LPGA Commissioner Whan is stepping down
Less than a month after completing the Herculean task of putting together a robust 2021 LPGA schedule, Commissioner Mike Whan has announced his decision to leave the tour in 2021.
Whan shared the news on Wednesday with staff, members and sponsors via a letter, saying he would never leave the LPGA if the future was uncertain or if momentum wasn’t trending in the right direction. Whan completed his 11th year with the LPGA, the longest tenure of any commissioner. No exact date has been set for his departure.
“One of the hardest jobs of a leader is to know when their work is done,” Whan wrote in the letter. “If the COVID-19 pandemic taught me anything, it was that the LPGA executive staff has full control of our business and is capable of incredible things. We have leaders who are visionary, compassionate, collaborative and humble. You may not agree with every decision they make, but they have led our Tours to new heights virtually every year.”
The tour had 24 tournaments and official prize money of $41.4 million when Whan took over. The 2021 schedule, while still in the midst of a global pandemic, has a record $76.45 million and 34 official events.
“I’m grateful for the time and work Mike put into this tour,” said veteran Angela Stanford. “In my opinion, he saved us twice. He has the right to move on, knowing he left the LPGA in a better place.”
Whan’s decision to embrace the global nature of the tour and his “Act Like a Founder” mantra for staff members and players helped bring the tour out of a downward spiral. He made it a point to put the check writers first, a tactic that served the tour especially well in 2020 when strong relationships kept a schedule intact. The 2020 season was an absolute triumph, with only 42 positive COVID-19 tests out of the 7,200 that were given and every sponsor returning to the table in 2021.
Whan said he woke up Tuesday morning feeling really nervous for the first time in four years and it felt great.
This marks the third time he has left a really good job without another one lined up. At a family meeting, one of his sons noted that while it has worked out wonderfully before, he’s beginning to push his luck. “I like to live my life pretty nervous, and I haven’t been really nervous in a while and I want to get back to that,” said Whan. “I’m not exactly sure where that’s going to take me, but every time I’ve been this nervous in the past, the outcome has been pretty exciting.”
Whan said he doesn’t answer recruiter calls when he’s working. He prefers to give 100% to the task at hand, make a full stop to his mind and look for the next opportunity. It’s an unconventional approach that has served him well.
Whan was asked directly about the opening at the USGA. In September of last year, USGA CEO Mike Davis announced that he’d be stepping down from his role as CEO at the end of 2021.
“It’s certainly premature,” he said. “I think for any job, that one certainly included, requires a cleanse of my brain … requires both parties to think it’s a good idea.”