Sport

Reports of player unrest with tour chief

US WOMEN’S OPEN : PLAYERS AT the US Women’s Open were tight-lipped when asked about a report that a group of top players had…

Thu Jul 09 2009 - 01:00

US WOMEN'S OPEN: PLAYERS AT the US Women's Open were tight-lipped when asked about a report that a group of top players had called for the resignation of LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens.

Golfweek Magazine reported on Monday that up to 15 players met at last week’s tournament concerned about the health of the tour in the face of the economic downturn and that a letter had been sent to the LPGA board calling for Bivens to resign.

Cristie Kerr, the 2007 US Women’s Open champion and second-leading money winner this year who was identified by Golfweek as one of the players at the meeting, set the tone for the day at her news conference yesterday at Saucon Valley.

“Out of respect for the USGA, I’m asking that questions at this time be reserved for the US Open or questions about myself and my golf and perhaps my wine making,” Kerr said, reading a statement. “I cannot comment on matters pertaining to the LPGA operations as I do not have an official capacity to do that.”

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The Women’s Open is conducted by the US Golf Association and not by the LPGA Tour.

A stream of players that came in for interviews repeated that mantra. “What I will say is that our player organisation is very focused on how these difficult economic times affect our tour, and we are actively working with our executive board of management to create the best product for our partners and fans, so let’s talk about the US Open this week,” Kerr said.

The women’s tour has lost seven tournaments since 2007, including all three in Hawaii, and numerous others are up for renewal at the end of the year.

Park In-bee of South Korea said she was ready to cast aside a disappointing season when she begins the defence of her title at Saucon Valley today. She claimed an emphatic four-shot victory last year at Interlachen to become, at 19, the youngest US Open champion. Her best result this year came at last month’s LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock where she tied for 14th.

“I think I really feel like my game is coming back since last month,” Park told reporters yesterday.

Park and 155 challengers will be playing a course that measures 6,740 yards at its longest.