The LPGA Tour's 2000 schedule has been delayed partly
because of the "murky future of its season-opening event" in
Orlando, according to GOLFWEEK's "Forecaddie," who reports
that sponsor HealthSouth is "exiting the picture" after four
years. Meanwhile, JCPenney is "eager to jump aboard to
help" sponsor an LPGA event and "discussions are still
ongoing" between the LPGA and TN-based Shop-at-Home Network
to keep the Tour's stop in Nashville on the schedule
(GOLFWEEK, 9/25 issue)....In Columbus, Bob Baptist wrote
that despite the "absence of a title sponsor," the LPGA
Tour's New Albany Golf Classic in OH is "close to breaking
even financially." Executive Sports Int'l CEO John Hines,
whose company is "managing" the event, said that he expects
a title sponsor to "emerge either during or not long after"
the event this week (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 9/26)....The LPGA
has created a new logo celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The logo, designed by Eric Baker of Daytona Beach (FL)-based
Corporate Images, will not be used until January 1 (LPGA).
PGA: GOLFWEEK has a special report on the PGA in its
current issue. John Steinbreder profiles PGA of America CEO
Jim Awtrey and writes that Awtrey "is rightfully praised for
transforming a once-sickly organization into one of the most
prosperous in sports." The PGA is now generating $160M in
annual revenues. In a sidebar, Steinbreder also takes a
look at the PGA's "Power Structure" (GOLFWEEK, 9/25 issue).
