We're Getting Closer to the New LPGA Commissioner

by Ryan Ballengee on Sep 28, 2009 10:00 PM EDT

Ron Sirak is reporting that the LPGA Tour has nailed down their search for a permanent commissioner down to two folks. One is WNBA President Donna Orender. The other is the USGA's Chief Business Officer Pete Bevacqua.

Orender is a former VP with the PGA Tour before moving to the sinking ship that is the WNBA. She told Sports Business International at the end of July that she had not been contacted by the LPGA and was focused on her WNBA duties.

Bevacqua is both relatively new to the golf world and the only golf person on Sports Business Journal's 40 Under 40 list. He has been instrumental in the USGA's pursuit of its corporate partners.

Sirak came into possession of a memo from corporate headhunter Spencer Stuart describing the ideal candidate as having:

"[S]ubstantial business leadership experience in golf or a sports company," as well as "a passion for and understanding of golf and the relationships within the golf industry."

Jon Show at SBD is reporting that Jon Podany, the PGA Tour's Senior VP of Business Development, has interviewed for the job as well, but would not comment further.

Ultimately, given the choice of the three, I would pick Bevacqua. Obviously I'm biased since he is the youngest of the contenders, and I'm an ageist. For as much as I disdain that the USGA took the direction it did to corporatism under Walter Driver, Bevacqua positioned an organization with essentially two money-making properties and gained a much more secure future through the relationships he forged. That is exactly the kind of thing that the LPGA Tour needs.

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Come on...

…it’s US you’re talking to, RB. You can admit it. YOU’RE the top candidate for the job. We know it. (lol)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Sep 29, 2009 9:59 AM EDT reply actions

Clearly the LPGA would benefit from the type of leadership that has put the WNBA quivering on the lips of every sports fan in the country.

by NiceBallz on Sep 29, 2009 11:58 AM EDT reply actions

I know she says she doesn’t want the job, but I’m not so sure the LPGA wouldn’t be better off with the current interim commish. Evans certainly seems to be doing a good job; what more might she accomplish if the tournament officials knew she would stay in charge?

As for leadership ability… she’s a Rear Admiral, for Pete’s sake!

Mike Southern
www.ruthlessgolf.com

by Ruthless Mike on Sep 29, 2009 1:08 PM EDT reply actions

All of the candidates – including me – have serious flaws in taking the job. Evans has the debacle with the ARC board. Orender is the leader of a sinking ship (although that’s not really her fault, blame Stern). Bevacqua is looked down on cause he’s a young guy.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Sep 29, 2009 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

Blame Stern ? Have you found a new beer menu ? Stern is the commissioner of the NBA – not the WNBA. The WNBA wouldn’t exist if Stern wasn’t having to send welfare checks to the WNBA teams. The WNBA was originally supposed to be paying players under $100k a season – then the WNBA stars decided that they should be paid more like the men even though the 25 people attending games couldn’t pony up that kind of money – so they leached onto the NBA.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Sep 29, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions