KAPOLEI — The Associated Press was denied credentials to cover the Fields Open in Hawai'i on Wednesday and The Honolulu Advertiser's credentials were revoked yesterday after its photographer and golf reporter refused to sign an agreement giving the LPGA control over the newspaper's stories and images.

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin also declined to sign, along with most U.S. media outlets. Most local television stations signed the agreement, though KHNL decided not to show its footage and used Golf Channel clips.

"I think it's a shame that the LPGA is starting such a promising season in this manner," said Jay Coffin, a senior writer for Golfweek magazine. "Golfweek finds the LPGA's new policies unacceptable and my editors are still deciding if we will cover the tour should these stringent policies remain in place."

Most international media representatives, who make up the majority of the press corps at last week's SBS Open at Turtle Bay and this week, signed the LPGA Media Credential Application. Minsuhk Choi, who works for Jim Golf Korea, said he would stay because of the distance he had come for the tournaments. "I have to work," he said.

Reiko Takekawa, a freelance writer from Japan working for Kyodo News and Sports Graphic Number, is fluent in English but said she was confused by the agreement, which she signed.

"For us (foreign media), it's too difficult to understand because it's ... complicated ... you can understand it this way and that way too," Takekawa said. "It's not fair. It's even really difficult for you (U.S.) guys."

At issue are new LPGA conditions for credentials, which restrict news organizations from using their own articles and pictures of tour events after the tournament, and give the LPGA "unlimited, perpetual" control over media organizations' material without cost. There were no objections to limits on commercial use of coverage, which all leagues forbid, but only on editorial limitations.

"We're eager to cover this tournament, and we've been trying for two days to work something out with the LPGA," said Advertiser Editor Saundra Keyes. "So far, they've insisted that we can only get credentials if we sign away control of our own stories and photographs, and that's something we just won't do. We hope the LPGA will reconsider so that we can give our readers the coverage they're used to."

Presidents of the AP Managing Editors, AP Sports Editors and AP Photo Managers associations — representing the 1,800 newspapers who are members of the AP in the United States and the Canadian Press in Canada — sent a letter to the LPGA in support of AP's decision. The National Press Photographers Association voiced support.

A statement issued yesterday by the LPGA regarding revisions to photo media credential regulations, said in part, "The revisions in the 2006 credentials regulations were made in an effort to protect the commercial use of the images of LPGA players in competition, bringing the organization in line with mainstream practices of other major professional sports organizations."

Yesterday, AP said it made progress in talks with the LPGA about the new restrictions, but did not resolve the problem in time to cover the first round.

"Certainly we have concern about the matter," said Tim Humes, the tournament's executive director. "Coverage locally and nationally is important to us. We feel we put a great product together with a strong field. While we appreciate what the LPGA wants to accomplish, we felt the timing was unfortunate."

Punahou junior Michelle Wie, the marquee star of this tournament in her first LPGA appearance of the season, had her own view of the action off the course.

"I thought it was kinda stupid actually," Wie said. "You want the most media coverage you can get at a golf tournament. It's kinda sad, but what can you do?"

The Associated Press and USA Today contributed to this report.