Lucky Break?

First let me say that it appears that Hurricane Gustav has not delivered the same amount of devastation to the Gulf Coast region that Katrina did three years ago. For that I am very thankful.

Not to detract from this situation with any triviality, but it just occurred to me that the LPGA dodged a potential bullet with its schedule. Next week’s Bell Micro Classic in Mobile could just as easily have been scheduled this week and could have had its pro-am and other pre-event activities interrupted by Hurricane Gustav. In addition, hotel and other housing arrangements could have been disrupted by the displaced residents of Louisiana, many of whom traveled east along I-10. Had the hurricane been more destructive or made landfall only a hundred miles east, an event this week would likely have been cancelled.

Hanna has just now been classified as a hurricane (expected to make landfall in northern Florida, Georgia or South Carolina around Friday) and there are a couple more systems out there developing. Given the frequency that hurricanes strike the Gulf and Florida Atlantic coasts during late August and throughout September, should the LPGA think twice about continuing to schedule two September events in southern Alabama? I know the Tour has sponsorship, logistic and climate issues to consider but if the chances of disruption or cancellation are as high as they seem, the subject deserves some thought.