Who runs pro golf? With Seth Waugh out, we look at the leaders of each of golf’s governing bodies
It’s been a tumultuous few years in professional golf, from the conception of the failed Premier Golf League to the formation of LIV Golf, to new executives taking over nearly every one of professional golf’s major organizations.
With the news that Seth Waugh is stepping down from his role as the CEO of the PGA of America, here’s a look at those running each of the leading groups in golf.
PGA Tour: Jay Monahan
2023 Tour Championship
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan waits to present the FedEx Cup to Viktor Hovland of Norway on the 18th hole after the final round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on August 27, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
When he started: Jan. 1, 2017
About him: The embattled PGA Tour commissioner has stayed afloat through one of the wildest roller coasters in sports history. In his annual address ahead of the 2024 Players Championship, Monahan said he’s still the man to lead the Tour forward despite the blowback from his backroom dealings with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund last summer.
“I can’t generalize as it relates to players, but clearly given the responsibility I’ve been given by both boards, I have the support of our board, and I am the right person to lead us forward,” said Monahan. “I know that. I believe that in my heart, and I’m determined to do exactly that.”
Augusta National: Fred Ridley
2024 Memorial Tournament
Augusta National Golf Club Chairman Fred Ridley (L) and Scottie Scheffler of the United States walk across the 13th hole during the Pro Am event prior to the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 05, 2024 in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
When he started: Aug. 23, 2017
About him: While Monahan interacts more with players and the framework of pro golf, Ridley wields power like few others in the game. When Augusta weighs in on an issue, others typically follow.
The 1975 U.S. Amateur champ, who is a member of Augusta National Golf Club, was the USGA president in 2004 and later served as co-chairman of the International Golf Federation. He succeeded Billy Payne as chairman of the club.
USGA: Mike Whan
2023 U.S. Open
USGA CEO Mike Whan looks on during a practice round prior to the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at The Los Angeles Country Club on June 12, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
When he started: July 1, 2021
About him: Whan has spent most of his adult life in golf between time with Wilson Sporting Goods, TaylorMade Golf Company, the LPGA and his current position as the United States Golf Association (USGA) CEO.
Much of Whan’s success at the LPGA – building the tour up from near ashes when he took on the job in 2010 and then passing the ultimate stress test by seeing the tour through a global pandemic – came through the strength of his partnerships. He knew what it was like to sit on the other side of a table as a check writer and used that experience to grow the tour from only 24 tournaments and official prize money of $41.4 million to $76.45 million and 34 official events on the 2021 calendar when he left.
Photos: Mike Whan through the years, from LPGA commissioner to USGA CEO
R&A: Martin Slumbers (leaving)
2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Adam Scott of Australia talks with Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A and Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews during the pro-am ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 06, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
When he started: Oct. 1, 2015
When he‘s leaving: Dec. 31, 2024
About him: Slumbers, who took over for Peter Dawson, has led the R&A as the global governing body of golf around the world (outside the U.S. and Mexico), and as secretary of the iconic St. Andrews. He’s overseeing next month’s 152nd Open at Royal Troon, the return of the AIG Women’s Open to St. Andrews and the 43rd Curtis Cup match at Sunningdale before relinquishing his role by the end of the year.
Slumbers led a modernization of the R&A’s activities, which included the merger with the Ladies’ Golf Union and its subsequent integration to enable the R&A to represent golf for men, women, boys and girls at the elite level. There is no word on his successor.
LPGA: Mollie Marcoux Samaan
2022 CME Group Tour Championship
LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan presents the Rolex Player of the Year trophy to Lydia Ko after she won the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 20, 2022 in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
When she started: Aug. 9, 2021
About her: A two-sport varsity athlete at Princeton (soccer and ice hockey) who spent 19 years at Chelsea Piers Management before coming back to her alma mater to serve as athletic director, Marcoux Samaan is the LPGA’s ninth commissioner. She replaced Mike Whan, the longest-tenured LPGA commissioner.
Prize funds have grown nearly 70 percent since 2021, with a record $118 million on the line in 2024. Media rights revenue is up 25 percent since 2021, and corporate partnership money is up 33 percent. The LPGA has invested heavily in its team, adding 18 percent more staff over the past year.
LIV Golf: Greg Norman
Jon Rahm
Two-time major winner and the reigning Masters champion, Jon Rahm and LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman shake hands during a LIV Golf announcement at the Park Hyatt New York on Dec. 7, 2023 in New York, New York. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/LIV Golf)
When he started: Oct. 29, 2021
About him: It’s safe to say nobody’s reign at the head of a pro golf organization has been as uneasy and fluctuating as that of Norman, who won 88 professional titles in various places throughout the world, including a pair of Open Championships. Norman proposed a World Golf Tour, only to be shot down by then-Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, who then helped create the World Golf Championships, a nearly identical idea. Norman told the golf world of his master plan to start a competing tour back in 1994. He chose the pristine Sherwood Country Club outside of Los Angeles — where he hosted the Shark Shootout — revealing a proposal to start a mini-tour, beginning with eight dates in 1995. Norman’s effort was framed as greedy and self-serving. His tour never got off the ground.
In his role as the LIV Golf CEO, he’s weathered a number of storms, a lack of OWGR points and a potential merger or framework for LIV and PGA Tour to co-exist.
European Tour Group: Guy Kinnings
Guy Kinnings, Deputy CEO Ryder Cup Director and 2025 European Ryder Cup Captain, Luke Donald pose with the Ryder Cup on November 28, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
When he started: April 2, 2024
About him: Admittedly, this is the least influential of the current lead posts in pro golf and Kinnings entered the role after his predecessor Keith Pelley left to run Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
Kinnings previously held the post of the European Tour Group’s Deputy CEO as well as the head of golf at IMG, has been the CEO and executive director of the Ryder Cup since 2018. He’s now the fifth person in the CEO position since the Tour was established in 1972.
PGA of America: Seth Waugh
2024 PGA Championship
Xander Schauffele poses with Seth Waugh, CEO of the PGA of America, and the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
When he started: Sept. 24, 2018
When he‘s leaving: June 30, 2024
About him: When he started as CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas, he created a PGA Tour event that would benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation, which ensured Woods played and attracted big crowds to the TPC Boston. Woods won the event in 2006. Waugh also has been a mentor to Jay Monahan, who previously worked at Fenway Sports Marketing before taking several high-profile jobs at the PGA Tour and becoming the tour commissioner.
Ahead of the 106th playing of this year’s PGA Championship, the PGA of America’s flagship event, Waugh addressed the “messy” state of pro golf as the PGA Tour and LIV continue to battle for eyeballs and interest.
Waugh said he was “absolutely” worried about the game at the professional level, noting how “it seems to get messier every week.”
“I think the best thing for the game is a deal. And we’ve been very consistent on that front,” said Waugh. “What has been an unsustainable business model has put pressure on other places like the (PGA Tour) that creates some financial dynamics as well as other dynamics that are very hard, and quite frankly it puts some financial pressure on us, as well.”
