Kapalua Loses LPGA Event
The first tee marker at the Bay Course as Kapalua, former site of the Kapalua LPGA Classic
The Kapalua LPGA Classic announced last week that it was pulling the plug on the tournament for 2009 due to its failure to secure a title sponsor. Maui Land and Pineapple, which owns Kapalua, has four years left on a five-year contract with the LPGA Tour.
“It’s disappointing but a reality in today’s current economic climate that title sponsorships are
difficult to secure. We greatly enjoyed hosting last year’s event and value our partnership with the LPGA Tour and its players,” said Gary Planos, senior vice president of Resort Operations for
Kapalua Land Company.
2008 was the inaugural event for the Kapalua LPGA Classic, a year that saw three LPGA events hosted in Hawaii. The SBS Open was the only LPGA event held in Hawaii in 2009, as the Fields Open (formerly held at Ko Olina) and now the Kapalua LPGA Classic are history. SBS has backed out of future events at Turtle Bay after a falling out with the LPGA Tour, leaving Hawaii with no LPGA events.
Michelle Wie
Since Hawaii is the home of Michelle Wie, one of the Tour’s most bankable up-and-coming stars, many see the loss of the Hawaii tournaments as a missed opportunity. At the SBS Open in February, the LPGA web site had its second most hits when Michelle Wie was in contention. She finished in 2nd place.
“Why do we have three tournaments in Mexico? Players drive our business. If Michelle Wie took off, the business model will probably change a little bit more and we’ll be fielding more calls and options.” -LPGA spokesperson David Higdon, referring to Lorena Ochoa and saying that Wie’s performance could bring the tour back to Hawaii. (from the Golf Channel)
The LPGA has now lost seven events since 2007, and recently announced to its players that only ten title sponsors have been signed for 2010. Even one of the Tour’s majors - the LPGA Championship - lacks a host course for next year. Last week, some of the Tour’s major stars met to demand change.
On the eve of one of women’s golf’s major championships, key players on the LPGA Tour have asked commissioner Carolyn Bivens to resign.
The news was first reported Monday night by Golfweek Magazine.
According to Golfweek, up to 15 players met last Thursday to discuss the state of the LPGA Tour, its direction and the leadership of Bivens. Afterward, a letter was drafted and sent to the LPGA’s Board of Directors calling for her resignation. The magazine reported that tour stars Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Cristie Kerr and Natalie Gulbis were present at the meeting.
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