False Allegations

Another Carolyn Bivens story...supposedly. A reporter out in Phoenix did a quick story concerning Annika Sorenstam being left off of the 2007 LPGA Media Guide. In the article, the writer opines that this is somehow a shot from Bivens to Sorenstam as retribution for some comments Annika made last year expressing her concern about the direction of the LPGA Tour. The writer goes on to say that perhaps Bivens feels that Sorenstam's 69 career victories and her status as best female golfer ever mean nothing to the Tour now.

The problem is that the story is bogus. Sorenstam didn't make the media guide cover because she didn't win a major season award last year. That's it. No shots, no passive aggressive moves, nothing. Were it not for a reader correcting the author on this miscue, the public could still have been led to believe that Commish Bivens went off the deep end.

Look, Carolyn Bivens has received plenty of criticism for her job performance to date. The criticism of the how is warranted in many ways, but the motivation and the why are not as subject to scrutiny. Bivens is trying to reach meaningful goals for the Tour and its players. Yes, there have been fights, resignations, boycotts, and other negative response to her tactics. But, the intent is pure - or so I believe. Eventually, Bivens will find out the best way to work with all of the Tour's stakeholders. It's better to have a vision and take it somewhere with a few bumps than to have no vision and never get started on the path to success. Bivens just has to find a working groove sooner than later or the results that she projects for her actions will fall on deaf ears.