Despite drawing a reported 92,000 fans for the week in 2007, Kane said Bulle Rock is not exactly fan friendly, either.
"It's a long trek for people to come, and then it's a long golf course for people to walk," Kane said.
Juli Inkster said that Wilmington went through similar growing pains when the LPGA Championship moved there from Bethesda Country Club, where it was held for seven years (1987-1993) while being sponsored by Mazda.
But Inkster, who won't play this year because of her daughter's middle school graduation, has some doubts whether Bulle Rock has the same ingredients for success as DuPont.
"It took a while to build that ambience, that fan base, and get the golf course in good shape," said Inkster, who won there in 1999 and 2000. "[Bulle Rock's] not a bad golf course, it just seems like it's never grown to be a major championship golf course."
Bivens is not surprised to hear that her constituency has a difference of opinion about Bulle Rock.
"In an organization that is owned by 1,700 women, whether you're talking about the latest shoe fashion or a golf course, there's always going to be a divide," Bivens said. "There aren't many things we do at the LPGA that are unanimous. You could probably pick out any other golf course or any other event on the LPGA and get exactly the same reaction."
Bye-bye, Annika
Most agree that Sorenstam's impending retirement doesn't come at the best time for the LPGA, just as her game has been revived and a potential rivalry with Ochoa was starting to build. While Bivens has seen an influx of fans looking to get their last glimpse at Sorenstam, what happens when she is gone?
Webb said history is on the side of the LPGA Tour.
"I think you know when I first came out on tour, we were starting to lose the Nancy Lopezes and the Pat Bradleys and the Patty Sheehans of my first couple of years on tour, and that was the question that was being asked then," Webb said. "There was plenty of players that eventually stepped up and filled that role."
Quinn said the recent announcement by Sorenstam and Wie's struggles have not made the LPGA any less attractive to McDonald's, which reportedly was responsible for making Wie the first amateur to play in the event.
"If you look at the other emerging stars, I just don't buy that," Quinn said. "Paula Creamer is a very likable young woman with a great commitment to charity, and she's a great player. Lorena Ochoa is a wonderful player. Those are two new stars who are just as exciting as Annika and Michelle. And I don't think you should close the book on Michelle."
Or, for that matter, on Bulle Rock.
don.markus@baltsun.com
2008 McDonald's LPGA Championship
When: Thursday-Sunday
Where: Bulle Rock, Havre de Grace
Tickets: Season badge (all sessions), $65; one-day pass Monday through Wednesday (pro-ams, practice rounds), $20; Thursday and Friday, $22; Saturday and Sunday, $25.
TV: Golf Channel. Thursday and Friday, 12:30-3:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 4-7 p.m.
