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Our long national nightmare is over. The LPGA finally has its commissioner, and it's former golf equipment exec Michael Whan. Selected to replace ousted commish Carolyn Bivens after a three-month search process, Whan comes to the LPGA following stints at TaylorMade, Wilson and Mission-Itech Hockey.

Whan comes to the LPGA with longtime golf experience: "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," he said during his initial news conference on Wednesday.

He's got two months to get his affairs in order; the gig starts in January. Marty Evans, the current acting commissioner, will remain on the job until then.

The Internet was -- what's the word for "five notches down from abuzz"? -- mildly intrigued by Whan's hiring. "His name had not surfaced in reports and he wasn't on anybody's known short list of candidates," CBS's Steve Elling wrote. "Not that many outlets were tracking the search, in all honesty."

Waggle Room speculates on the business reasons that got Whan hired. Golf Digest's Ron Sirak apparently had the scoop, and called Whan's hiring a "bit of a surprise" given all the hype surrounding Donna Orender, Peter Bevacqua and others.

Best of luck to Whan, who's going to need all the help he can get and all the business savvy he can muster to pull the LPGA out of its power-dive.

Whan named new LPGA commissioner [Golf Digest]

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15 Comments

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  1. thinker
    1. Posted by thinker Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    Jay..this article is as lame as all the others regarding the new LPGA commish....How about a fill in on the resume...how long he was with each company, what were his exact duties, and how well did he perform...you know, something with some meat to it....STUB
  2. nmxgolf
    2. Posted by nmxgolf Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    Will this clown where a skirt to the Ladies meetings ?
    Ladies take care of your own. Speak up and disqualify this crook.
  3. Michael P
    3. Posted by Michael P Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:57 pm EDT

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    Big problems for the LPGA so this guy has his work cut out for him. The 3 major issues are the lesbian problem, mostly out of shape and unattractive women and all of the Asian players who cannot speak English. Why would you want your companies name associated with that??
  4. EricS
    4. Posted by EricS Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:01 pm EDT

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    The key to LPGA success = sexy ladies. Period. The tour needs to glam up significantly. If the WNBA and other failed women's leagues have taught us anything, it's that the American public doesn't want to watch women play sports ... unless the women are very attractive. It's unfortunate, but it is true, and will always be true. The influx of South Koreans has definitely hurt the overall perception of the tour as well - not because they are unattractive women, but because they dress in slacks, have boy haircuts, and wear no makeup. It's like watching 15 year old boys play golf.
    Good luck Mr. Whan!
  5. billieboy
    5. Posted by billieboy Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:39 pm EDT

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    WHO in hell is he ! ? Good Luck !
  6. Go Chargers
    6. Posted by Go Chargers Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:54 pm EDT

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    I have always heard 'the best man for the job is a woman' but what do I know. lol
  7. Dan the Obliviousman
    7. Posted by Dan the Obliviousman Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:10 pm EDT

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    A note to the new commissioner:
    Don't worry about us fans...we love the LPGA,and will continue to support it. :)
    Worry more about the sponsers of these events,and how they can be retained...That is the most important thing right now in these tough times.
  8. bmaspas
    8. Posted by bmaspas Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:06 pm EDT

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    just sign natalie gulbis to an iron clad contract that she must play every event.
  9. Cliff F
    9. Posted by Cliff F Thu Oct 29, 2009 6:25 am EDT

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    The biggest problem that the LPGA has is the general lack of exciting shot making skills. But there is a way that the LPGA and create more excitement where it is lacking, and that is by having more team match play events. For example, one of the best events on the golf calendar men's or women's is the Lexus Cup, Asia vs The Rest of the World Team match play golf. The drama of team golf, in a match play setting more than makes up for the lack of shot making skills.
    In addition, I strongly disagree that the influx of Asians is bad for the tour, it certainly creates millions more potential viewers. The LPGA could also take its cue from the very successful European Tour and play even more events at foreign venues. For example the Honda Classic in Thailand is very successful. Going abroad more would create a far larger pool of potential sponsors, and once again would strengthen the benefit that the Asia golfers bring to the game. If you are not finding what you need inside the box, then it is time to start thinking outside of it!
  10. rick s
    10. Posted by rick s Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:56 am EDT

