Posted at 12:16 p.m., Thursday, February 23, 2006
Media access to LPGA event denied
Advertiser Staff
The Honolulu Advertiser's media credentials for the Fields Open were revoked today after its golf reporter and photographer refused to sign an agreement giving the LPGA new controls over the newspaper's stories and images.Under the new LPGA conditions for credentials, news organizations would be restricted in their use of their own articles and pictures of association golfing events. Previously, such conditions were not enforced.
An Advertiser photographer was denied a credential for today's opening round of the inaugural tournament at Ko Olina.
The paper's golf reporter had had been given a credential yesterday although she had not signed the documents. Today, after covering golfer Michelle Wie's first nine holes, the reporter returned to the press room and declined to sign a credential form with the new restrictions and was told to leave the press room.
The Associated Press was denied credentials yesterday to access the golf course and the press room. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin also declined to sign the credential form.
The tournament began today and includes some of the game's biggest young stars in Wie, 16, Paula Creamer, 19, and Morgan Pressel, 17.
Without access, The Advertiser will not provide photographs or indepth coverage of the events.
