Annika Sorenstam Supports Former Pac-12 Commissioner to Lead LPGA

Golf legend Annika Sorenstam has endorsed sports administrator Larry Scott for the position of LPGA Commissioner. The position has been held on an interim basis by Liz Moore since Mollie Marcoux Samaan stepped down last January.

Sorenstam offered her support for Scott in a statement provided to Sports Business Journal. The 10-time major winner highlighted her candidate’s qualities, which she said match what is required of the future LPGA commissioner.

“He was a very respected leader around the world when he ran the WTA,” Sorenstam said. “He did the largest women’s sponsorship deal in history and got their purses close to equal with the men. He started the Pac-12 Network when he was Commissioner there. I think he has great relationships with sponsors and the gravitas to command respect any time he enters a room. All qualities that would help in this role.”

Although the LPGA has been searching for a new commissioner for several months, this is the first name that has actually been publicly linked to the position. It has not been reported if Larry Scott is in fact being considered to take over the leadership of the organization.

Scott has had a long career in sports administration, leading several world-class institutions. He began his career in the business at the helm of ATP Properties, a division of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). During his tenure, a partnership with International Sport and Leisure (ISL) was signed, an agreement that was extremely beneficial to the organization.

Scott made a major leap in his career when he transitioned from leading ATP Properties to becoming Chairman and CEO of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), a position he held from 2003 to 2009. During that time, the organization achieved several historic financial milestones, including a six-year, $88 million sponsorship deal with Sony Ericsson. Other high-impact deals were signed with Whirlpool, Gatorade and Bed Bath & Beyond.

That same year, 2009, Scott took over as commissioner of the Pac-12 Conference of American college sports. Among his many accomplishments in this position was negotiating a $3 billion, 12-year contract with Fox Sports.

However, he has also been criticized for the organization’s spending during his tenure, most notably for moving the conference’s headquarters to San Francisco at a cost of $92 million in rent over 11 years.

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