Big week ahead for me. The LPGA is in town and my company is a sponsor of the event. It kicks off tomorrow evening with the Pro-am pairings dinner. I will be playing in the pro-am on tue. and wed. I will be watching as much of the tournament as possible and have reserved seats at the 18th green. I will miss sunday as I am playing in a local Father Son tournament.
Classic's return could signal tour comeback
By MICHAEL McGARRY, Staff Writer | Posted: Sunday, June 13, 2010 | 0 comments
<DL id=story-font-size class=moz-border><DT><DD>
</DD></DL>Juli Inkster, who won the ShopRite LPGA Classic in 1986 and 1988, says she always brings her family to theClassic. at Hamiton Farms Golf Club in Gladstone, New Jersey Thursday May 20, 2010
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The memories of 21 ShopRite LPGA Classics are still fresh.
Annika Sorenstam clinching her third Classic championship with a 38-foot eagle put on the 18th hole in 2005.
Betsy King winning in 1995 to earn a spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame.
Cristie Kerr leaping with a fist pump after sinking a putt to hold off Paula Creamer, then an amateur in her first LPGA event, to win in 2004.
The tournament's new memories start Friday.
The Classic is back four years after a dispute over dates caused it to fold.
The $1.5 million, 54-hole tournament will be held Friday-Sunday on the Bay Course at Seaview – A Dolce Resort in Galloway Township.
The 150-player field features the world's best women golfers, including Michelle Wie and past Classic champions Kerr, Angela Stanford and Juli Inkster.
"It's been missed on tour," Creamer said. "That's for sure. It's great that it's back."
The tournament's rebirth comes at a perfect time for the LPGA, which needs to make a comeback of its own. The LPGA is in the midst of one of its biggest economic slumps since it began in 1950.
The tour has just 26 events this year - its fewest in 40 years. The LPGA has only 13 domestic events scheduled in 2010 and several of those, like last month's Sybase Match Play Championship in Somerset County, are only for elite players.
The LPGA simply can't exist without full-field, U.S. events such as the Classic. The Classic's return is a big selling point for the LPGA, which is trying to attract new sponsors.
"This is a statement event for us," LPGA spokesman David Higdon said. "We can come in and say, 'We're not damaged goods. There's still a lot of value in the LPGA.' That somebody who went away would come back has been really helpful in all our conversations with people who are considering us."
The Classic began in 1986 and ended in 2006. The event seemed to be one of the more stable stops on the LPGA Tour. Fans packed the bleachers around the 18th hole to watch the final round. The Classic donated more than $12 million to charity in its history.
The players loved the tournament. They could stay close to the course at Seaview. The Ocean City Boardwalk and Atlantic City casinos were a car ride away.
"I'm really glad it's back," LPGA Hall of Famer Inkster said. "I always bring my family."
Things unraveled because of a dispute over dates between then-LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens and the Classic's former organizers.
The Classic was held the first weekend in June in 2005-06 and tournament officials wanted to keep that date.
But Bivens gave that weekend to a new tournament - The Ginn Tribute hosted by Annika Sorenstam in South Carolina. That tournament had a $2 million purse and was televised nationally on NBC.
A new date for the Classic could not be agreed upon, so the tournament ended.
There were no winners.
The players ousted Bivens last summer.
The Ginn Tribute failed, as former Classic officials predicted it would, after just two years.
There was no Classic the past three years.
"You never know what's going on behind the scenes," 2003 Classic champion Angela Stanford said. "That's the tough part for players. You hope the people behind the scenes are looking out for your interests. Sometimes those people can't see eye-to-eye and the players suffer."
Current Classic executive director Tim Erensen announced the tournament's return last November. The lack of domestic events combined with the Classic's positive history is why it's back.
"I've said a hundred times the tournament didn't leave because it wasn't successful," he said.
ShopRite also jumped at the chance to be involved again. Even when the Classic ended, the supermarket was still involved with the LPGA. ShopRite was the presenting sponsor of the Sybase tournament in 2008-09.
"I feel like the band is back together," said Mike Whan, who is in his first year as the LPGA commissioner.
Part of the Classic's appeal is that it's one of the few LPGA events this year with a connection to the tour's past. LPGA great Kathy Whitworth played in the first Classic. Nancy Lopez, the most famous woman golfer ever, won in 1989.
"Anytime you can establish a tournament for 10, 20 years it's great," Inkster said. "The town gets behind it. The city gets behind it. You get a big following. Everybody looks forward to it. I think we need to do more of that and stay where we're at for longer periods of time instead of moving around and chasing the money."
The Classic has a five-year contract with the LPGA. The tournament will move back to the more desirable first weekend in June next year.
Things will not be easy this weekend. The Classic goes up against the men's U.S. Open, which is being held at Pebble Beach in California.
The Classic does get one break. The U.S. Open will be shown in prime time Saturday and Sunday. The Classic will be over by 5 p.m. both days to give fans plenty of time to get to a television set to watch the men.
"Maybe I'm too much of a half-full guy," said LPGA spokesman David Higdon, "but when the U.S. men's Open is on people are thinking about golf. Hopefully, they'll pay attention to what's going on on the East Coast as well."
Both the Classic and LPGA seem committed to again making the event a success and not repeating past mistakes.
"When business gets tough, you find out who you can really lean on," Whan said. "Trust me, we won't forget it. They (the Classic and ShopRite) stepped up and become a business partner at a time when we really needed it. They can count on me being a business partner for decades to come."
