The Washington Post has an interesting article on the steps LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan is taking to bring that tour back to life.

His Mantra is GROWTH, an acronym:

“It’s a little thing, but I have this thing on tour where I talk about ‘GROWTH’ and each letter stands for something and the ‘T’ stands for thank you,” Whan said. “I always say when somebody hands you a check on the 18th green, especially a check that is larger than you ever thought you would make playing the game, remember you can thank whoever you want, your caddie, your dad, your coach, Jesus, but make sure you thank the person on the bottom of the check first.”

The other letters in GROWTH are just as important to Whan.

The G stands for getting involved, stepping up and doing something if there is something you don’t like about the events or things on tour.

The R is to reach out and touch the fans. Make their day.

O is for being open.

“It’s a Mike Whan warning,” he said. “I am not a status quo guy. I like to shake it up and get people talking about us again.”

The W is worldwide tour ... “and get over it. It’s the LPGA’s greatest competitive advantage.”

After T is the H, or have fun.

The Kraft Nabisco began as a 54 hole event, known as the Colgate Dinah Shore Tournament. It has always been held at the Old Course at Mission Hills Country Club. The inaugural event was won by Jane Blalock.

Nabisco became the sponsor in 1982. That year, the Dinah Shore was the first LPGA event to have all four rounds broadcast on national television (by ABC—always a friend to golf). The tournament was designed a “Major” by the LGPA the following year.

For those who are not old enough to remember, Dinah Shore was a singer, actress and pioneering television talk show host. Beginning her career in radio as a singer, she had her own program by 1943. During the Second World War, Shore was the first woman to visit troops at the front. After the war, she recorded more than 70 songs, including one called “Dinah”, which gave her the nickname (her real name was Frances Rose). She had her own television variety and talk show starting in 1951. In the late ‘60s and ‘70s, the show was called “Dinah!” and was enormously popular (my mother watched it religiously). She certainly was the pioneer who made Oprah! possible. Shore died in 1994.

For the LPGA, Shore was a tireless promoter—kind of the Bob Hope of women’s golf. Dinah Shore is the first—and only—honorary member of the LPGA Hall of Fame. She was awarded the Patty Berg Award for her contributions to women’s golf.

Shore also left her mark in the traditional celebratory swim after the event. In 1991, she joined Amy Alcott for the dunk—the “swim at the Shore.” Viewers are sure to see the swim again this year.

The current name of the tournament reflects Kraft’s 2000 purchase of Nabisco brands. Kraft Nabisco’s support for the tournament is very strong, offeirng a purse of $1.8 million.

It’s a shame, though, that Dinah Shore’s name no longer is associated with the tournament she started.

Mission Hills will play as a 6,569 yard par 72 for the tournament. The course was designed by Desmond Muirhead. The signature is the 531 yard par 5, with an island green sitting right in front of the clubhouse.

State Farm won’t renew its sponsorship of what’s now known as the LPGA State Farm Classic. This year—the last in the deal—is set for June 9 - 11 in Illinois. It doesn’t seem to be a specific slight to the LPGA, though. State Farm also apparently is backing out of its deals with the NCAA and the NFL.

Still, the question remains whether LPGA Commissioner can find a replacement by next year. The LPGA will survive, but given the troubles it has, I think it’s a fair question to ask: in what form?

Who’s the best golfer on the planet right now?

Yani Tseng

This past weekend, the Taiwanese golfer won her third tournament in three weeks, shooting a six-under-par 66 to pull away for a five-shot victory over Michelle Wie in the LPGA opener in Thailand.

Anyone else think it’s interesting that the LPGA begins its season in ... Thailand?

With half its events overseas, I’m worried about the tour’s future. Overseas means odd television times in the US, making it even more difficult to build or maintain a US fan base. I know that the lack of US support is one reason for the overseas expansion, but I wonder if it hasn’t gone too far. As it stands, the LPGA is down to 25 events overall (including the overseas events), and one in Mexico has been cancelled because of safety concerns.

Last week, LPGA star Brittany Lincicome teed it up at a Hooters Tour men’s event ... and missed the cut.

I can’t imagine what she was thinking on this one. It was a no-win. If Brittany did well in the tournament, the naysayers would point out that it was against second rate talent. And if she failed to do well (as she did), the naysayers would point out that it was against second rate talent. At least when Anna and Wiesy teed it up against the men, they were playing against the best, and any small victory was a big one.

And why a “Hooters” event? The jokes had to be endless ....

While foreign policy thinkers ponder the question of whether Mexico constitutes a “failed state,” the concern is much more practical to LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan: can we assure the safety of players, staff and spectators at the Tres Maria Championship in Morelia, Mexico. The answer, apparently, is no. Mike Whan told the Golf Channel:

“We’ve been advised to probably not go to Morelia as we sit here today because of some of the security concerns. Unfortunately, some of the violence has made it that far, including to some of the roads that we actually take from the airport to Tres Marias and the hotel.”

I’m certain this is the first tournament canceled for fear of terror—narco-terror to be sure, but terror nonetheless.

The LPGA apparently will try to reschedule the tournament, which was to be played in April. But I don’t see conditions getting any better.