PGA of America chief steps down in newest golf-leadership shake-up

One other governing-body chief is heading out the door. Seth Waugh, the CEO of the PGA of America, has stepped down as the top of one of many greatest organizations in golf.

Waugh, 65, served because the PGA of America chief for six years, however is just not renewing his contract, which is ready to finish on June 30. Kerry Haigh, the chief championships officer, will step in as interim CEO, although a seek for Waugh’s everlasting alternative is already underway, in line with a press release launched by the PGA of America Wednesday night. 

“I’m pleased with all that we now have completed for our greater than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals and the sport,” Waugh stated in a press launch. “I’ve loved each second serving alongside all of my colleagues, all the assorted Officers and Board Members and attending to know so lots of our devoted Members who’re on the entrance line of the sport that we love day by day of the yr. The day-to-day sport has by no means been stronger, extra beloved or higher positioned for the longer term due to their ardour and the way we now have all labored collectively to make tens of millions of lives higher by our exceptional sport.”

Waugh’s time atop the group noticed the PGA’s premier championship, the PGA Championship, transfer from August to Could, making approach for the PGA Tour’s end-of-season playoffs to wrap up earlier than the soccer season begins. He additionally performed a big position in getting professional golf’s schedule again up and operating throughout the Covid pandemic. The PGA Championship was the first major conducted in 2020 in any case of them had been postponed or canceled. 

Waugh’s exit comes throughout a interval of nice change on the high degree of professional golf, notably within the C-suite. Keith Pelley stepped down as DP World Tour CEO in early April, taking a job with Maple Leaf Sports activities and Leisure in his homeland of Canada. Martin Slumbers, head of the R&A, has already introduced his plans to retire from that put up on the finish of this yr.

All through the unrest of the previous few years of professional golf, Waugh maintained a powerful relationship with the PGA Tour and its chief, Jay Monahan. The 2 have labored carefully collectively and solid a bond because the formation of LIV Golf was rocking the panorama {of professional} golf. Waugh didn’t draw back from critiquing LIV, calling the league structure “flawed” in 2022, and asserting in 2023 that “irrespective of how a lot cash you have got, in some unspecified time in the future, burning it doesn’t really feel excellent. I don’t see they’re engaging in a lot.”

Waugh’s departure comes on the finish of his contract, but in addition throughout an attention-grabbing time for the PGA of America. The subsequent Ryder Cup, which the PGA of America predominantly owns and operates, is ready to happen in 15 months at Bethpage Black, simply outdoors New York Metropolis. That the 2025 version is a U.S.-based Ryder Cup and so near a world financial hub, the occasion is anticipated to be a mega-moneymaker for the group. However Waugh and PGA of America executives are no less than 4 months behind in naming the U.S. captain. 

Waugh had been holding conversations with Tiger Woods the previous few months, each earlier than the Masters and after, however Woods has not but made up his thoughts on the captaincy. The 2023 Ryder Cup, performed outdoors Rome in October, was received by Crew Europe however might be remembered partly for angst surrounding reviews about Patrick Cantlay’s not wearing a hat throughout play, an alleged protest in opposition to gamers not being paid straight for his or her involvement within the occasion.