Waugh wants to make the game of golf "cooler" in order to reach a broader audiencePGA OF AMERICA
PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh since taking his post in September already has "sworn in the association's first female president, signed a lucrative 11-year TV deal with CBS and ESPN" beginning in '20 and "finalized a deal" to relocate PGA HQ to Frisco, according to Adam Schupak of MORNINGREAD.com. Waugh said as the new leader of the PGA, he is "trying to unlock some of the passion and ideas and a DNA of innovation and entrepreneurship" to make the game of golf "cooler." He believes Frisco "can be that incubator" for the organization, as it is not only "building a place to play golf, but a Silicon Valley concept of, Build it and they will come." Waugh also said new PGA President Suzy Whaley is "the whole package." Meanwhile, Waugh noted historically, some golf associations "have competed against one another for turf or relevance or history." However, he said he has a "totally different perspective" in that he is "for the game and anyone who is doing right by the game." Waugh said the "really good thing that is going on with the game is that we have mostly all new people" in leadership positions in R&A CEO Martin Slumbers and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and himself. Waugh said the "chance to have these conversations and think about it differently is good." Meanwhile, Waugh called the PGA Championship's move from August to May "a little scary" from a weather standpoint, but believes the tournament this year at Bethpage Black will "get away with it." Waugh added, "The May change is so good for us. It can't be better than to follow the Masters and be ahead of the others" (MORNINGREAD.com, 1/15).
