What’s Next for LPGA?
The LPGA had one of its better years, that according to Carolyn Bivens, the comish of the LPGA. She recently gave her state-of-the-tour address to the LPGA members and though she’s made some enemies this year, she’s also made a positive impact on the tour and the LPGA in general.
For example, did you know that the LPGA doesn’t provide a health-care package for its members (unlike the PGA)? She’s working to make that happen. The LPGA does have a pension plan for its members, but its paltry $19 million when compared to the PGA Tour’s $500 million. That’s not to say that the LPGA needs to be on-par with the PGA (it can’t for financial reasons), but the gap need to close considerably.
The future of the LPGA lies in the hands of the likes of Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie, Morgan Pressel, Lorena Ochoa, Natalie Gulbis, Kristina Kim, as well as the Asian contingent that’s always on the leaderboard come Sunday. Yes, Annika Sorenstam still has lots of good golf left, but she’s on the downside of her power curve.