PGA of America names new CEO to replace Seth Waugh

The PGA of America finally has found its next leader to replace Seth Waugh and it’s a familiar face.

Golfweek first broke the news that Derek Sprague, a past president of the PGA, will assume the role of CEO at the start of the year. Sprague, who most recently served as general manager of TPC Sawgrass, is the first PGA Class A professional to lead the 31,000 members since Jim Awtrey retired in 2006.

"Throughout my career I have made it a priority to bring people together around a common cause," Sprague said in a story posted on the PGA of America's website. "At a time of profound change in golf, there is also great opportunity for our Association and our Members. I have cherished being a PGA of America Golf Professional, and serving our Members and Associates as a Board Member and Officer. To now serve the Association as CEO is a tremendous honor. It is my task, alongside the Officers and Board, to elevate the profession of our more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals while ensuring the health of the Association and its relationships within our industry."

“Derek is really made for the board room,” said Bill Hughes, a longtime PGA member and Sprague’s predecessor at TPC Sawgrass. “He has a strong business acumen and a love of this association that very few people have. He’s tailor-made for this role.”

Sprague turned professional in 1989, beginning his career at Malone Golf Club, located in the northern tip of upstate New York, about three hours north of Albany or Syracuse. He grew up on the course’s first hole and spent 27 years at his hometown layout, a 36-hole, semi-private facility.

Since 1998, he has served in a number of leadership roles at the PGA Section (Northeastern New York PGA Section) and National levels, and served a two-year stint as PGA President from 2014-2016, during which he managed the CEO and the association’s 21-person board of directors.

“The membership spoke loudly that it felt it was time for a PGA member and the board took its time to find the right candidate,” Hughes said. “His background, experience and everything he’s done with the Tour, everything he did as a PGA officer, I think he’s primed for this opportunity.”

In 2016, Sprague became managing director of Liberty National in Jersey City, N.J., and also oversaw the 2017 Presidents Cup. He joined TPC Sawgrass, home of the Tour’s Players Championship and its flagship event, in January 2018. On his LinkedIn page, Sprague described himself as a “transformative leader with proven results in building peak performance organizations.”

That skillset will be put to the test as he takes on one of the top leadership roles in the golf industry.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: First PGA pro in 18 years named as CEO of PGA of America