PGA of America’s Seth Waugh stepping down from CEO

After six years of serving the PGA of America because the group’s Chief Executive Officer, Seth Waugh has determined to step down.

Waugh, who beforehand served as CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas, grew to become the CEO of the PGA of America in September 2018, the identical month Le Golf National in Paris hosted the 2018 Ryder Cup. Of course, the PGA of America facilitates each the Ryder Cup and the PGA Championship.

But now, a month earlier than Le Golf National will host the Men’s and Women’s Olympic Golf Competition, Waugh introduced in a statement that he is not going to renew his contract with the group.

“I not too long ago knowledgeable the board that I might not be renewing my contract that’s set to run out on June 30, however I’m honored to proceed to serve the affiliation as a Senior Advisor,” Waugh mentioned.

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

“It has been an absolute privilege and honor to function the CEO of the PGA of America for the previous six years.”

Waugh has had fairly a tenure. In May 2019, he helped lead the group at Bethpage Black, which hosted the PGA Championship in May for the primary time as an alternative of its conventional August date.

Then, a worldwide pandemic disrupted the complete world, which consequently led to a {golfing} increase amongst newbie gamers. People from all walks of life have begun to play the sport as the game continues to develop amongst youthful, extra numerous populations.

But the boys’s skilled recreation has been divided over the previous few years because of LIV Golf’s prominence. Waugh and the PGA of America have principally stayed out of the PGA Tour-LIV Golf fray, however he did say at Oak Hill in 2023 that “division is just not good for the sport.”

Nevertheless, the PGA of America invited quite a few LIV Golf gamers to compete at Valhalla this 12 months, hoping to create the strongest subject in all golf.

On high of that, Waugh has repeatedly opined about rolling again the golf ball, which has sparked controversy over the previous decade. The United States Golf Association (USGA) and the R&A—the 2 governing our bodies golf has—wished to create a rule the place skilled golfers would use a limited-distance golf ball to fight the preposterous size gamers now have.

“We concern that the proposed adjustments may severely interrupt the present momentum within the recreation and be basically damaging and detrimental in the long term,” Waugh wrote in July 2023.

“It is one thing that we really feel may result in division and trigger us to lose a really precarious attribute of golf; the truth that all of us play on the identical course with the identical golf equipment and balls. In our view, this dynamic must be preserved as a elementary tenet.”

To reply, the USGA and the R&A determined that, as an alternative of making a distinct ball for professional circuits, all golfers should play with a more moderen limited-distance ball that can be instituted in professional occasions in 2028 and among the many newbie recreation by 2030.

“The highest will determine this new ball and the best way to hit it farther than I actually do,” Waugh mentioned at Valhalla in May 2024.

Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America through Getty Images

“I feel our greatest concern is for that a part of the sport that’s rising, are you going to form of disrupt that for one-half of 1 p.c which can be on the market, proper, and the place do you draw the road of what’s elite and what’s not? Is a membership championship elite or not? And so, we’re glad it’s one rule, and the sport can be greater than any of this. We can all argue about it, however the recreation can be advantageous each recreationally and, I feel, professionally, as properly.”

Waugh has witnessed some unbelievable occasions play out throughout his tenure, too.

He noticed Phil Mickelson grow to be the oldest main champion at Kiawah Island. He additionally witnessed Justin Thomas win his second Wanamaker Trophy at Southern Hills in 2022. Then, Michael Block grew to become an web sensation at Oak Hill, jarring a hole-in-one on the fifteenth gap that golf followers will keep in mind without end.

Plus, he watched the Americans win the Ryder Cup on house soil in 2021, when Steve Stricker captained Team USA to victory in his native Wisconsin.

However, a captain has but to be introduced for the 2025 competitors at Bethpage Black. Luke Donald, in the meantime, will return because the chief of Team Europe after their resounding victory in Rome final fall.

Still, Waugh feels assured in his work and can proceed to seek the advice of the group as an advisor. PGA of America Chief Championships Officer Kerry Haigh will function CEO within the interim.

“The aim from the beginning was to depart the room higher than we discovered it, and I imagine that collectively, we’ve executed simply that,” Waugh added.

“I wish to thank the membership, my colleagues, all the varied board members, previous presidents, our extraordinary companions, my friends in any respect the opposite golf our bodies, in addition to everybody who performs and loves our stunning recreation for all of the assist and friendship throughout this journey. What a present this has been.”

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be positive to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.