The LPGA Tour recently saw several highlights and a grand finale. Besides that, the Tour also saw a controversy emerge that could have severe repercussions on the Tour’s future. CME Group is one of the major sponsors of the LPGA Tour. Before the championship, the sponsors hosted a dinner, to which many players failed to show up. The CEO, Terry Duffy, described the incident as “an embarrassment.”
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Golf world reacts to the players’ no show
In a recent tweet, Beth Ann Nichols, a senior writer at Golfweek, revealed a few details of the incident. She tweeted that after speaker, Serena Williams cancelled, many players backed out. She said, “Some players informed the tour that they wouldn’t be coming. Others did not. Terry was not informed.”
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She suggested that the CME and the LPGA need to sit down and “find ways to make this work for everyone involved.” The golf world didn’t take kindly to the incident either.
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Seeing lots of spirited discussion on the CME dinner. I was told that 15 players were confirmed for Tuesday evening as of that morning. When Serena Williams had to cancel, some players informed the tour that they wouldn't be coming. Others did not. Terry was not informed. 1/2
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) November 21, 2022
A big part of Terry's motivation to turn his pro-am surrounding this financial conference into a LPGA title sponsorship, was having players continue to engage at a high level. It's clear that the LPGA and CME need to meet and find ways to make this work for everyone involved.
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) November 21, 2022
They lashed out at the LPGA and the players, claiming that their actions were offensive.
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This public response from the LPGA is worse than the players being No Shows. Throwing a major sponsor under the Bus is far from the clarity you talk about.
— Larry Beattie (@lbnyga) November 22, 2022
Biggest sponsor support … biggest purse in LPGA history … no meeting, with CME required … LPGA members need to meet and – ‘collectively’ – look in the mirror … commissioner should be fired, in favor of adult leadership … never would happen under Wahn’s watch !
— SF Heart (@apltwt1) November 22, 2022
cant get over this own goal by players/commish. bite the hand that feeds u is a bad look. very disappointing as ive enjoyed season this yr w # of first time winners n seeing ko back up there. its been fun. clearly missing both tour/player leadership tho thats v disappointing
— fred (@fredpooch) November 21, 2022
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Horrible look for the players. They need to be in the room – it’s dinner and a couple hours of small talk. Feels like their agents and the tour haven’t explained the responsibility of showing up and growing the game.
— Jim Gruber (@jgruber333) November 21, 2022
It’s not a very good look from the commissioner to the players to skip the dinner. The players have to show up if they want to see purse money continue to go rise. It’s also an opportunity to possibly find personal sponsorship through networking.
— Kyle (@wallbanger3060) November 21, 2022
The players need to support their biggest sponsors, no need to see about ways to make it work. It’s outrageous the players can’t see that. CME are right to question their sponsorship and consider pulling it
— Andrew Aldana (@andrewaldana1) November 21, 2022
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Imo, can’t see how any work is due on CME end. Major sponsor…the highest EVER winner’s check…you absolutely attend (& ensure attendance) of any sponsor activity by the players. LPGA leadership & players need to immediately address in policy. Embarrassing leadership failure.
— Keith Cook (@_KeithCook) November 21, 2022
Some fans suggested it would be right for the CME to consider pulling its sponsorship. What is your take on it? Does the LPGA tour deserve another chance, or should Terry call it quits?
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Where does this leave the CME Group and the LPGA Tour?
The CME Group hosted a dinner, in which 15 participants confirmed their attendance. Tennis star, Serena Williams, was a speaker at the dinner. But the tennis legend had to back off at the last minute, and the players did too. No one had informed Terry of this.
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NAPLES, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 21: Lydia Ko of New Zealand is presented the Vare Trophy by LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan after the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 21, 2021 in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Although Terry claimed not to be angry at the players, he said, “It’s an embarrassment to a company of my size and an embarrassment to me personally.” He explained he was certainly disappointed with the incident and said, “They [the LPGA Leadership] better get their act together because they’re going to lose people like me over stuff like this.”
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CME first partnered with the tour in 2011, and since then, the purses and prize money have only risen, with the latest championship having a total purse of $7 million. Will the players’ mistakes end up with grave consequences for them to bear? Only time will tell.
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