The LPGA just announced its new commissioner. He filed 4 goals

The LPGA Tour announced its new commissioner on Thursday: Craig Kessler, the current Operating Chief in the PGA of America. Kessler begins his new position on July 15, but in reality he has already begun to take on the role, and on Thursday afternoon he conducted a virtual press conference with golf media members.

Why is the LPGA hire a new commissioner? What was the tour of the tour? And what will Kessler bring while taking the most powerful position in women’s golf? We were curious to hear all this and more. What we got is a small window for the future – even when big questions remain.

Rent: Craig Kessler

The LPGA launched its official employment process in January and the deadline of outgoing Commissioner Molly Marcoux Saman. Marcoux Saman held the position for nearly three and a half years Before you are unexpectedly withdrawn In December, with two years left in its contract.

As reported by Golfweek at that timeMarcoux Saman did not have a positive majority appreciation among LPGA members, especially as the leagues remained behind other rapidly growing corners of the women’s sports world. After a four-month process to find his 10th commissioner, Craig Kessler now enters.

Kessler grew up in southern California, but has spent the last two years as the leading Operating Operating Officer of America and is based in Dallas. Previously, his next stop in the Golf world was in Topgolf, where he was also COO. Those previous obstacles in important golf positions have allowed it, as he said, “meet almost every large party interested within the golf landscape and build true authentic relationships with many of these people.”

Kessler led the press conference with a special mentality, saying that he wants to get the tour in a place where “people look at what is happening in the LPGA and they say to themselves,” Oh my kindness. Something incredible is happening with the LPGA, and I have to be part of it, whether they are our players, whether they are existing sponsors or prospective sponsors, fans. ” “

How do you make it happen? Kessler described the four “pillars” on which he has his images.

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The four pillars of Kessler

Kessler has four “construction blocks” around which he believes that sustainable change can affect the LPGA Tour and bring it to new heights. Pillar no. 1 is faith. “Believe with our players … Believe with our sponsors, trust with our fans and believe with our team.”

It is a simple idea that affects everything. In recent years the tournament has sometimes struggled to live to the endless end of faith, doing Safe sponsors get everything out of their sponsorship, making sure the fans get everything From the tickets they buy, etc.

Pillar no. 2 is visibility. For Kessler, that is, “making sure that the incredible stars that the LPGA has leaving it in the weekly course and the week outside are actually visible, and it goes beyond only transmissions.”

But a large majority of this also descends into broadcasts. The LPGA is often left to take the weekend transmission time on the Golf Channel, often only when PGA Tour and Champions Tour have cleared the road. Another key to the visibility is to get the biggest events of women’s golf on television on the net. NBC has given more time TV on the network for women’s diplomas in recent years – especially Open Women Open, which will be played next week – but it is still compared to the time dedicated to major men’s events.

Pillar no. 3 is building fans. Kessler noted that many people SURVEY Lpga but he wants people root For LPGA members. It is an important element of sports fans for every league, and even PGA Tour. Tournament tracking is one thing but rooting strong For a specific player, based on their connection to a player, is what tournament leaders want more.

Finally, Pillar no. 4 is a financial future. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the existence of the LPGA, and Kessler believes that a major part of his work is to build financial stability and platforms for the next 75 years. Coincidentally, one of the topics dealing with women’s sports, as well as Pro Golf, was foreign investment, especially from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. Kessler was asked if he would be open to discussions with Saudi Pif, who has invested heavily in the European Lady Tournament, which he said, “Any organization that wants to exalt our Athletes in the LPGA – I can’t expect to make a discussion with people who are ready to do it.”

Kessler plans to have many of those questions around the globe in the coming months, being “wherever it is work”, which means in the tournaments, in sponsoring negotiations and the Daytona Beach, where the LPGA is headquartered with its new team.

At this early point, there was not much Kessler who could speak with specification. Asked the empty point how the “viewing” interest in “rooting” can be measured, he said he would require a team effort to understand all the measurements with which these pillars would be considered a success. Such is the case with a new leader of a governing body. Kessler will have more than one opportunity to dig prematurely; Three women’s diplomas will take place between Thursday and his first official day in the Commissioner’s chair. American women open in Erin Hills are just days away.