Women's British Open would be excellent substitute for du Maurier

The LPGA Tour could be facing a major void on its schedule nextseason, as efforts to keep one of women's golf's biggest events inCanada appear to be going up in smoke.

The du Maurier Classic, which begins today, probably will cease toexist after this year. Legislation passed three years ago in Canadaprohibits tobacco companies from sponsoring sports events-du Maurieris a brand of cigarette produced by Imperial Tobacco-and no newsponsor has stepped forward.

LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw denied a report last week that herejected an offer to keep one of the tour's four major championshipsin Canada. He said the guaranteed prize funds were insufficient evento call it a …