller, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Peter Jacobson are fierce competitors who have personality and are fun to play with ! Nancy Lopez should get a role with the LPGA Tour too !
Posted by: pete azcona | Jul 13, 2009 2:29:12 PM
The tour needs a little pizzaz, you have ladies dressing like guys. You want the guys to watch then jazz it up a little. More TV viewership means more sponsers. If the ladies don't understand this then get ready to play more tournaments in Asia.
Posted by: WW | Jul 13, 2009 2:14:30 PM
As a serious golf fan of all the professional tours, the LPGA is obviously the one with the most problems. The lack of consistent weekly televised coverage is a huge factor. Additionally, the influx of unknown international players that are winning alot coupled with the loss of Annika and disappointing season of Lorena and a lack of consistent American stars (come on Paula--when a Major!)makes it harder to get excited about the LPGA. Certainly, the economy is a factor....but in my opinion the PGA and Champions Tour are still fun to watch despite the economic downturn. Bivens should have done a much better job with the television contracts (which would have helped retain many of the events that have cancelled or are in jeapordy). Change was definately needed and hopefully the leaders of the LPGA tour will make the right changes. I wish them well.
Posted by: Tom | Jul 13, 2009 2:14:20 PM
Attention Cheyenne Woods - the LPGA is calling.
Posted by: Steve | Jul 13, 2009 1:50:34 PM
Nutinpa is dead on. The LPGA product is no longer compelling. Ten years ago, the top players were all foreigners as well. Annika, Karrie, and Se Ri. They were faces with smiles and oozed personality. Today's LPGA is dominated by faceless robots that seem to all be named Kim and, like yesterday's US Open winner, dress like boys. Black shirt, black slacks, white belt? This ain't the AJGA.
Posted by: Nutinpa | Jul 13, 2009 1:30:40 PM
The LPGA is a sports entertainment organization that is struggling to field a compelling product. The influx of Asian players who are close to dominating the tour is a threat to the LPGA. Jan Stephenson was right about this, but it was presented as a racist, ethnocentrist rant that, despite being spot on, was twisted politically. The US Open crowds at Saucon Valley this weekend were tremendous. But the final leaderboard did nothing to entice corporate boards to shell out big sponsor money for 2010 and beyond. That's not a bigoted comment folks... just a somber prediction.
Posted by: LasVegas | Jul 13, 2009 1:30:01 PM
These loyal, diehard Vegas LPGA fans believe in you Annika. Save the ship.
Posted by: DJ | Jul 13, 2009 1:23:48 PM
The problem is that there is no female Tiger & Phil. No "media-hyped" rivalries. There is nothing to cling to as a fan. I watch because I just love golf. But it is going to be a real struggle until Michelle starts winning and Lorena rises again. Paula needs a major and Natalie just needs a win. A Korean winner every other week won't do much for the American fan, that win only translates to Korean fans here and in Korea. When KJ or Anthony win, it's a different story.
Posted by: MichaelB | Jul 13, 2009 12:57:22 PM
Annika retires, Michelle Wie fizzles and no other "star" player emerges. The LPGA tour needs a great player like Tiger Woods to add excitement and interest. Sponsors want buzz and excitement. Where is it with the LPGA Tour?
Posted by: courtney | Jul 13, 2009 12:44:40 PM
"My job was to be a change agent" ?? What the heckd does that mean ? Her job was to keep the tour on track, keep the schedule filled, keep the sponsors happy, and keep things steady for the players.
Posted by: nick berry | Jul 13, 2009 12:40:00 PM
The LPGA suffers not from leadership but the economy and the influx of foreign players who are winning at an alarming rate. Very few US citizen can relate given they do nto understand the language and convey their thoughts. What is particularly troublesome is the trend will continue with more Asian players playing and winning on the tour. A possible answer to rather make it a US org. it be made an international org. with more play in Asia.