The action taken by Lincicome's sponsors is not standard policy in player dealsGETTY IMAGES
Two of golfer Brittany Lincicome's top sponsors, CME and Diamond Resorts, are "going to honor her contracts when she steps away on maternity leave," which may give "hope for players that a sea change may be coming in the way LPGA endorsement deals are written," according to Randall Mell of GOLFCHANNEL.com. The action taken by Lincicome's sponsors is "not standard policy in player deals," though Stacy Lewis announced "similar news when she was pregnant last year." Sterling Sports Management President Jeff Chilcoat, who reps Lincicome, said, "This is a big deal for Brittany, to know she will still have some income coming in.” Mell noted most LPGA endorsements "require players to make a minimum number of tournament appearances." Chilcoat: “My hope is this becomes the norm in the future, that people are saying, `You know what? This is the right thing to do'” (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 3/19). GOLFWEEK's Beth Ann Nichols noted the "hope among players is that this kind of thinking catches on with other sponsors, so that players who do struggle to make ends meet won’t have to worry so much about the bottom line when they’re on maternity leave." There are 11 moms currently competing on the LPGA (GOLFWEEK.com, 3/19).
