The PGA of America names Derek Sprague its next chief executive

The PGA of America has named Derek Sprague – TPC SawgrassThe general manager and a former president of the PGA of America – its next chief executive officer, the association announced on Friday.

Sprague will succeed Seth Waughwho resigned in June after a six-year run at the helm. Kerry HaighThe PGA of America’s championships boss has served as interim CEO.

Sprague has held his position at TPC Sawgrass since 2017; in that role he helped administer the move of the Players Championship from May to March and, according to his LinkedIn profilehas delivered a more than 30 percent increase “in revenue and multi-million dollar improvement” at the property since he was hired.

Prior to joining Sawgrass, Sprague was president of the PGA of America from 2014-16. In this capacity, he helped strengthen the PGA Junior League and also the association’s charitable foundation, PGA Reach. In 2014, Sprague founded and co-chaired the Ryder Cup Task Force, which, after three consecutive US losses, was created to optimize how American teams operate and stack. In the years since the task force was formed, the US has won two of the four Ryder Cups.

Earlier this week, the PGA of America announced a new compensation package for American players. Beginning with next year’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, American players will be paid $500,000 each; $300,000 of that amount will go to charities of the players’ choice, while the remainder will serve as salary. It is not known what role Sprague played in that decision.

From 2016-17, Sprague was general manager of Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, NJ; during his tenure, the club hosted the 2017 Presidents Cup. Prior to Liberty, Sprague served as general manager and director of golf for more than 25 years at Malone Golf Club in his hometown of Malone, NY.

Sprague graduated in 1988 from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., where he played on the golf team and earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

“The club took a chance on a 21-year-old kid,” Sprague said once. “I think it paid off.”

The PGA of America had intended to name a new CEO before the association’s annual meeting in early November. At that point, Roger Warren, president of Kiawah Island Golf Resort, was the leading candidate. as GOLF.com reported. But the recruiting process continued, with the PGA of America eventually landing Sprague.

Sprague’s appointment comes during a period of great change and instability at the top levels of golf governance.

The PGA Tour, which remains deep in negotiations with the Saudi PIF and LIV Golf about a path forward together, announced this week that it is looking to fill a newly created CEO position. The LPGA is also looking to fill a larger role as its commissioner, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, said earlier this month she will retire in January. Across the pond, the R&A has a new boss as Mark Darbon last month succeeded Martin Slumbers as the organisation’s chief executive.