PGA of America names Derek Sprague its subsequent chief govt officer

The PGA of America has named Derek Sprague — TPC Sawgrass‘ basic supervisor and a former PGA of America president — its subsequent chief govt officer, the affiliation introduced Friday.

Sprague will succeed Seth Waugh, who stepped down in June after a six-year run on the helm. Kerry Haigh, the PGA of America’s chief championships officer, has been serving as interim CEO.

Sprague has held his TPC Sawgrass put up since 2017; in that position he helped steward the Gamers Championship’s transfer from Could to March and, in line with his LinkedIn profile, has delivered a greater than 30 % improve “in income and multi-million-dollar enchancment” to the property since he was employed.

Earlier than becoming a member of Sawgrass, Sprague was the PGA of America president from 2014-16. In that capability, he helped bolster the PGA Junior League and in addition the affiliation’s charitable basis, PGA Attain. In 2014, Sprague established and co-chaired the Ryder Cup job pressure, which, within the wake of three consecutive U.S. losses, was designed to optimize how U.S. groups function and are assembled. Within the years for the reason that job pressure’s formation, the U.S. has received two of 4 Ryder Cups.

Earlier this week, the PGA of America introduced a new compensation package deal for U.S. gamers. Starting with subsequent yr’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, U.S. gamers will probably be paid $500,000 every; $300,000 of that sum will probably be directed towards charities of gamers’ selecting with the rest serving as a stipend. It’s unknown what, if any, position Sprague performed in that call.

From 2016-17, Sprague was the final supervisor of Liberty Nationwide Golf Membership in Jersey Metropolis, N.J.; throughout his tenure, the membership performed host to the 2017 Presidents Cup. Earlier than Liberty, Sprague served as basic supervisor and director of golf for greater than 25 years at Malone Golf Membership in his hometown of Malone, N.Y.

Sprague graduated in 1988 from James Madison College in Harrisonburg, Va., the place he performed on the golf staff and earned a bachelor’s diploma in advertising.

“The membership took an opportunity on a 21-year-old child,” Sprague as soon as stated. “I suppose it paid off.”

The PGA of America had been aiming to nominate a brand new CEO earlier than the affiliation’s annual assembly in early November. At that time, Roger Warren, president of Kiawah Island Golf Resort, was the main candidate, as GOLF.com reported. However the recruitment course of continued, with the PGA of America in the end touchdown on Sprague.  

Sprague’s appointment comes throughout a interval of nice change and instability within the higher rungs of golf governance.

The PGA Tour, which stays deep in negotiations with the Saudi PIF and LIV Golf a few path ahead collectively, introduced this week it’s searching for to fill a newly created CEO place. The LPGA can be trying to fill a giant position after its commissioner, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, stated earlier this month she’s going to step down in January. Throughout the pond, the R&A has a brand new boss after Mark Darbon final month succeeded Martin Slumbers because the group’s chief govt.