No LPGA for 17 days - Anyone know why?

[Harry Longshanks]

The last LPGA tourney ended August 24th. The next isn't until Sept.11th.

Anyone know why there is such a lengthy break while the season is still active?

Did a tournament drop out recently? Is there a big LET tourney?

Just seems like a prime date for a tourney.

Anyone have the scoop?

Thanks.

[supr4]

NW Arkansas was originally schd. for this weekend was held this past July 4-6.
A filler for this date wasn't successful or didn't panned out I suppose.

[Harry Longshanks]

NW Arkansas was originally schd. for this weekend was held this past July 4-6.

That's probably it.

Thank you kind sir!

[Q.Q.Quillume]

For whatever reason there seem to be a lot of "holes" in the LPGA schedule.

For example, there was only one tournament in JAN '08, were only three in FEB, two in MAR, two in AUG & two in SEP.

There is only one "LPGA" tournament scheduled in DEC '08 and that's the Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge which is not really an LPGA tournament, but is part of the "Silly Season."

Schedule source: http://www.lpga.com/tournaments_index.aspx

[Harry Longshanks]

For whatever reason there seem to be a lot of "holes" in the LPGA schedule.

I understand the gaps during the silly season, as well as "weeks off" in April - early Aug (they usually correspond to PGA majors - which makes sense from a viewership perspective.)

But there is nothing going on right now (sorry, I don't think the FedEx Cup counts as big enough to warrant a "week off", does it?) I guess there really are sponsorship issues. Maybe the LPGA should do something to make their tour and their players more marketable. Maybe something like instituting a "minimal English" policy for their players. They could do something like suspend players who don't meet the minimal criteria. That might help with sponsorship and stuff. . . . . . . . . I KID!!!! I KID!!!!

[PEZGolf]

I understand the gaps during the silly season, as well as "weeks off" in April - early Aug (they usually correspond to PGA majors - which makes sense from a viewership perspective.)

As I recall, when Carolyn Bivens became the Commissioner, succeeding Ty Votaw, she discussed with the Board the schedule, the purses, the TV ratings, and the possible sponsors. The overall strategy was to reduce the schedule because there were some weak spots, and try to maximize exposure of the remaining ones. Also, the Tour wanted to expand to more foreign sites, which they have done. This time of the year is tough for TV ratings for golf since football is so HUGE with sports fans and Major League baseball is headed toward the playoffs. Without high TV ratings, there are fewer advertisers, and a lower revenue means a reduced purse.