Waugh at the Deutsche Bank Championship in '10getty images

The PGA of America has hired Seth Waugh as CEO, replacing Pete Bevacqua, who left the organization this month to become president of NBC Sports Group. Waugh, a Managing Dir of investment firm Silver Lake and former CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas, begins his new job on Sept. 24. He will continue to be a senior advisor to Silver Lake. Golf website MorningRead.com late last week first reported Waugh was being linked to the PGA.

Waugh is no stranger to the golf industry or the PGA of America, where he has grown familiar with the 29,000-member organization as an independent director on the organization’s BOD. He was instrumental in creating the PGA Tour’s former Deutsche Bank Championship. RSR Partners conducted the search for the PGA of America. SBJ in '14 profiled Waugh and examined his ties to golf.

The 50th U.S. Open kicked off yesterday and set an all-time single-day attendance record of 67,832. The day session drew an opening day record of 40,541, while the night session attendance of 27,291 set the record for a single night session (USTA).

The day included 25-second serve clocks being used for the first time in a Grand Slam event, and ESPN’s Mary Joe Fernandez said of the innovation, “It’s been used throughout the U.S. Open Series. Players are used to it now. It helps them to know how much time they have, and it’s moved things along nicely” (“U.S. Open,” ESPN, 8/27).

Meanwhile, Tennis Channel runs a half-page ad in the Wall Street Journal touting its coverage of the tournament as well as the documentary "Strokes Of Genius: Federer, Nadal And The Greatest Match Ever Played" (THE DAILY).

The new Louis Armstrong Stadium yesterday hosted its first U.S. Open matches, including defending champion Sloane Stephens' win over Evgenia Rodina. Stephens noticed "obstacles she didn't face last year when her final few matches were in Arthur Ashe Stadium." She said, "It was fun to play first day on a brand-new stadium court, but there was a lot happening." That included the "noticeable movement of fans to and from the concession stands along the concourse." Stephens: "There was a lot going on, like I said, between the airplanes and the subway behind the court, the concessions being in the lower bowl, and people walking in (during) the games" (AP, 8/27).

getty images

President Trump will meet with FIFA President Gianni Infantino this afternoon in the Oval Office, according to the president’s public schedule. While the meeting is closed to the press, the two are expected to discuss the '26 World Cup -- slated to be held in the U.S., Canada and Mexico -- among other topics. U.S. Soccer Federation President Carlos Cordeiro is also expected to attend the meeting, according to a source.

The Nashville Metro Council last night voted 20-9, with four abstentions, to "advance a controversial proposal to rezone 10 acres of fairgrounds land" next to a future MLS stadium to "accommodate a private mixed-use development that's part of the stadium plan." This "clears the way for the rezoning proposal, along with three other pieces of legislation needed for the stadium project, to go back before the council for final consideration Sept. 4." The vote came after a "more than four-hour public hearing." Nashville MLS Owner John Ingram was "among those who addressed the council" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 8/28).

The Nebraska athletic department today will launch an "ambitious makeover of its donor fundraising program to attract more annual gifts." One of the goals is to "lay the financial foundation for undisclosed major athletics projects that loom ahead." A marketing blitz, with an "email blast and accompanying video" from AD Bill Moos, will "outline the changes to donors and season ticket holders." Athletic department officials said that the rebranding under the Husker Athletic Fund will have a "more distinct, grassroots feel aimed at getting more donors involved at smaller levels of giving" (RIVALS.com, 8/27).

Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald will speak during the Thursday memorial for late U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), and former Coyotes RW Shane Doan and former D-backs LF Luis Gonzalez will "serve as pallbearers" at North Phoenix Baptist Church (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/28).

Penn State has "found a radio replacement" for Pittsburgh-based KQV-AM, as football games this season will be carried on WPIT-AM and WPIT-FM (POST-GAZETTE.com, 8/28).

The Pistons next month "plan on opening their training camp" at the Univ. of Michigan's Crisler Center in Ann Arbor "instead of their practice facility at The Palace of Auburn Hills," according to a source (DETROIT NEWS, 8/28).

