PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh quits role amid ongoing PIF deal negotiations

PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh resigned this week, officially announcing his resignation on Wednesday, June 26. The PGA of America hosts the PGA Championship, one of the four men's Majors, and the Women's PGA Championship. Additionally, it co-hosts the Ryder Cup with the DP World Tour.

After working for the organization for nine years, including six years as CEO, Seth Waugh stepped down from his position. He will now serve as the Senior Advisor on the circuit.

Speaking of his resignation, Waugh said:

"I recently informed the board that I would not be renewing my contract that is set to expire on June 30, but am honored to continue to serve the Association as a Senior Advisor."

The move came just weeks after Seth Waugh called for urgency in negotiating a deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Last month, during the PGA Championship, Waugh opened up about the ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and the PIF and said (via Reuters):

"I hope there's urgency because I do think it's doing damage to the Tour, to the game. I hope it's short-term damage, as opposed to permanent damage, and so I hope there's some urgency in the timing around it because I just don't think it's a healthy situation right now."

Although Seth Waugh has resigned from his role, his replacement has yet to be announced, and the search is still underway. Meanwhile, Kerry Haigh will take up the responsibilities on an interim basis.

Seth Waugh was promoted to CEO of the PGA of America in August 2018 and has since worked on the circuit's growth. He had previously served as an independent director on the circuit for three years.

Over the years, Waugh has significantly contributed to the functioning of the PGA of America. He played an important role in helping the circuit to secure an 11-year deal with CBS and ESPN. Moreover, as CEO, he facilitated numerous partnerships for the circuit with prestigious companies, including Rolex and T-Mobile.

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Seth Waugh shares his experience of working as PGA of America CEO

Seth Waugh released a statement sharing his experiences working for the PGA of America over the years. He expressed gratitude for the support of his colleagues and others. Reflecting on his journey, Waugh said (via SI):

"I have often said that golf is one of the great engines of good on Earth. I am perhaps the biggest all-time beneficiary of that good and I want to thank the membership, my colleagues, all the various board members, past presidents, our extraordinary partners, my peers at all the other golf bodies, as well as everyone who plays and loves our beautiful game for all the support and friendship during this journey. What a gift that has been. Thank you.”

Notably, the golf world has witnessed numerous resignations in the past few months. Previously, DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley resigned from his position amid the negotiation deal between the PIF and PGA Tour to join Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

In May 2024, Jimmy Dunne resigned from his position on the PGA Tour after working for them for a while. He was the architect behind the merger between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour but unexpectedly resigned last month.

The golf world has witnessed dynamic changes in the last few years, and fans are eager to know how the negotiation deal will progress and what new changes could be seen in golf.