LPGA chief Mike Whan moving to the USGA

Mike Whan will become the eighth top executive in the history of the United States Golf Association (USGA) when he assumes the post as chief executive this year.

What last month announced his intention to step down as the commissioner of the Ladies Professional Golfers’ Association (LPGA) in 2021 after his organisation completes a search for his successor.

Caption: Mike Whan, who is moving from the LPGA to the United States’ Golf Association.

His transition follows 11 years at the LPGA helm, during which the organisation experienced historic growth in virtually every aspect of the business.

As the chief executive of the USGA, Whan will be responsible for leading all aspects of the association’s operations, including its core functions, essential programmes, and human and financial resources. He will also represent the USGA on a variety of national and international boards.

USGA president Stu Francis, who oversaw the chief executive search process, said: “Mike Whan is a proven, successful and transformative leader, not only in the golf industry but throughout his entire career.

“He has shown a unique ability to understand how the environment is changing in global golf and how to quickly and thoughtfully adapt an organisation to meet those changes.

``Importantly, Mike is already a trusted peer for so many key stakeholders in the industry, and his existing relationships will not only help the USGA, but will also help advance the game.”

Whan started his career at health products business Procter & Gamble Company in 1987, where he rose to director of marketing for oral care before leaving to pursue a passion for sports.

Whan’s sports business career began at Wilson Sporting Goods as a vice president and general manager in the golf division. He joined the TaylorMade Golf Company as vice president of marketing in 1995 and later served as vice president of sales and marketing and executive vice president/general manager for TaylorMade-adidas Golf. In 2002, Whan became president and chief executive of Mission Hockey, a hockey equipment company.

Since joining the LPGA in 2010, Whan increased the number of tournaments on the LPGA Tour’s schedule from 24 to 34, increased purses from $US41.4 million to $US76.5 million, and grew television hours from 125 hours per season, to more than 500 hours.

Under his leadership, the LPGA became a truly global business – with players, tournaments, sponsors and fans coming from all over the world. Currently, the LPGA Tour is televised in more than 170 countries each week.

Whan’s leadership resulted in the expansion of the LPGA to now include both the Symetra Tour, the recently announced joint venture with the Ladies European Tour, as well as a nearly 50 percent increase in LPGA’s teaching division.

Whan’s focus on growing the game for junior girls has led to a significant expansion of the LPGA-USGA girls' golf programme, which had 5000 members when he joined the organisation to 90,000 girls now engaged in the programme.

Whan said: “As someone who grew up loving this game, I have always had huge respect for the USGA and its role in leading our sport.

“The game has given me so much throughout my life, both personally and professionally. I know I have a lot to learn, but I’m truly excited about this role, as it gives me the opportunity to not only give back to the game, but to also work hard to leave it stronger.”

Current USGA chief executive Mike Davis, who joined the USGA in 1990 and became the association’s seventh executive director in 2011 and first chief executive in 2016, will depart later this year to team with Tom Fazio II in a new course design venture, Fazio & Davis Golf Design.

Said Davis: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Mike Whan for many years and I view him as a trusted, strategic leader who has a proven track record of building collaborative partnerships.

“I know the USGA will be in great hands, and I look forward to partnering with Mike to ensure a smooth and successful transition for the USGA.”