CME Group Likely To Bring LPGA Titleholders To North Naples In '12

Chicago-based investment firm CME Group is “prepared to bring the historic, recently revived Titleholders to TwinEagles in North Naples in November 2012,” more than “10 years after the area’s last LPGA event folded,” according to Seth Soffian of the Ft. Myers NEWS-PRESS. The CME Group Titleholders, scheduled this year for Nov. 17-20 at Grand Cypress in Orlando, was “first held in 1937 and recognized as a major championship throughout its 28-year-history.” The Titleholders would be the “sixth different LPGA Tour event to be held in Southwest Florida.” LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan “revived the Titleholders this year as the season-ending, limited-field tour championship.” He “installed several twists over last year’s lackluster installment, also at Grand Cypress, to spur interest and player incentive to qualify” (Ft. Myers NEWS-PRESS, 9/3). GOLF WEEK’s Beth Ann Baldry noted the “winner’s check of $500,000 is second only to the U.S. Women’s Open, making the event a potential game-changer for year-end accolades.” Whan created “a season-long qualifying system, where the top three players from each tournament (not otherwise qualified) ‘punch their ticket’ to the season finale,” and the field “maxes out at 69.” Whan “wants caddie bibs to display the logo of the tournament from which each player qualified.” He also “wants each player to walk through a row of trophies on the way to the first tee.” The event “will be live on the Golf Channel” from 1:30-4:00pm ET all four days, and “there won’t be a cut” (GOLFWEEK.com, 9/1).