LPGA commissioner Mike Whan has earned kudos far and wide for bringing the women’s tour back from the brink of extinction to its current level of unprecedented success.
LPGA Tour nominated for ‘Sports League of the Year’ award
The LPGA Tour joins NASCAR, the NBA, and two other nominees for Sports Business Journal’s ‘Sports League of the Year’ award.
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Thanks to Whan’s sponsors-first mentality, which has led to record purses and expanded playing opportunities for stars like Michelle Wie, Lydia Ko and Stacy Lewis, as well as players of lesser renown, the LPGA is one of five nominees for Sports Business Journal’s Sports League of the Year.
Awesome Team Effort - Proud! RT @LPGA: We’re honored & excited to be nominated for @sbjsbd Sports League of the Year pic.twitter.com/pbMjlVT5sa
— Michael Whan (@LPGACommish) March 16, 2015 The LPGA, in Cheyenne Woods’ hometown of Phoenix for this week’s Founders Cup, finds itself in elite company, nominated along with NASCAR, the NBA, Major League Soccer and the Big East Conference.
“I’m excited for our entire team, whose efforts have been tremendous and we are very honored to be recognized as a finalist by SBJ among other prestigious sports leagues,” Whan told SB Nation via email. “The LPGA had a magical year filled with incredible story lines touching every part of our organization and many Tour victories that showed everyone global success is the best kind of sports story.”
Sports Business Journal tapped 78 organizations and people across 15 categories as candidates for its eighth annual Sports Business Awards. Winners, which SBJ recognizes as “the leaders, visionaries and day-to-day practitioners who personify excellence in the business of sports,” will be named May 20 at a ceremony in New York.
The PGA Tour was one of six leagues nominated for the 2014 League of the Year, but lost out to the NHL.
