“While we don’t want to necessarily position the LPGA as a lower-cost model, there is a good value story to tell."

SBJ's Michael Smith tells us about the LPGA's sponsor summit hosted by Commissioner Mike Whan and chief marketer" Jon Podany, who has a new use for the V-word I've never seen before.

Podany said the story lines he and Whan will tell revolve around the tour’s global appeal, the new era of competition after the departure of Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa, and a financial entry point far more economical than the PGA Tour.

The LPGA also has several categories it is hotly pursuing, including auto, finance, credit card, technology, consumer electronics and soft drink.

“It’s true that we have a lot of opportunities now,” Podany said. “We don’t have a lot of the major categories filled.”

LPGA tournament title sponsorships tend to run in the low seven figures annually, while title sponsorship of PGA Tour events run in the middle to high seven figures.

“While we don’t want to necessarily position the LPGA as a lower-cost model, there is a good value story to tell,” Podany said.

Take that, value proposition!