Tour Insider
    Bookmark and Share
  1. Rex Hoggard
  2. Randall Mell
  3. Rich Lerner
  4. Editorial Staff
  5. Shag Bag Blog
  6. Backspin
  7. Quotes of the Week
  8. Golf Guy's Top 5

Shag Bag

Welcome to the Shag Bag, where the GolfChannel.com team and Golf Channel talent will regularly file thoughts and opinions from around the world of golf.

Randall Mell

1Acting commissioner's LPGA future uncertain

Bookmark and Share
profileIconRANDALL MELL, Senior Writer, GolfChannel.com
 Posted 11/19/2009, 1:04 PM EST

RICHMOND, Texas – So where does Marty Evans go from here?

The acting commissioner steps aside on Jan. 4 when Michael Whan takes over, but Evans gave up her spot on the LPGA Board of Directors to assume her interim role. Evans could rejoin the board with two openings for independent directors to be filled sometime early next year, but Golf World reported this week that there are some significant maneuvers under way that may reshape the board.

According to sources cited in the report, Dawn Hudson will remain on the board but is unlikely to be re-elected chairwoman because of “backlash for allowing the Carolyn Bivens situation to go on for so long.” Bivens was forced out as commissioner in a player revolt in July. The report also stated that Evans has told the board that she will only serve again if she is elected chairwoman, but that player directors might not support that move because of Evans’ role in recent layoffs at the tour.

“I haven’t made a decision,” Evans told GolfChannel.com when asked if and how she wanted to return to the board. “I need to figure out what I want to do. I know that I want to be helpful to Mike [Whan]. That’s my goal, but how do I contribute?”

There was turnover among the seven player members of the board this week with Kim Hall and Katie Futcher elected to three-year terms. Juli Inkster’s term expired. So did the term of Christina Kim, who sought another term but was not re-elected.

Michelle Ellis was re-elected to another term as president in 2010 with Sherri Steinhauer re-elected as vice president.

There was also change among the six independent directors on the LPGA Board with Tony Ponturo elected to a three-year term. He’s the chief executive officer of Ponturo Management Group and a former executive at Anheuser-Busch. Leslie Greis was re-elected to a three year term. She is founder and managing member of Perennial Capital Advisors.

The terms of Bill Morton, Nancy Wiese and Grant Gregory expire this year. Two of the three openings that creates have yet to be filled.

 

19
Nov

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Click here to login or join.

All user comments

  1. stub

    stub Said on 11/19/2009, at 3:11 PM EST

    “ I know that it is just wishful posting, but here is my take on the LPGA..If the PLAYER DIRECTORS don't support EVANS in which ever direction this goes, they are exhibiting very immature behavior and absolutely no business sense..The work Evans has done in the intrim basis was outstanding..and if anyone thinks that the layoffs at tour headquarters was not just good business, they need to get a grasp on reality..As far as Ellis is concerned, I think she did a lot of work, but is a bit geographicallly removed..I feel there needs to be someone almost daily on site to work with the new COMMISH. and more connected to the player board members..Where are the older,wiser heads like Inkster..and why don't they step up to help the tour?? ..I hate to see POLITICS AS USUAL rear it's ugly head now...STUB”