It appears as though LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens could be the next leader awakended in the middle of the night, forced out of her home at gunpoint while still wearing pajamas and exiled against her will to Costa Rica.
Figuratively of course.
Sports Illustrated Senior Editor Jim Gorant is reporting that a group of the LPGA Tour's top players convened a shady dinner in the shadows somewhere in Slyvania, Ohio during last week's Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic to discuss the detoriating state of the LPGA Tour in the wake of yet another event cancellation; this fall's Kapalua Classic, scheduled for Oct. 10-15. According to Gorant's article, the performance of the former president and CEO of the largest media services agency in the United States (Initiative Media North America) was the main subject of conversation.
Last week the military of Hondorus stormed the home of former president Manuel Zelaya and shipped him out of the country in response to his controversial push to redraw the Central American country's constitution.
Could a player-led coup designed to oust Bivens from power because of her unpopular performance and the Tour's shrinking schedule be imminent?
Bivens, who has been dubbed the "Brand Lady" by a number of media members and bloggers, has failed to make much headway against a stiff economic tide this year. At the moment, it's possible that the LPGA Tour could play just 10 or fewer events in the United States in 2010.
That's just one of many problems the fledgling Tour is facing. Last year Bivens announced plans to institute a policy requiring players to achieve a certain level of proficiency in English or face suspension. The policy drew an overwhelmingly negative response and was quickly canned. Still it's difficult to ignore the growing disconnect between foreign-born LPGA players not named Ochoa and Sorenstam, mainly the large contingent from South Korea, and golf fans in the U.S.
To make matters worse, this news has surfaced just days before the women are to compete for our national champioship. The Women's U.S. Open begins Thursday at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa. Big names like Michelle Wie and Natalie Gulbis failed to qualify, and it's a distinct possibility that no American will seriously contend for the title unless stars such as Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel carry the Team USA banner.
The aforementioned report was brief, but Gorant summarizes the following to conclude his writing:
"Whatever the details, it's clear that as sponsorship dollars dry up and tournaments keep disappearing, the stress level is rising among players, if not among the LPGA board."
Watch carefully, as it's almost certain that each and every player who enters the interview room at Saucon Valley CC will be questioned on this particluar subject.
The good news - at least there will be no debate this week as to whether or not Wie will win her first event as a professional.