Commissioner’s ouster imminent

Bivens settles after top players revolt

By Michael Whitmer, Globe Staff  |  July 10, 2009

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - It appears that Carolyn Bivens couldn’t overcome a powerful letter crafted by many of the LPGA Tour’s top players, asking for her immediate removal as commissioner. According to multiple reports, Bivens has been let go, with GolfDigest.com reporting that a financial agreement was reached Wednesday night.

The decision to remove Bivens would come roughly a week after the players sent the tour’s board of directors the letter. The meeting drew such stars as Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer, Suzann Pettersen, Morgan Pressel, Natalie Gulbis, and Michelle Wie. The players are disgruntled at the performance of Bivens over her four-year stint as commissioner, with the tour having lost seven events since 2007, with the possibility of losing more.

Bivens was reportedly scheduled to be at the US Women’s Open, but informed US Golf Association officials Wednesday night she would not be coming. The LPGA Tour, which has refused to comment on the players’ letter or Bivens’s status, issued a statement yesterday, which read, in part:

“Out of respect to the USGA and the amazing work that they’ve done and continue to do in producing and hosting this great event, we will not respond to media reports on internal matters related to the LPGA business. The LPGA players, staff, and Board care deeply about our Tour, and we’re all working hard to achieve the same long-term objective to grow our Tour. We look forward to a great week of golf.’’

Bivens’s contract runs through 2010, and according to tax filings, she makes $500,000 per year.

She was nervous on the first tee, but then again, she’s always nervous before she plays. She hit a perfect opening drive, which happens often, too. It may have been the US Women’s Open, but not much felt different to Brittany Altomare of Shrewsbury, Mass.

Overcoming an early water-ball double bogey and making three back-nine birdies over a five-hole stretch, Altomare shot a 4-over-par 75 in her Open debut. She’s tied for 50th after one round, seven shots off the lead, and with a good round today can make the cut. But that’s not her primary goal.

“Maybe low [amateur],’’ said Altomare, an 18-year-old who is headed to the University of Virginia next month. “I just really want to play well this week. I’ve been playing good this whole year, so I wanted that to carry over.’’

Altomare rinsed her approach shot and made a double bogey on the short but tough par-4 third hole, and didn’t make a birdie until No. 13. That 15-footer woke up her putter. She followed with a 25-footer for birdie from off the green on the 16th, and made another 25-footer for birdie on No. 17. “Those felt nice,’’ she said.

Altomare only missed three fairways, but had trouble with her irons. Her father, Tom, is serving as her caddie, and a handful of other relatives (mother, sisters, aunt, uncle, grandmother) have combined to create quite a personal gallery.

Laura Davies, the 1987 US Women’s Open champion, is the only player in the field who was given a special exemption. Wanting to justify that, she opened with a 1-over 72, highlighted by three birdies and only 26 putts. A win this week would put the fun-loving Brit in the LPGA Hall of Fame.

“It’s just lovely to be here, have a chance to play the great golf courses in America,’’ said Davies, whose last tour win came in 2001. “When I got the phone call from the USGA saying you don’t have to go through qualifying, I said, ‘Thanks very much.’ That qualifying is not very easy. It’s nice to take advantage of this.’’

Alison Walshe of Westford, Mass., appearing in her second Open, had four bogeys in a five-hole stretch and shot an opening 79. Briana Vega of Andover, Mass., also playing in her second Open, struggled to an 81. She was briefly put on the clock for a slow time, which was followed by consecutive double bogeys.

Alexis Thompson, 14, had the lowest score among the 28 amateurs and 31 teenagers in the field, shooting an even-par 71 . . . Jessica Korda, a 16-year-old amateur from Sarasota, Fla., is the daughter of former tennis star Petr Korda, who won the 1998 Australian Open. Jessica Korda tied for 19th at the Women’s Open last year, and with her father serving as caddie, opened with a 72 . . . Naree Song (hip), Brandie Burton (back), Martina Eberl (wrist), and Seon Hwa Lee (back) withdrew yesterday. Eberl had played nine holes and was 9 over; Song had played 14 holes; Lee shot 80, Burton 81. Eberl and Lee were in the same group, so Christina Kim (72) will be joined by Ji Young Oh, who played in the preceding threesome yesterday . . . Only 15 percent of the players hit No. 7 - a 453-yard par-4 - in regulation.

Michael Whitmer can be reached at mwhitmer@globe.com