Reports are that the LPGA will add the Evian Masters as a fifth Major. The Evian Masters already is a Major for the European Tour and already is a co-sanctioned event between the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour.

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.

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.