LPGA Tour Adds 4 Stops In '14, More Live Coverage

Ron Sirak breaks down the newly announced LPGA schedule, says 90% of next year's events will be televised live, and notes this growth in just two years:

After bottoming out in 2011 at 23 events following the perfect storm of Carolyn Bivens and the Great Recession, the LPGA will play 32 official events next year, plus the International Crown.

A key venue upgrade comes for the Wegman's LPGA Championship, which moves from early June to Aug. 14-17 and relocates to a restored Donald Ross in Rochester, Monroe CC.

Earlier in the week, Ron Kroichick revealed a new San Francisco event with a catchy name and exclusive venue.

The Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic (gotta say, that’s a catchy name) will be played at Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City on April 24-27. It will be the first LPGA event in the Bay Area since October 2010, when the fifth and final Longs-turned-CVS Challenge was held at Blackhawk Country Club in Danville.

Commissioner Mike Whan talked with Golf Channel about the impressive news of adding four events and the thinking behind a compelling format for the International Crown at Caves Valley in Maryland.
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Comments

[Media driven]

Gotta give him credit for rebuild after Hurricane Bivens. Good luck getting "network" (non-GC) coverage pal!!

[Chicago pt]

Wow, that commish has got it together..well done!!!!!!

[dbh]

Man, Whan is like the anti Finchem.
Relaxed and natural on camera, seems to have genuine enthusiasm for the product he's peddling but figures a limit to growth is good…
Little OT, but a nice and deserved dig at a previous Commish by Julie Inkster (via Doug Ferguson's twitter):

Inkster recalling Mike Whan interview for LPGA commissioner: "He was energetic and honest _ very honest. That's what we were lacking."

[OWGR Fan]

@Media Driven..... Wonder if Fox/Fox Sports 1 would be interested in televising the LPGA since they have a need for programming inventory and this could give them a head start on televising golf before the USGA contract kicks in. Actually NBCSN needs programming as well and that would keep it withing the ComcastNBC/TGC family. If not what does TGC bump to show more LPGA events live? Guessing less reruns of informercials, Big Break, etc.

[OPGolfer]

If Whan can get live TV tournament coverage for the LPGA, that would be great. With the emergence of some strong US players like Lewis and Lexi, this could be a good opportunity to make the game more visible and grow the game among American girls. And look who's leading today, Gulbis and Piller, two Americans. Who'd thunk it?

[DTF]

Wonder what Commish Blivet is up to these days...

[BrianS]

Whan has done a great job. I've been a big fan and have attended quite a few LPGA events over the past few years. LPGA's TV problem is that it can't really compete against the PGA Tour for (the small number) of golf fans, and they pretty much play at the same time. Time shifting and even day shifting of the LPGA to fill in the gaps of PGA coverage needs to continue and be explored as much as possible. As for one of the big networks, I'm doubtful, other than US Women's Open and possibly Solheim. But honestly I think they are better off on GC or another cable outlet that can give more hours than a network ever could/would. Same will eventually be true for the PGA Tour btw.

[DTF]

I found fhe JAL Big Apple Classic at Upper Montclair CC to be a waaay more enjoyable than the playoff event at Plainfield (and Wykagyl before that!).....

[Stanley Thompson]

Finchem is like a Bivens who is getting away with it.

[elf]

Look at the financial health of the PGA tour as compared to Europe, and with the economy, he's done a good job.

Whan though is amazing. Great, great job by him

[digsouth]

I am excited to see the final today, with that great leaderboard, and Gal, who I like, a MW trying to get it together, on the first page.

Well done, Whan. Best to all!