Michael Whan named LPGA commissioner
The LPGA has its new commissioner.
Michael Whan, a former marketing executive in the golf and hockey equipment industries, was introduced as the LPGA's new commissioner at a news conference at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday.
Whan recently was the president of Mission-Itech Hockey and has had positions with TaylorMade Golf, Wilson Sporting Goods and Procter & Gamble. He takes over for interim commissioner Marty Evans in January.
Increasing fan and sponsorship interest in the tour will be one of Whan's primary goals. Over the last year, the LPGA's money events list has dropped from 34 to 28. A loss of title sponsors was a major factor in former commissioner Carolyn Bivens' dismissal in July.
Still, Whan is upbeat about the 2010 schedule, which will be released next month.
"If that's a downturn year, then this brand's more resilient and strong than I even thought coming in, and I was pretty confident going in," Whan told the Associated Press. "The LPGA is just fine."
-- Austin Knoblauch
Photo: Michael Whan. Credit: Mike Stobe / Getty Images
Welcome to Whan. Looking forward to seeing more real-time LPGA tournament golf on TV. Token coverage of majors is embarrassing.
Posted by: Jean Russell | October 29, 2009 at 08:11 AM
Please forward to Mike Whan. I was his exec. Sec'y at Taylor Made Golf.
Hi Mike,
Wow! Congratulations. So happy to hear about your getting the post of LPGA Commissioner. You will be perfect for the job and I know all the ladies on Tour will approve. They really need someone like you to fight for them and get them more tournaments. Hope this finds Meg and the boys well. Do you have to live on the East Coast?
Wishing you well
Dawn Jessee (dj to you)
Posted by: Dawn Jessee | October 30, 2009 at 03:46 PM