"How good is Carolyn Bivens' grasp of the game and business she is charged with running?"

An unbylined commentary from The Golf Wire became the first to focus on the role of Commissioner Carolyn Bivens in the LPGA's speak English brouhaha:

After all, this is a woman with an allegedly strong media background who managed to achieve near media blackout of the first event under her care in 2006, the Fields Open, because she thought it was a good idea to flout a century of accepted media business practice and attempt to appropriate ownership of stories and photos produced by media outlets at LPGA events. Despite the presence of Michelle Wie, who was still a media darling back then, both Honolulu newspapers, The Associated Press, Sports Illustrated and Golf World magazine were among those who did not cover the first round on Oahu.

Eventually, she had to relent. You know how testy people can get when they take on all the expense and risk, and then someone else wants to reap the benefits.

Clearly, she's gearing up next for a government job.

Her latest brainstorm attempts to nullify talent and hard work - also known as "merit" - in exchange for a better marketing and communications platform. And here we thought a commissioner's job was to create MORE opportunities for her constituents - you know, the players - and not fewer.

Speaking of the Commissioner, Doug Ferguson notes:

Strangely absent during this debate is LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens. According to Golfweek, Bivens held a meeting with only the South Koreans last week in Portland, which led some to believe they were being singled out.

Galloway said Bivens was returning from the West Coast on Monday and Tuesday, and “I drew the long straw” to handle media inquiries.

The New York Times editorial board even weighed in, calling the new policy offensive and self-destructive.

Comments

[Mike C.]

Oh of course if New York (Pravda) Times doesn't like it it's gotta be wrong. After all they speak for most Americans right ?? If those in the press would get off their high horse they would see that this policy is truly one of inclusion as opposed to exclusion. The LPGA has clearly realized that international players will be a force on their tour for years to come. The objection of this initiative is one of assimilation to help those players interact with fans, sponsors and media in a way that will allow the tour and its players to prosper in the long term. No one is going to get suspended. I mean two years to learn rudimentary English ?? Come on. But hysteria and headlines sell newspapers I guess.

[Ronald Montesano]

http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1837273,00.html

Or, you could read this article for a perspective different from the hysterical.

[clashman]

No Mike C
Fixed News speaks for most americans.

[Gov. Lepetomane]

Thanks to Mike C. and Ronald Montesano for an objective, common sense take on this subject.