WWE announced that Toronto will host its "SummerSlam Week" in August '19 at Scotiabank Arena (WWE).

"It was ridiculous. It was absolutley absurd. I have yet to understand a reason for it. Every single free agent this season outside of J.D. Martinez has struggled in some sort of way. That's not the players' fault; that's Major League Baseball and the way they decided to do business this offseason" -- Orioles P Alex Cobb, on the slow-moving offseason for the majority of players this past year (USA TODAY, 8/28).

"That news absolutely shook me. Any one of us could have been at that tournament. It’s Madden. A lot of us play Madden. If I had known there was a Madden tournament, I might have poked my head in there" -- Jaguars LB Myles Jack, on the tragedy in Jacksonville over the weekend (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 8/28).

"I’m just glad that fans are engaged on naming the team. That’s wonderful. I don’t think we’ve zeroed in on one yet, but I’m sure the fans will help us" -- Film producer and potential Seattle NHL team co-Owner Jerry Bruckheimer, on reports that "Kraken" -- a fictional sea monster from his “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies -- seems popular among local fans (SEATTLE TIMES, 8/28).

USA TODAY writes under the header, "Researchers Close In On CTE Diagnosis In Living, One Brain At A Time." As another football season begins, it "inevitably leads to questions and fears about head trauma and its long-term damage." Luckily, answers could come from the VA Boston Healthcare System, which "houses the world’s largest brain bank devoted to CTE research."

The N.Y. TIMES in a front-page piece goes with, "In Jacksonville, The $1 Billion-A-Year World Of Esports Is Rocked By Gunfire." Sunday's tragedy "cast a light on the rites and rigors of competitive e-sports, a close-knit, screen-named world of streaming and sponsorships, supersized rewards and swollen egos."

Also: 

• Mark Leibovich "won't let the NFL go off the record" in new book. 
• When it came to Arizona sports, the late John McCain "rooted like a little kid."
• David Tepper is "second richest man" in "exclusive echelon of NFL owners."
• L.A. residents "can't find" Jim Rome's nationally syndicated CBS Radio show.
• J.J. Watt looks back on record-setting Hurricane Harvey relief effort. 

Dave Gettleman on @OBJ_3 contract: "It’s a five-year extension, six years total. We got him until he’s 108. I never worried whether or not we would get it done."

— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) August 27, 2018

It's hard to read "monetizing esports isn't something that anyone has truly solved" from Riot, when you look at all the ways Blizzard has monetized Overwatch League in year one.
(re: their response to the budget cuts they're making)

— Travis Gafford (@TravisGafford) August 28, 2018

Just reflecting a bit on the last 8 months. I couldn’t be happier working with @MaggieGray and @BartScott57. It’s been a complete blast, and we’ve got some exciting things planned on @CMBWFAN for the fall. Thanks for hanging with us, and stay tuned. You won’t be disappointed.

— Chris Carlin (@ChrisCarlin) August 27, 2018

We not only lost John Asher, we lost a living, breathing part of the Kentucky Derby -- it's voice, it's presence, and it's spirit. It's hard to think of the Derby without him. Condolences to his family.

— Steve Haskin (@SteveHaskin) August 27, 2018

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

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Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “U.S. Cities.”

“This city, also the title of a film that won two Oscars, was named for a businessman known for 19th century transportation.” 

Last night’s edition of TBS’ “Conan” featured a segment called “Andy Richter Pretends To Care Deeply About Stuff He Doesn’t Give A Sh*t About." Richter: “A lot of co-workers have their fantasy football drafts this week. I want them to draft the right players so they do the most points and are happy. That’s my fantasy, anyway” (“Conan,” TBS, 8/27).

TBS’ Conan O’Brien: “In France, a beach closed because a dolphin was trying to have sex with swimmers. Here’s the sad part: the Dolphin was Dan Marino” (“Conan,” TBS, 8/27).

“What is Fargo?”