This SBS Open will be the last

According to Ron Sirak at Golf World (thanks to TC for the link), the LPGA has signed a new Korean TV rights deal with J Golf...meaning that its 15-year relationship (and five-year tournament arrangement) with the Seoul Broadcasting System will come to an end in 2010.  No official announcement has been made by the Tour but the CEO of SBS is already expressing his displeasure.

As I mentioned last night on Inside The LPGA, the increase in rights fees (approximately $2 million per year, almost double the previous amount) from the new deal is significantly offset by the loss of the $1.2 million purse from the SBS Open.  If this event isn't replaced on the 2010 schedule, the deal isn't nearly as impressive.

If indeed there will be no Hawaiian tour stop next February, what will the schedule look like?  Does the revamped and renamed "ADT Championship" slot in there somewhere?  Does the Tour return to a co-sanctioned Australian event (or two) like they did with the Ladies Masters in the late ‘90s?  Like with so many announcements these days, this one raises as many questions about the LPGA's future as it answers.