Golfworld’s Ron Sirak has a good article on the changing fortunes in the economics of the LPGA. A telling quote:

When Meg Mallon won the 2004 U.S. Women’s Open she wore a hat purchased in The Orchards golf shop and her caddie carried a bag uncluttered by corporate logos. The following week, after she took the Canadian Women’s Open, Mallon received one congratulatory call from an equipment rep—and no endorsement offers. What made the situation more depressing was that Mallon had 17 LPGA victories, including four majors, and possessed one of the most marketable personalities in her sport.

“It’s very frustrating when you watch the men’s qualifying school and the winners say [golf manufacturers] are throwing money at them right and left, and our tour can’t even get a bonus pool,” she said at the time. She was not alone in her frustration: Beth Daniel, Juli Inkster and Rosie Jones were unrepresented or under-represented in endorsement deals.

My how things have changed. Buoyed by a bevy of marketable stars, the LPGA now has economic pull. Annika Sorenstam earned $9.5 million in endorsements; Paula Creamer, $4.3; Lorena Ochoa $1.9. Carrie Webb, Suzanne Pettersen, Natalie Gulbis, Morgan Pressel, Cristie Kerr, Se Ri Pak, Mi Hyun Kim, Jeong Jang and Ai Miyazato all earned seven figures in off-the-course monies.

It’s a good read.

Michielle Wie apparently will skip her spring semester at Stanford and concentrate on rebuilding her LPGA resume.

Wie, who skidded badly through an embarrassing and injury-wracked 2007 season, will skip the spring semester at Stanford and play against the women in an attempt to resuscitate her once-limitless fortunes, her coach said Thursday.

“I think she just wants to reestablish herself,” said David Leadbetter, who is in the midst of a 10-day teaching session with his prized pupil. “Obviously, after such a terrible year, her biggest goal needs to be getting her form and confidence back. You do that brick by brick.

The new Natalie Gulbis calendar is out. You can get it—both signed and unsigned, at It’s Already Signed For You.

Sophie Sandolo, the queen of golf pinups is back with her 2008 Calendar. Sophie says that she would like to see golf included as an Olympic sport, so she’s used Olympic Sports as the theme for this year’s effort.

I’d rather see her with golf equipment ... this looks to me like it will be just another cheesecake calendar.

For those of you not in the know, Sophie Sandolo is a player on the ladies European Tour. Her best finish this year was eighth at the Tenerife Ladies Open. She’s not what you would call a great player, but has made her mark over the past few years with photos of her posing nude and semi-nude with golf equipment.

You can get the Sophie Sandolo Calendars here

It’s not exactly the kind of publicity the LPGA was looking for when it announced a new Pebble Beach-style celebrity pro-am.

As it turns out, the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club where they booked the tournament already had an event scheduled: a Passover celebration for more than 200 families.

The resort, apparently sensing more money in golf than in religion, booted the latter. Now they’re suing the resort.

“The contract specifically states that they may not cancel us to take what they deem better business,” said attorney David Freedman, who’s representing Presidential Holidays. “There are strict Old Testament laws that must be adhered to, ritual meals where you can’t cook dairy and meat in the same kitchen. It’s impossible to move, but the resort’s owners are saying we’re out on the street because the LPGA is coming in.”

Oops