Events such as the ANA Inspiration could lose some small smaller sponsors for this yearGETTY IMAGES
The LPGA's ANA Inspiration and every other golf event in the coming months "face issues they have never needed to address before," so what the Palm Springs-based major "will look like in 13 weeks remains a question," according to Larry Bohannan of the Palm Springs DESERT SUN. Tournament Manager Alyssa Randolph said, "What we are doing is continuing to plan for the same scope as April, meaning open to the public and a similar build (of grandstands and other structures) and hospitality, pro-am. Of course, closed to the public is an option, but we would also need to be mandated to be closed completely.” Bohannan notes tournament organizers "won't talk about how a no-gallery tournament might affect the event’s financial status -- tickets for the rescheduled event have not been put on sale -- though ticket sales alone are not considered a big part of an LPGA event’s revenues." The event "could lose some smaller sponsorships -- at least in 2020 -- if a hospitality village featuring local businesses is absent because there are no fans." But title sponsor All-Nippon Airways "remains solidly on board, including fully funding the tournament purse" of $3.1M. What public-health procedures "will look like, from testing other players, caddies and staff members to sanitary efforts on the golf course, will be based on what the LPGA decides for its upcoming events as well as what is learned in the coming weeks from other tours" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 6/11).