Contact Michael McGarry:
609-272-7185
[email protected]
Classic's return could signal tour comeback
By MICHAEL McGARRY, Staff Writer | Posted: Sunday, June 13, 2010 | 0 comments
<DL id=story-font-size class=moz-border><DT><DD>
</DD></DL>Juli Inkster, who won the ShopRite LPGA Classic in 1986 and 1988, says she always brings her family to theClassic. at Hamiton Farms Golf Club in Gladstone, New Jersey Thursday May 20, 2010
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- Related: ShopRite LPGA Classic champions
- Related: ShopRite LPGA Classic field
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The memories of 21 ShopRite LPGA Classics are still fresh.
Annika Sorenstam clinching her third Classic championship with a 38-foot eagle put on the 18th hole in 2005.
Betsy King winning in 1995 to earn a spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame.
Cristie Kerr leaping with a fist pump after sinking a putt to hold off Paula Creamer, then an amateur in her first LPGA event, to win in 2004.
The tournament's new memories start Friday.
The Classic is back four years after a dispute over dates caused it to fold.
The $1.5 million, 54-hole tournament will be held Friday-Sunday on the Bay Course at Seaview – A Dolce Resort in Galloway Township.
The 150-player field features the world's best women golfers, including Michelle Wie and past Classic champions Kerr, Angela Stanford and Juli Inkster.
"It's been missed on tour," Creamer said. "That's for sure. It's great that it's back."
The tournament's rebirth comes at a perfect time for the LPGA, which needs to make a comeback of its own. The LPGA is in the midst of one of its biggest economic slumps since it began in 1950.
The tour has just 26 events this year - its fewest in 40 years. The LPGA has only 13 domestic events scheduled in 2010 and several of those, like last month's Sybase Match Play Championship in Somerset County, are only for elite players.
The LPGA simply can't exist without full-field, U.S. events such as the Classic. The Classic's return is a big selling point for the LPGA, which is trying to attract new sponsors.
"This is a statement event for us," LPGA spokesman David Higdon said. "We can come in and say, 'We're not damaged goods. There's still a lot of value in the LPGA.' That somebody who went away would come back has been really helpful in all our conversations with people who are considering us."
The Classic began in 1986 and ended in 2006. The event seemed to be one of the more stable stops on the LPGA Tour. Fans packed the bleachers around the 18th hole to watch the final round. The Classic donated more than $12 million to charity in its history.
The players loved the tournament. They could stay close to the course at Seaview. The Ocean City Boardwalk and Atlantic City casinos were a car ride away.
"I'm really glad it's back," LPGA Hall of Famer Inkster said. "I always bring my family."
Things unraveled because of a dispute over dates between then-LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens and the Classic's former organizers.
The Classic was held the first weekend in June in 2005-06 and tournament officials wanted to keep that date.
But Bivens gave that weekend to a new tournament - The Ginn Tribute hosted by Annika Sorenstam in South Carolina. That tournament had a $2 million purse and was televised nationally on NBC.
A new date for the Classic could not be agreed upon, so the tournament ended.
There were no winners.
The players ousted Bivens last summer.
The Ginn Tribute failed, as former Classic officials predicted it would, after just two years.
There was no Classic the past three years.
"You never know what's going on behind the scenes," 2003 Classic champion Angela Stanford said. "That's the tough part for players. You hope the people behind the scenes are looking out for your interests. Sometimes those people can't see eye-to-eye and the players suffer."
Current Classic executive director Tim Erensen announced the tournament's return last November. The lack of domestic events combined with the Classic's positive history is why it's back.
"I've said a hundred times the tournament didn't leave because it wasn't successful," he said.
ShopRite also jumped at the chance to be involved again. Even when the Classic ended, the supermarket was still involved with the LPGA. ShopRite was the presenting sponsor of the Sybase tournament in 2008-09.
"I feel like the band is back together," said Mike Whan, who is in his first year as the LPGA commissioner.
Part of the Classic's appeal is that it's one of the few LPGA events this year with a connection to the tour's past. LPGA great Kathy Whitworth played in the first Classic. Nancy Lopez, the most famous woman golfer ever, won in 1989.
"Anytime you can establish a tournament for 10, 20 years it's great," Inkster said. "The town gets behind it. The city gets behind it. You get a big following. Everybody looks forward to it. I think we need to do more of that and stay where we're at for longer periods of time instead of moving around and chasing the money."
The Classic has a five-year contract with the LPGA. The tournament will move back to the more desirable first weekend in June next year.
Things will not be easy this weekend. The Classic goes up against the men's U.S. Open, which is being held at Pebble Beach in California.
The Classic does get one break. The U.S. Open will be shown in prime time Saturday and Sunday. The Classic will be over by 5 p.m. both days to give fans plenty of time to get to a television set to watch the men.
"Maybe I'm too much of a half-full guy," said LPGA spokesman David Higdon, "but when the U.S. men's Open is on people are thinking about golf. Hopefully, they'll pay attention to what's going on on the East Coast as well."
Both the Classic and LPGA seem committed to again making the event a success and not repeating past mistakes.
"When business gets tough, you find out who you can really lean on," Whan said. "Trust me, we won't forget it. They (the Classic and ShopRite) stepped up and become a business partner at a time when we really needed it. They can count on me being a business partner for decades to come."
Contact Michael McGarry:
609-272-7185
[email protected]
United States
