Bivens addresses LPGA's future

With a great deal of concern about the future of women's golf, Carolyn Bivens delivered her annual LPGA State of the Tour address earlier today.  Although there is a great deal of pressure on Bivens and LPGA executives about the financial security of the tour, Jay Coffin observes that she handled the press conference with "poise, passion and precision."

Steve Elling has taken a number of in-depth looks at the topic and offered this after the press conference:

It's considered the most successful and long-lived professional women's organization ever conceived, dating to 1950. But from another standpoint, it's forever being compared to the male version. In its sixth decade or not, the LPGA remains, in effect, a niche sport within a niche sport. As for the men, Romeo is already bleeding financially, and Juliet is facing an increasingly uncertain and messy fate.

 Bivens explained that said the reason that so many tournaments have the same expiration date is simple -- she wanted the renewal terms to be negotiated after a new TV deal was established. That way, both the buyer and seller would have a better idea of whether the terms were advantageous or not.

Trouble is, it ain't a seller's market anymore, no TV deal is in place and the clock is running.

To view the transcript, click here.