News
The cloud over the U.S. Women's Open
On the eve of the U.S. Women's Open, the USGA can't be too pleased with the controversy in which the LPGA finds itself embroiled, given the headlines on stories advancing their showcase women's event:
"Tour's Future Clouds US Women's Open" -- New York Times
"LPGA's showcase event opening amid controversy over commissioner" -- Philadelphia Daily News
"U.S. Women's Open begins under cloud as several players call for LPGA Tour commissioner to resign" -- St. Petersburg Times
The latter appeared over Christine Brennan's column. She writes from Bethlehem, Penn., site of the Women's Open:
"The lush fairways, clear summer streams and rolling green hills of Saucon Valley, host of this year's U.S. Women's Open, are an unlikely place to find the LPGA Tour undergoing a mid-life crisis."
Prominent LPGA players calling for Commissioner Carolyn Bivens to resign, and doing so at the outset of U.S. Women's Open week, whatever its merits, probably qualifies as bad form.
-- John Strege