Wykagyl Out?

Sam Weinman reports that Wykagyl, probably the best venue on the LPGA Tour, may be out, with some interesting candidates up for consideration as alternative venues.

More so than at any other point in the 17-year history of the Classic, there are questions surrounding the future of the event. The title sponsorship contract is up. So is the contract between the tournament and Wykagyl. Throw in a handful of peripheral deals that are also expiring, and about the only thing we know for sure is that at some point next year, a women's golf tournament will be played in the vicinity of New York City.

Whether that event is at Wykagyl, however, remains to be seen. Tournament organizers have already talked to Fenway Golf Club in Scarsdale about possibly hosting the event, and it's worth noting that Carolyn Kepcher, the general manager of both Trump National Golf Clubs in Briarcliff Manor and in Bedminster, N.J., was at the tournament Saturday and Sunday. At this point, it might still be mere posturing before serious negotiations begin. But according to Sybase Classic executive director Tim Erensen, there's no harm in looking around.

"I think this is obviously a great golf course. We love being here, but we're fortunate to be in an area where we have more quality golf courses than anywhere else in the world," Erensen said. "We love the partnership we have with the club. We love the support we get from the membership, but if we're not here, we're confident there are clubs that are equal to here."