Mike Whan was introduced today as the next LPGA Commissioner, set to take the job from interim commish Marty Evans in January.  The press conference was held at Madison Square Garden with several principals involved in the search for a new commissioner. 

Whan and acting commissioner Evans were joined by player Helen Alfredsson joined LPGA Board of Directors chair Dawn Hudson, Search Committee Chair Leslie Greis, and LPGA President Michelle Ellis.

The people surrounding Whan - as well as Marty Evans from South Korea - spoke resoundingly of Whan's experience in the golf industry in the 1990s at Wilson Golf and TaylorMade-adidas.  They highlighted his executive experience at smaller companies like Mission-ITECH Hockey.  Moreover, they beamed about his energy and approach to the golf industry, especially the problems facing the LPGA.

"[Whan] appreciates women's golf and isn't daunted by the challenges we face but rather sees the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead for the LPGA," said Dawn Hudson.  "He's a dynamic leader whose eyes light up when you talk to him about the LPGA, past, present or future."

Alfredsson was impressed with Whan's candor about the LPGA's status.

"I think it's hard to sit there and not to sit there and try to say the right things because everybody thinks that they want to hear, but Mike really clearly said his words in the way he put it."

Michelle Ellis admitted that players that were not on the search committee did not have much knowledge of or interaction with Whan.  That will come at the LPGA Tour Championship in Houston in November.

As someone who spent significant time with Whan during the vetting process, acting commissioner Marty Evans had a very strong endorsement of the new commissioner.

"I'm very happy to endorse, to tell people that the transition is going to be very smooth, and that they are going to be very excited about the opportunities for the LPGA under Mike's leadership."

Whan - whose Scottish-rooted surname was MacWhan - was clearly excited to start the transition into his new role.

"Golf is special to me.  It's been special to me my whole life.  I was that crazy high school kid cutting greens at 5:30 in the morning so he could play free golf in the afternoon and caddying on Sundays, and I was the guy who decided to make golf a career move, as well, back in my early 30s and on through my career," Whan said.  "So the opportunity to be part of the golf business in a major way is just too hard to pass up."

The new commissioner was impressed with the inventory he took of the LPGA.

"When it comes to people, this search more than anything else proved to me that this LPGA organization is literally surrounded with overwhelming talent."

Whan begins as commissioner on January 4, 2010.