Whan's tenure has been so successful that his commitment to stay with the LPGA surprised somelpga
LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan begins his 11th season at the helm with a "new long-term contract in place," and he has "no plans to leave anytime soon," according to Randall Mell of GOLFCHANNEL.com. Whan said that the nature of his new contract was "set up, mostly, so the tour won't be financially burdened if it decides to end the relationship." His tenure as commissioner has been "so successful that his commitment to stay with the LPGA surprised colleagues, who believed he was set up to take advantage of more lucrative opportunities" elsewhere. Whan said that he "might have been thinking that back when he was 35 years old, but not now." Growth and gender equity remain the focus of Whan's "larger purpose still to pursue." This includes "growing the game to where half the golf population is female," as well as "growing the profile of his players with more network TV opportunities." There also is "narrowing the gender pay gap." These are "all more aggressively in his crosshairs today." While Whan's governing principles "would serve nicely as a sort of GPS to steer the LPGA ship for whoever eventually follows him as commissioner, the man himself has become an integral part of the tour's new DNA" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 1/4). Golf Channel's Ron Sirak said what Whan has ""done over the last decade, bringing the Tour back from the depths of the great recession, is truly remarkable.” Sirak: "His resolution for the new year? More of the same: market, market, market" ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 1/6).
