Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009

Golf notes: Whan hired as new commissioner of LPGA Tour

NEW YORK -- The LPGA Tour picked Michael Whan as its new commissioner, turning to a former marketing executive in golf and hockey equipment to rebuild the tour's relationships with sponsors.

The 44-year-old Whan previously worked for TaylorMade Golf and Wilson Sporting Goods and most recently was president of Mission-Itech Hockey.

"I was that crazy high school kid cutting greens at 5:30 in the morning so he could play free golf in the afternoon and caddying on Sundays," Whan said Wednesday, during an introductory news conference at Madison Square Garden.

He replaces Carolyn Bivens, who was forced out by players in July as the tour kept losing sponsors. Bivens had a strong business background but little experience in sports when she was hired in 2005.

Dawn Hudson, chair of the LPGA board of directors, said the tour needed a commissioner familiar with the sports business - even if that experience didn't come working for a league.

"At this particular time, with the struggles that all sports have had and some of the controversy of the past year, we really need a commissioner who can hit the ground running," she told The Associated Press.

The number of official money events dropped from 34 in 2008 to 28 this year. While declining to reveal exact numbers, Hudson said the number of tournaments in 2010 would be closer to the best-case scenario than the worst-case.

Whan was selected following a three-month search. Acting commissioner Marty Evans will stay on the rest of the year, with Whan starting in January.

Casey tries to shrug off rib injury at Match Play

CASARES, Spain | Paul Casey is trying to shrug off a rib injury that could trouble his chances at the new-look Word Match Play Championship.

The Englishman, who won the event in 2006, said Wednesday that his rib area was tender and tight as he gets ready to play a full event for the first time since July.

"Trouble is, there's no way really of testing it until I'm out here in the mix playing golf," Casey said at Finca Cortesin golf course, which is hosting for the first time.

Casey is scheduled to open play today against Scott Strange, while 16 players including Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Masters champion Angel Cabrera are all in action. Casey will also play two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen and Anthony Kim in Group A.

Ballesteros' cancer recovery going well

MADRID | Seve Ballesteros says his latest medical checks show his recovery from brain cancer is going well.

The 52-year-old Spaniard said Wednesday on his Web page that tests confirmed that an aggressive radiotherapy treatment used over the past six weeks had provided "very positive" results.

He said he's resting after fatigue from the treatment.

Ballesteros, who won three British Open and two Masters titles, will attend the World Match Play Championship this weekend. He won the event a record five times.

Work begins on Trump's Scottish golf course

EDINBURGH, Scotland | Work has begun on Donald Trump's controversial golf resort in Endinburgh, Scotland.

Workers are clearing rocks and other debris from the site Wednesday after planners at the Aberdeenshire Council granted permission.

Trump was given permission last year to build the resort featuring a five-star hotel, 1,200 homes and two international-standard golf courses north of Aberdeen.

Grass will be planted from November to March on an environmentally sensitive stretch of sand dunes to stabilize the beach for development into a championship golf course.

Some local residents who oppose the project have threatened legal action, claiming violations of environmental laws and planning procedures.