Leading members of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) have lost confidence in the Tour's leadership and have called for the resignation of commissioner Carolyn Bivens, it has been claimed.
The Mexican world No 1 Lorena Ochoa and American Paula Creamer were among a group of players who met last week to express concern over the health of the LPGA in the face of the global economic downturn, acccording to Golfweek magazine.
Following that meeting, which took place during the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic, a letter was sent to the LPGA's board of directors urging Bivens to step down and requesting that new leadership be installed.
Reportedly up to 15 LPGA players attended the meeting in Toledo, Ohio.
The South Korean Jeong Jang echoed the concerns of many of her fellow professionals over a women's circuit which has lost seven tournaments since 2007, including all three in Hawaii.
"In the beginning of the year, I was like: 'Whatever'," Jang said. "Now, I'm really worried"
Katherine Hull said tensions among the players were "mounting more every week".
"We're getting to the point where we don't know who to believe, which is hard," the Australian added. "When tournaments that have been very loyal to us start withdrawing, that's really a red flag to me."
From next year, the LPGA is taking ownership of the LPGA Championship, the second major of the season which will have to find a new venue.
"I am concerned," the world No 4 Paula Creamer said last month. "I'm 22, this is my fifth year on tour and we don't know where one of our majors is going to be. It's a scary thought."
Bivens, who replaced Ty Votaw as LPGA commissioner in September 2005, has two years left on her contract.
* Reuters
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Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds