LPGA commissioner heading for the exit

LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens is set to step down next week, according to reports from USA.

Golf World had reported that an agreement has been set between the board of directors and Bivens with regards to her final 18 months of her contract.

Bivens take over from Ty Votaw in September 2005, becoming the first woman to hold the LPGA commissioner post.

The move to remove Bivens came just days after the LPGA board of directors received a letter signed by 15 top players, including Lorena Ochoa, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer, and Se Ri Pak. The letter demanded that Bivens resign.

Any exit is likely to happen next week out of respect to the U.S. Golf Association, which is conducting this week's U.S. Women's Open.

It has had little effect though as the daily drama involving Bivens, including the participating golfers refusal to comment on the matter, has distracted golf fans from the championship. She was scheduled to arrive here Wednesday night but pulled out citing illness.

With the contracts of 18 tour events expiring this year, the LPGA has struggled to bring most of them back.

Bivens had planned to increase the cost of staging tournaments to help the LPGA's financial situation, but the timing of the move amid the recession and declining sponsorships had angered tournament owners.

Once Bivens leaves, the LPGA is expected to bring in an interim chief to soothe the irritated owners and work on renewing contracts, but the economic situation will make that difficult.

16-time LPGA Tour winner Jan Stephenson has expressed interest to put her name up as the new LPGA commissioner.

"I would absolutely love that job," the 57-year-old Australian told golf.com.

"I would do things differently than Carolyn," Stephenson said. "I've been on tour since 1974, so I've seen what works and what doesn't work."