LPGA's Second Largest Purse Event, Ginn Tribute Out In '09
 |
Ginn Reportedly Ending Sponsorship Of LPGA
Event Effective For The '09 Season |
The LPGA Ginn Tribute, which has a purse of $2.6M, making it the "richest of any U.S.-based LPGA event except the U.S. Women's Open, will not return in 2009," according to sources cited by Ron Sirak of GOLF WORLD. The LPGA and Ginn both refused to confirm the tournament would not be played in '09, but neither "expressed optimism about its future." However, sources involved in broadcasting, tournament ownership and the LPGA said that Ginn "has pulled the plug" on the event. The "uncertainty expressed about the future after the Ginn Open also raises questions about the existence of all the Ginn tournaments" after '09. Insiders familiar with the cost of running tournaments said that Ginn is "on the hook for $25[M] annually for the four events, one of the most ambitious investments by any company in tournament sponsorship." Ginn has "contractual obligations both to the LPGA and to NBC, which broadcasts the Ginn Tribute, for two more years." LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens said, "We're having ongoing conversations with the Ginn organization and we hope to work things out amicably. We also hope our broadcast partners, in this case NBC, are respected" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 7/27).
|
