cynics might say greeting the new year without an lpga schedule for 2013 points to a weakness in the 63-year-old women’s tour, but what it really points to is the eternal optimism of commissioner mike whan (right), who likes to keep the bargaining door open to potential new sponsors. that strategy paid off this week as the tour announced the pure silk-bahamas lpga classic, a new full-field, 72-hole event set for may 23-26, with a $1.3 million purse and tv coverage by golf channel. since the schedule bottomed out with 23 tournaments in 2011—the fewest events in 40 years—whan pushed the number to 27 last year and appears to have an outside shot at his goal of 30, the number at which he says the business model works. the new season will likely begin feb. 14-17 with the isps Handa women’s australian open at royal canberra gc, then go to thailand and singapore before its first event in the u.s. with the rr donnelley founders cup, march 14- 17, at wildfire gc at the Jw marriott desert ridge resort and spa in phoenix. last year 15 of the 27 lpga events were played in the united states. —Ron Sirak (@ronsirak)