"The search committee has had scores of excellent candidates, both people who have been self-referred and people recommended by others."

Garry Smits talks to the Rear Admiral about life as LPGA Tour interim commish and we learn a few things about what has been a remarkably quiet effort to salvage sponsorships and land a new leader.

What has been the key in renewing the most recent sponsorship contracts and working toward renewing others?

Communicating. It's getting to know people on a face-to-face basis, be there on the scene, converse with them and understand what their issues are.

I guess the old boss didn't really do that, did she?

The team we have knows what their job is, they're self-starters with great capabilities and we're letting them get the job done. It's in the movies where you see a Patton-type leader barking out the orders. In the real world, it's a little different.

Ahhh jeese, this has to change! I can't work with this.

Three of your players will pose nude for an upcoming issue of ESPN Magazine. How do you feel about that?

Let me ask you: Have you asked [NBA commissioner] David Stern about one of his players doing the same thing? We encourage our players to market themselves in ways they feel are appropriate. We weren't consulted but frankly, if it's tastefully done - and I'm told it was - I don't have a problem.

Tasteful is in ESPN The Magazine's mission statement!

Are there any circumstances under which you would accept the LPGA commissioner's job permanently?

No. I just don't want the final selection to be made too soon, because I love the job.
How is the search going?

The search committee has had scores of excellent candidates, both people who have been self-referred and people recommended by others. The committee is meeting on a regular basis and have begun some interviews.

I've self-referred myself for many things, but not a commissionership.

Meanwhile Beth Ann Baldry reports that Zayra Calderon is giving hints of a possibly larger LPGA schedule in 2010 than we might have expected.