Short Off The Tee

AT THE START of one of its most important seasons the LPGA is 2 for 2: two tournaments, two controversies. Last week's Fields Open in Hawaii was won by relative unknown Meena Lee, but it will be remembered for a gaffe by the LPGA that compelled some news agencies to boycott the first round--even though Michelle Wie was playing her first tour event in Hawaii as a pro. This, a week after the SBS Open in Hawaii was overshadowed by protests over the Women's World Golf Rankings.

These growing pains are indicative of a tour straining for a higher profile under first-year commissioner Carolyn Bivens (above right, with Annika Sorenstam). To be sure, the product has never been better. Now the LPGA needs to figure out how to stay out of its own way.

The problems at the Fields began with a new LPGA media credentialing policy that takes the unique position in sports that the tour essentially owns stories and photographs generated at its events. When the Associated Press, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and The Honolulu Advertiser refused to submit, they were denied credentials, even though the two dailies were event sponsors. Thus, on the day after the first round the Star-Bulletin ran only a story explaining why it didn't have any stories about the tournament. "The LPGA would require us to let them use our photos forever, for free," said Star-Bulletin editor Frank Bridgewater, "and we would have to ask its permission if we wanted to use our own photos in the future. We will not ... allow others to have any control over our stories."

After some backroom politicking the credential language was finessed, and the AP and both papers covered the final two rounds. But for Bivens, a former USA Today publisher who came in with a rep as a marketing whiz, it was an embarrassing start to her tenure. The credential flap drowned out the complaints of players after Wie was third in the inaugural world rankings, even though she has never won as a pro and played only 15 events over the past two years. Wie, however, finished third at the Fields, shooting a final-round 66 that left her one shot out of a playoff between Meena Lee and Seon Hwa Lee (no relation). Wie's star power highlighted a leader board full of glamour ( Natalie Gulbis, 23, tied for fourth), charisma ( Paula Creamer, 20, tied for 11th) and fire (17-year-old rookie Morgan Pressel, tied for 11th). The LPGA catches its breath this week with a bye, then begins the run-up to its first major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship, which begins on March 30. By then the quality of the golf and the appeal of the golfers should be the only story. -- Alan Shipnuck