The United States Golf Association (USGA) has appointed outgoing LPGA commissioner as its new chief executive officer. Whan will begin his new job this summer, succeeding Mike Davis who will leave to team up with golf course architect Tom Fazio II in a new venture, Fazio & Davis Golf Design.
Whan will become the USGA’s eighth top executive and will be responsible for leading all operational aspects. He will also represent the association on a variety of national and international boards.
Last month, Whan announced his intention to step down as LPGA commissioner in 2021 after an impressive 11 years at the helm during which the tour experienced phenomenal growth.
“Mike Whan is a proven, successful and transformative leader, not only in the golf industry but throughout his entire career,” said USGA president Stu Francis. “He has shown a unique ability to understand how the environment is changing in global golf and how to quickly and thoughtfully adapt an organization 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 Procter & Gamble in 1987 where he rose to director of marketing for oral care. His sports business career began at Wilson Sporting Goods as vice president and general manager in the golf division. He joined TaylorMade Golf 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 the president and CEO of Mission Hockey, a hockey equipment company.
Whan’s leadership at the LPGA not only saw the tour’s schedule, prizemoney and exposure grow, but also resulted in a nearly 50% increase in its teaching division. His focus on growing the game for juniors led to a significant expansion of the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Program, which grew from 5,000 members when he joined the organization to 90,000 girls now engaged in the program.
“As someone who grew up loving this game, I have always had huge respect for the USGA and its role in leading our sport,” said Whan. “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.”
Davis, who joined the USGA in 1990 and became the association’s seventh executive director in 2011 and first CEO in 2016, noted of Whan: “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.”
