Asked if the PGA Tour has considered managing the LPGA, co-chief operating officer Ed Moorhouse told Golf World: "We have responded to this question a number of times over the years but have never formally reviewed the feasibility of managing the LPGA." That's an answer with a lot of wiggle room. Have informal discussions occurred? One obstacle is the vast disparity between the pension plans for the tours.
"There are a lot of ideas out there," Evans said when asked about working with the PGA Tour. "I think we need to take a holistic look at the pros and cons and evaluate the options. Going forward we have to be open to a range of points of view with the goal to take the tour where we want it to go -- the best players competing in the best events for top prize money."
Some of the economic issues -- the increased sanction fee, for one -- may not go away simply because a new commissioner takes over. One LPGA source says the tour needs the money.
"This is a difficult economy, and a lot of creativity on both sides is going to be needed to find a tournament business model that works," said a source in event management. The change at the top could very well be the beginning of a broader remaking of the LPGA business plan.
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