"But to say it's anything more than two commissioners mentioning it in an otherwise long conversation? That's really all it was."

Jason Sobel talks to LPGA Commish Mike Whan about his new gig. For those of you counting at home, three brands, zero platforms and amazing, zero value references.

This caught my eye:

Q: I've been floating the idea of a combined PGA Tour/LPGA event for a long time. Is that something you would be interested in? Have you inquired with Tim Finchem about interest on their end?

A: It is something I'm interested in and it is something I've asked commissioner Finchem about, yes.

Q: And what has been his response?

A: You know what I'll tell you about commissioner Finchem is, first and foremost, I couldn't have envisioned a better first meeting and a better partnership feeling. I mean, I really felt that he was going to be there as a resource for me personally. The commissioner job is a unique one, and there's not many people who can give you advice about being a commissioner, simply because the job itself is so unique. He was probably in the first 50 people to e-mail me when I took the job and said, "As soon as you're ready, you come see me." And that's exactly what I did.

That's a great story, but let's cut to the chase.

I think in my fifth day in the office I drove to [PGA headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.] and spent a few hours with him in his office, then met with a lot of others on his staff. I cannot imagine a better partner. He may or may not be excited about the fact that I've e-mailed and texted a few times since that meeting, just because the fact of the matter is he can help me from a guidance-counselor position that many people can't. I was excited to hear that he agrees, that our players together with his players make an interesting idea.

At this point, it's just two commissioners saying it's an interesting idea, but good things start that way. We're a long way away from talking about in formal terms [about] any kind of LPGA/PGA effort, but I think we both agree it's an intriguing idea, and we'll take the idea and see if it spurs to something more. But to say it's anything more than two commissioners mentioning it in an otherwise long conversation? That's really all it was.