US LPGA officials and players want to concentrate on this week’s US Women’s Open instead of reports that some of the tour’s top players want commissioner Carolyn Bivens to resign.
US LPGA spokesman David Higdon declined to comment on Tuesday on reports that more than a dozen players sent a letter to the tour’s board urging Bivens to step down, telling reporters in an e-mail he couldn’t comment on internal matters.
Higdon said the tour was focused “first and foremost” this week on the Open at Saucon Valley Country Club, but added the tour and its board took any topic raised by the players seriously.
Former US Women’s Open champion Cristie Kerr read a statement asking the media to restrict its questions to the event, golf — and her wine making.
Defending champion Inbee Park sidestepped the issue of US LPGA infighting, citing respect for the event.
On Monday, Golfweek Magazine reported that key players said in the letter that the tour’s woes cannot be blamed on a poor economy and that the US LPGA needs a new leader to rebuild relationships with sponsors.
The tour has lost seven tournaments since 2007.
“There are always differences of opinion on business matters, and as they arise, we resolve them as best we can in order to further the business of the LPGA,” Higdon said.
Because Kerr doesn’t hold an official position with the players’ organization, she said she couldn’t speak on US LPGA operations.
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