Menu
Leagues and Governing Bodies

LPGA's Mike Whan Says Tour Hopes A Return To Rochester Is In The Future

LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan on Monday during a visit to Rochester said that he "wants nothing more than to somehow find a way back" to the market once the Wegmans LPGA Championship concludes in August, according to Sal Maiorana of the ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE. How "exactly that might happen, or in what form the tour could return, Whan has no idea, but he certainly doesn't want this to be a goodbye." One way that it "could be possible revolves around the LPGA's new affiliation with the PGA of America, and in turn the PGA of America's clear-cut fondness for Oak Hill Country Club." The PGA of America has "routinely made it known that it cherishes its weeks at Oak Hill, and that the famed East Course is always in consideration for its biggest events." So it is "not hard to make the leap that Oak Hill could play a key role in bringing back major championship golf to Rochester." Whan said that he "has not had discussions with the PGA of America, KPMG or Oak Hill, but it's certainly an idea that is interesting." Whan: "Is it possible? Sure. Have we had that conversation? No. The bottom line is if we don't play a regular tour event here in Rochester, Rochester will be on a lot of radars." He added, "Rochester has proven itself as a major market. It's up to Oak Hill if that would be a good fit if the invitation ever came, but there's no doubt Rochester would be on the short list of markets that know how to do it right" (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 6/3). GOLF WORLD's Bill Fields notes Whan "understands changing the name" of the LPGA Championship "was a jolt." But Whan "feels it is for the greater good." In aligning with PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua and KPMG, Whan has "spearheaded the biggest development under his watch" (GOLF WORLD, 6/9 issue).

AMERICAN INFLUENCE: In Baltimore, Don Markus noted Stacy Lewis' victory Sunday at the ShopRite LPGA Classic was the "fourth straight and sixth in seven events by an American player, the best streak for the United States on its home tour since Americans won five times in six events" in '07. LPGA Chief Communications Officer Kraig Kann said that TV ratings for events have increased by 20%, "including six straight events 'that were double digits better than they were a year ago.'" But Markus noted the "resurgence of Lewis and others -- including former teenage phenom Michelle Wie, now back in the Top 10 -- has helped create a buzz about women's golf that was missing the past few years." Kann said, "Does it help that the No. 1 player in the world is an American? There's no question that it's a positive for a tour that is based in the United States. Does it help that Americans have won four tournaments in a row? Absolutely, it helps." Still, because the LPGA is branding itself as a "global tour" with 33 events in 14 countries, Kann does not believe the LPGA is "reliant only upon the Americans playing well for us to have success" (Baltimore SUN, 6/3).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/06/04/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/LPGA.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/06/04/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/LPGA.aspx

CLOSE