LPGA: Current Commissioner's Challenges or Challenged

Controversy happens in organizations of two or more people. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) has not escaped challenges. Having male commissioners until 2005 probably caused more adversity than the public fathomed. The coming out of sexual orientation and being referred to as the L-word by the press caused ruffles. Even too many brunettes were an issue at one point. Apparently when a woman takes on the role of “first” anything, the critics are standing by.

Carolyn Bivens, the first woman and the seventh LPGA commissioner is not a novice; in fact, her portfolio is quite stacked. In 2002, Electronic Media titled Bivens as the most powerful female in TV. She also was as a better golfer than her six male predecessors were, per her 14 handicap. Players looked to her immediately for a new LPGA tournament direction.

Less than a year after appointment, Carolyn’s critics advocated replacing her saying, she was “Running the LPGA into the Ground”. Claimants wrote that she failed selling sponsors on the LPGA tours, which should have been a slam-dunk with very attractive energetic youths on the tours.

Perhaps seven LPGA officers leaving her first year or a Senior VP forced out for not bending deadline rules was most significant. Other disapproval of Bivens came when she went to bats over media credentials for tours and debacles about Wie’s playing status. Annika Sorenstam said she was quite concerned the decisions and changes and wondered where the LPGA was headed. Title sponsors were canceling on Bivens' watch.

Still 2008 has Bivens name attached to “Got to go”, when ADT canceled the end of year titled sponsorship. In addition, there is the retracted mandate that all LPGA players must speak English to play in 2009. Has enough been reached?