Just when life appeared to be on cruise-control for the LPGA, its new commissioner, Carolyn Bivens, has veered the women’s tour off course.

The first miscalculation came three weeks ago in Hawaii, when Bivens unveiled the tour’s long-awaited world rankings. Unfortunately, the formula that produced Annika Sorenstam as the No. 1 player on the planet was, in general, a joke.

The biggest glitch involved Michelle Wie, who was ranked No. 3 without ever visiting the winner’s circle. If this wasn’t enough, somebody named Yuri Fudoh, who plays in Japan, was No. 4, while U.S. Open winner Birdie Kim came in at No. 51.

Also getting dissed was a proven group of winners like Meg Mallon, Laura Davies, Liselotte Neumann, Laura Diaz and Jennifer Rosales, who didn’t crack the top 25.

The following week, which also was spent in Hawaii, Bivens stirred up the surf again by announcing new, stringent media guidelines prior to the Fields Open. According to Bivens, the media had to sign over its rights to the photos -- and to a lesser degree, stories -- it produces from LPGA events “no later than 48 hours after the competition has been completed.’’

Guess what? The media didn’t agree, and immediately made large waves of its own when the Associated Press, Honolulu Star-Bulletin and Honolulu Advertiser boycotted the pro-am and the tournament’s first round. A compromise was reached by Friday’s second round, but it was a temporary restraining order, so to speak.

Not to be outflanked, Bivens released the following statement on the compromise over credentials: “When media assert their rights, I don’t think that means fans aren’t going to come out and see or attend the tournaments or the games. I don’t think to the average consumer this makes any difference.’’

Perhaps, but what has happened to the reciprocal relationship between the LPGA and media that had existed since 1950? Certainly more than one “average consumer’’ complained when magazines like Golf Digest, Golfweek, Golf World and – lo and behold! – Golf For Women failed to publish anything more than the small-type results.

That’s right, no stories, no photos -- no respect. The biggest losers in all of the commotion were the players and the tournament sponsors, which were understandably upset.

“We felt like we delivered. How do you have this good a product and not allow it to be covered?’’ Fields Open executive director Tim Humes told Golfweek. “My disappointment was more towards the LPGA for not thinking about the impact this would have on our tournament.’’

Getting players on the record was more difficult, as no one wanted to criticize their new boss, who took over from former LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw at the end of last season. Still, the players have to be shaking their heads, wondering if Bivens will be as big of a blunder as former LPGA commissioner Bill Blue, who lasted just one season before he was fired.

What’s weird about these early snafus is that Bivens’ background is in international marketing, where supposedly she was quite savvy at handling the media. If anything, Bivens was perceived as the next step beyond Votaw, the czar who would take this suddenly popular product to new heights.

But it hasn’t happened yet. Instead of letting Sorenstam rock and teen queens like Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel and Wie roll, Bivens has centered the story on herself. Perhaps we should have seen it coming, as these are not the first missteps by the rookie commissioner.

At the awards ceremony following the 2005 season, Bivens introduced Creamer as the best rookie since Nancy Lopez in 1978, pointing out that Creamer had won twice in her very first season. Trouble was, when Se Ri Pak and Karrie Webb earned that very same distinction in 1995 and ’98, respectively, they both totaled four wins, including two major championships each.

A few months later, at a dinner honoring Webb’s induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame, Bivens announced the name of each and every Hall of Famer in attendance. Unfortunately, she forgot one – Sorenstam.

Oh, well, live and learn, but don’t make the curve too sharp. It’s time for Bivens to step aside, and let Annika and her supporting cast play through.