I Met the New USGolf Association CEO in Pattaya.

[ASEAN NOW Golf]

Torrey Pines marked the final U.S. Open for USGA CEO Mike Davis, before he passes on the reins to Mike Whan, the current LPGA Commissioner.

 

American Mike Whan actually came to Pattaya to oversee the Honda LPGA Thailand on several occasions, at the Siam Country Old Course.

 

Mike Whan

 

The Honda LPGA Thailand was his very first tournament as LPGA Commissioner back in 2010. He remembers packing long sleeve shirts and ties and turned up in Pattaya in a suit and nearly lost 13 pounds in a day!

Luckily in my role as editor first for Thai Golf News and then The Pattaya Golfer, I managed to meet him several times.

 

First Interview

 

I first met him back in 2011 when I was editor of Thai Golf News. Through the LPGA Media manager, I cheekily asked if the commissioner would grant me an interview.

 

I was told that he was flying in on Friday from the States, and low and behold on Saturday morning I got 15 exclusive minutes with him.

 

Even though I was just a local journalist, he had the ability to make you feel you were equal and was always fun and interesting to interview.

 

I tried to stay away from the cliché questions, and we used to chat away about TV ratings and creating new tournaments, which I knew was Mike’s passion. Once at the end he even agreed to posing with my magazine too!

 

 

In fact, over the following years it came a regular occurrence that on a Saturday we would get together and chat. It did not feel like a media room interview, just a great casual discussion.

 

Back in 2012 Whan Predicted Thais Would do Well on Tour.

 

Here is an extract from my second interview with him at The Old Course for Thai Golf News back in 2012.

 

Thai Golf News: Asia now plays a big part in your schedule, especially with all the Asian players doing well. It must be an important part of the LPGA’s future?

 

Mike Whan: Lots of sports come to this region, but not all can deliver the number of top stars say we brought to Thailand. Here we have 58 of the top sixty players in the World. Six years ago, there was nobody at Q school or on our Rookies tour for example from Thailand, now there were 5 players from Thailand. We aim to encourage youngsters to play golf.

 

I am sure Mike will be very proud that in a small way he and his LPGA colleagues have helped the Thais players on tour prosper, and we now have two major winners and a roster of Thais doing well each week.

 

18th Hole Thai Soap Opera

 

Apart from several very interesting interviews, Mike and I happened to also share a very moving moment when Ariya Jutanugarn a young teenager from Bangkok was lading the 2013 Honda LPGA Thailand coming up the 72nd hole.

 

For those that did not make it, the excitement of the massive crowd on the 18th green was electric as Ariya came to the 18th Green with the win in sight for Thailand.

 

The last hole at The Old Course is known for its dramas and do Thais love their soap operas. Well on that Sunday in February 2013 they got a tearful ending, as she by missing a four-foot putt on the 18th green.

 

I happened to be standing close to Moriya Jutanugarn, Pornanong Phatlum and Mike Whan, when she missed a four-foot putt to give Inbee Park to trophy.

 

I am sure Mike Whan would agree, that in all the years of his tenure as LPGA Commissioner, that moment at the Siam Old Course will remain in his memory bank forever.

 

Outgoing CEO Caddies at Torre Pines.

 

To celebrate his last week in charge outgoing USGA CEO Mike Davis—who held one of the highest positions in golf’s hierarchy, decided to travel to the other end of the pecking order, by caddying on the 3rd day of this year’s US Open.

 

The last man in, Akshay Bhatia, would be playing solo and needed a marker, so former PGA Tour player and current USGA player-relations director Jason Gore stepped in.

 

Mike Davis as a Caddie

 

Gore would not actually file an official score with the tournament, but he still needed a caddie. So, he decided to keep his goodwill going by calling on Mike Davis to be his loop Saturday morning.

 

The Future is in Great Hands.

 

Mike Whan leaves the LPGA this month in great shape, having taken the tour around the globe, increased the prize money and TV coverage to new heights, and helped the players become great role models for the next generation.

 

I am sure the USGA with its falagship Men's and Ladies Opens will thrive under Mike Whan's vision.

 

On a personal note I am pleased to have met Mike professionally, and hopefully can call him a friend.

I am sure the USGA will prosper under his expert eye in the years to come.

 

[LPCustom69]

Nice!

[D M G]

GREAT!

⛳️

[Tropposurfer]

What a great job. Perks up the ying-yang I bet ????