PGA of America extends Bevacqua's contract
The PGA of America has extended the contrac t of CEO Pete Bevacqua through December 2024.
The Palm Beach Gar-dens - based organization made the announcement Friday.
Bevacqua has served as CEO since November 2012, and his current contract was set to expire at the end of 2021. The PGA board of direc- tors approved the extension at the 101st PGA Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas.
“I am honored to have received this extension, and am incredibly grateful to our offifficers, our board, our PGA
members around the country and my fellow staffff members,” Bevacqua said. “I very much look forward to working well into the future to serve our members and to grow the game.”
Bevacqua guides the decisions and overall strategy of one of the world’s largest sports organizations, serving the association’s nearly 29,000 PGA Professionals. Under his leadership, the P GA designed and implemented a long-term strategic plan, focused on the association’s mission to serve the PGA members and grow the game.
The plan outlines the PGA’s strategic vision and eight core member-focused and business-related initiatives. It also defines the PGA’s commit- ment to innovation and collaboration, the teamwork and talent exhibited in its culture, and a devotion to diversity and inclusion throughout its programs and practices.
Earlier this year, Bevacqua steered the announcement the PGA Championship will be conducted annually in May for the fifirst time in 70 years, beginning in 2019. The new date gives the PGA Championship a more attractive spot on the calendar and opens up the possibility for play- ing the event at new venues and in different regions of
the country. In its previous calendar spot, mid- to late August, it was rarely played in Southern states. The move also means all four of men’s golf ’s majors will be played from April to July.
“With tremendous leadership and professionalism, Pete Bevacqua has furthered the PGA’s mission and guided our vision for the future,” said PGA President Paul Levy. “Pete is highly respected through- out the golf industry and the business world. The PGA of America is proud to call him our CEO, as he is devoted to our members and ensuring that the game of golf extends its reach to everyone.”
Previously, Bevacqua served as global head of golf at Creative Artists Agenc y (CAA Sports). He was also chief business officer for the United States Golf Association and served as the USGA’s fifirst managing director of the U.S. Open Championship.