In Naming a New Chief Executive, the U.S.G.A. Looks to the Women’s Game
“I think everybody who hears about the change thinks, ‘Oh, no, it’s over, they’re going to put a governor and everybody has all the same distance,” he said. “Nobody is interested in doing the game or the people who make that game exciting.”
Whan will also be central to figuring out which courses will be chosen as USGA Championship sites, especially when it comes to the US Open and US Women’s Open. Some of Davis’s tenure’s most controversial decisions stem from the desire to branch out from an established, if informal, rotation of traditional sites to major union events. This led to the US Open being played in largely unusable venues such as Chambers Bay in Wisconsin and Erin Hills in Washington State, with best, mixed results.
More recently, the USGA has indicated its tinkering with the history of hosting the National Golf Championship to return to the golf course, supported by Francis and Vaughn.
“You’re going to lock a lot on traditional sites,” Francis said.
Whan, who will be only the eighth chief executive of USGA, said the players wanted the same. Cognizant said that this year’s US Women’s Open will compete for the first time at the Olympic Club in San Francisco (it has hosted the US Open five times), Vaughn said, “I can promise you that the dreams of LPGA right now The players to watch are the Olympics. “
Davis, who is leaving the USGA to pursue his interest in golf course design, supported Wuhan’s selection.
“I am delighted to have worked with Mike Vaughan for many years, and I see him as a reliable, strategic leader who has a proven record of collaborative partnerships,” Davis said in a statement. “I know the USGA will be in great hands, and I look forward to partnering with Mike to ensure a smooth and successful transition.”
