The LPGA Tour "has taken a hard look in the mirror and,
for the most part, likes the image it sees," but the Tour
has "been eclipsed by younger, trendier women's sports
organizations, by popular teams like the American World Cup
soccer champions, and it continues to suffer in comparison
with" the PGA Tour, according to Lena Williams of the N.Y.
TIMES. Karrie Webb said of the comparison to the PGA Tour,
"It doesn't matter what tournament it is in comparison to
the men: they are always the first talked about on the
news." Williams notes that the LPGA Tour's fourth major,
the du Maurier Classic, begins today in Quebec, but "once
again golf fans may be too busy watching" Tiger Woods, who
is playing in the Buick Open in MI. LPGA Tour Commissioner
Ty Votaw, on promoting its players such as Webb, Annika
Sorenstam and Se Ri Pak: "I have some of the most
approachable, accessible, good-looking, intelligent, funny
athletes out there." Votaw also said that the "rise" of
int'l players has "helped" the LPGA Tour "expand its revenue
potential overseas," as this year it will be more than 50%
of the Tour's TV revenues. Votaw: "In Korea, Australia and
Sweden there is a demand to have our product because their
native daughters are being successful over here." More
Votaw: "One of the things I've learned is that women's
sports is a marathon, not a sprint. If you're hot one
moment, you're going to get cold. If you're cold, you're
going to get hot" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/10).
TOUGH LOSS: Votaw, on the du Maurier Classic losing its
title sponsor after this year because of federal legislation
"restricting" tobacco advertising: "These are circumstances
that are beyond our control. It's something the government
mandated. It wasn't a company saying we don't find value in
the LPGA" (USA TODAY, 8/10).
