Golf

LPGA leader fostering unease in ranks

By BOB HARIG
Published June 29, 2006

NEWPORT, R.I. - Because of her role in the launch and marketing of USA Today, Carolyn Bivens was the subject of some good-natured joking when she took over as LPGA Tour commissioner.

Since the nation's newspaper is known for short stories and weekdays-only production, some wondered if she would cut back LPGA rounds to nine holes and have tournaments end on Fridays.

Bivens has not done anything that drastic, but nobody is laughing anymore, either.

In less than a year on the job, Bivens has seen 13 LPGA staffers depart, including three on the eve of the LPGA Championship earlier this month. The timing was striking. Two of the three - senior vice president for golf Deb Richard and chief strategic officer Liz Ausman - were hired by Bevins.

"The disappointing part for me is losing faith in the leadership," said Richard, a former LPGA Tour player.

All of which, understandably, has players, officials and tournament sponsors concerned.

The LPGA Tour was set to take off this year with an abundance of intriguing story lines, including the emergence of a slew of young players such as Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Natalie Gulbis and Cristie Kerr.

There still is the old guard, including Hall of Famers Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb. And, of course, Michelle Wie, who makes just her fourth appearance on the LPGA Tour this year at the U.S. Women's Open, which begins today at Newport Country Club.

But some of Bivens' actions have overshadowed play, especially early in the season when the LPGA imposed new media credential language saying the tour owned the rights to all photos and stories produced at its events.

News organizations that showed up for the Fields Open in Hawaii balked, including the two Honolulu newspapers. The Associated Press, Sports Illustrated and Golf World also did not cover the first round of the event in which Wie contended.

Bivens has been laying low since the departures three weeks ago, and players have a range of views on the subject. But it was telling that the No. 1 player, Sorenstam, told Golf World: "We have all worked very hard the last few years to build the LPGA into the wonderful product we have today. I am quite concerned about some of the decisions and changes I have seen lately. I just wonder where we are headed."

Hoylake visit: Phil Mickelson said it would take some time to get over his collapse on the final hole at the U.S. Open, where he double-bogeyed Winged Foot's 18th to lose by a stroke to Geoff Ogilvy.

But Lefty apparently didn't wallow for long. Various British newspapers reported that Mickelson flew by private jet Monday to Royal Liverpool, site of next month's British Open. Mickelson was accompanied by his caddie, Jim Mackay, short-game coach Dave Pelz and his father, Phil Sr.

He played the back nine first, took a break, then went onto the front nine.

For the past two years, Mickelson has employed an extensive practice routine before the major championships, visiting the courses for long sessions.

But he had never before gone to Britain early. Royal Liverpool, better known as Hoylake, has not had the British Open since 1967, so it will be unfamiliar to all but a handful of players.

Mickelson is expected to play next week's Western Open on the PGA Tour before heading back to England.

Around golf: Seminole's Brittany Lincicome earned a spot in next week's 64-player HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship by virtue of her 31st position on the money list. ... After nearly being wiped out by Hurricane Katrina, the TPC of Louisiana will return as site of the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic of New Orleans next year. The course has been closed since the storm and is scheduled to reopen July 15. This year's tournament was played at English Turn. ... The Tuesday finish at the Booz Allen Classic won by Ben Curtis was the first time a PGA Tour event went to Tuesday since 1980, when Jim Colbert won the Tucson Open. ... This week's Greater Kansas City Golf Classic is the start of a two-week run in Kansas for the Champions Tour. After playing this week in Overland Park, the tour moves to Hutchinson for next week's U.S. Senior Open at Prairie Dunes.

[Last modified June 29, 2006, 06:48:09]