Derek Sprague on the 2016 Ryder Cup.
getty pictures
The PGA of America has named Derek Sprague — TPC Sawgrass‘ normal supervisor and a former PGA of America president — its subsequent chief government 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 function 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 p.c enhance “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 activity drive, 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 activity drive’s formation, the U.S. has received two of 4 Ryder Cups.
Earlier this week, the PGA of America introduced a new compensation bundle 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, function 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 normal supervisor and director of golf for greater than 25 years at Malone Golf Membership in his hometown of Malone, N.Y.
U.S. Ryder Cuppers to be paid for first time. Right here’s the brand new association
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 and marketing.
“The membership took an opportunity on a 21-year-old child,” Sprague as soon as stated. “I assume 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 couple of path ahead collectively, introduced this week it’s in search of to fill a newly created CEO place. The LPGA can also be seeking to fill a giant function after its commissioner, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, stated earlier this month she is 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 government.
