All Nippon Airways will have "more of an obvious presence" in its second year of title sponsorship of the upcoming ANA Inspiration, and will have more of a say in how it "can use the LPGA and its first major championship of the year to market its brand," according to Larry Bohannan of the Palm Springs DESERT SUN. There was "certainly a presence for ANA" at last year's event in Rancho Mirage, Calif., but it "certainly wasn't the depth" the company could have had. ANA, IMG, and LPGA officials gathered at Mission Hills Country Club last week, and there were a few things that "had to be addressed from last year's tournament." One issue is that "too few people really understood what ANA was when the tournament began," in addition to why, "despite the fact the tournament had a new sponsorship and a secure future with a five-year deal, there didn't seem to be as many fans on the golf course." Bohannan noted a "greater acknowledgment of who is the the sponsor will be nice" for '16. The tournament "does have a few strong marketing points" for '16. The top three finishers last year were Americans, and the tournament is "entering the second year of a five-year deal with ANA, part of the long-term strategy by Commissioner Mike Whan to secure and stabilize the tour's five major championships" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN 2/20).
PUTTING THEIR HEADS TOGETHER: The PA reported the Ladies' Golf Union, the organizing body for ladies' amateur golf in Great Britain & Ireland, and R&A have "reached agreement on a merger." R&A CEO Martin Slumbers said that he was "confident that the merger" would not see the women's game become "'submerged' by the men's." Slumbers: "The merger will enable us to capitalise on the strengths of the two organisations for the wider benefit of the sport, including the development of golf for women and girls." The LGU's championships and international matches will "run as normal this year" (PA, 2/22).
