Officials for IMG and the LPGA want the ANA Inspiration -- formerly the Kraft Nabisco Championship -- "to rise from the well-respected and important tournament" of the '70's and '80's to become "one of the most-respected worldwide events in sports," according to Larry Bohannan of the Palm Springs DESERT SUN. For years one of the "unofficial descriptions of the ANA Inspiration, no matter what the tournament was called at the time, was that the Coachella Valley's LPGA Major was the Masters of women's golf." But as organizers work to take the event "to a higher level of recognition" in sports, it seems they "don't really want to be burdened with the expectations of being compared" to the men's event at Augusta National. Changes and additions coming to the tournament this year "show that the LPGA hopes the tournament will continue to evolve into more than just a top-level golf tournament on a popular course." A conference titled Inspiring Women in Sports "will bring together top female athletes from a variety of sports early in the tournament week." LPGA Chief Communications Officer Kraig Kann said, "Our challenge is making this the best event in women's golf, period. Making (sure) the ANA Inspiration is not compared to the Masters. I think that is a disservice to this event. Frankly, I don't think the Masters is worried one bit about what the ANA Inspiration is trying to do. And that's no slight to this event. We have our own opportunity here." Kann and Tournament Dir Gabe Codding "both believe the connection with All Nippon Airways as a sponsor will help move the desert major to a higher profile" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 3/16).