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    Jay, I had the pleasure of attending a now defunct LPGA tournament in the Nashville area...in fact, went two years in a row. Got to admit that it was pretty cool. I really enjoyed following the top pros.
    You know, I want to see the LPGA succeed. I truly do. How does this new Commissioner do it? Only time will tell. It will certainly help to have a Tiger/Phil/Jack/Arnie sort of personality and star power at the top. The current flashes of brilliance that come and go on the ladies tour is not cutting it for the U.S. fans. How about an Annika with an attitude? Or an Inkster with a hard driving passion for victory every tournament. You get the picture.
    Jay, it must start with the players. Sports fans love players and love to hate them as well. The players make the game.
  11. Dan the Obliviousman
    11. Posted by Dan the Obliviousman Thu Oct 29, 2009 5:28 pm EDT

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    @ rick s:
    "How about an Annika with an attitude? "
    What about someone like Suzann Petterson?...She competes hard in every tournament she plays in,and she shows some emotion out there,but I wouldn't call it an attitude...She just wants results,like they all do.
    "Or an Inkster with a hard driving passion for victory every tournament. "
    They actually have quite a few that are shooting very well week in and week out.Anna Nordquist is one that comes to mind.She has won a major tournament and continues to shoot very well,and she is a rookie.I wish her the best.
    Oh!...Let's not forget the Koreans...Jayai Shin is the front runner among them,and she has a great golf game.There is not a weakness in her game anywhere.That is impressive.
    But if you are talking Americans,I would say Paula,Cristie,or Natalie have the best chance of capturing the American audience's attention.Michelle Wie has been playing very well this year,but she hasn't put in a win yet...I feel it will come soon.
  12. Paul
    12. Posted by Paul Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:50 pm EDT

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    Presuming you think your opinion is funny mike but in actual fact it sucks.
    Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
  13. Smart arack
    13. Posted by Smart arack Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:31 am EDT

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    Paul lives alone with his 102 yr old mother in her house. She beats him with her cane daily and tells him what a loser he is. Paul is 58. In his room,which he has lived in for 58 years,he has posters of Farrah Fawcett and Christina Kim and Michael Landon. The Christina Kim poster is taped on his ceiling directly over his tiny little single Beaver Cleaver bed. When he gets lonely(often) he lays on his bed and gets naughty thoughts while looking at Christina leaning against a golf cart without her undies on. Pauls mother cant see very far anymore so she doesnt see this poster over his bed so she doesnt hit him with her cane when she comes into his room to make sure he made his bed.
    Paul gets his medicine for free from a local clinic and sometimes he forgets to take it. If he takes it he doesnt use the computer in the local library. If he forgets he sneaks out of the house and uses the computer and looks at dirty websites and then writes nasty posts and feels good about himself and goes home and sneaks in the back door and hides in his room and stares at his Christina Kim poster while his 102 yr old mother continually calls his name. "Pauul"! "Pauuul!" Dogs howl in the backround. Cats screetch. An old plane drones overhead. A loud motorcycle drives by. "Pauul!" the lonely old women calls...........
    If Tennessee Williams had lived long enough he would have written his next play about Paul and his mother.
  14. Smart arack
    14. Posted by Smart arack Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:45 am EDT

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    Hey Honey,what channel is "Legal Aliens"on again?! "Legal Aliens"?! I thought you were through watching ladies golf, George? I was,but all the other stations have cartoons on now.
  15. Paul
    15. Posted by Paul Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:25 pm EDT

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    HAHAHAHAHAHAHA THAT IS FUNNY MIKE but only shows 'you know not what you speak'
    Keep trying ajax-travis someday you may get within 100 miles of being right.
    No one will ever know that you've had a lobotomy, if you wear a wig to hide to the scars and learn to control the slobbering.

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