The hunt for candidates to fill top positions at institutions in the world of golf has become a trend in the past year, and PGA Tour Enterprises is no exception. Jay Monahan’s team is still searching for a CEO, and it seems they are not sitting on their hands about it.
According to a report from the Sports Business Journal, the tour has shown interest in two names in particular. One of them would have the unofficial but not insignificant advantage of being closely associated with one of the organization’s heavyweights, Tiger Woods.
That name is David Abeles, the current president and CEO of TaylorMade.
Tiger Woods has had TaylorMade as one of his major sponsors since 2017. The renowned golf equipment and apparel brand is also working with him on his latest project, Sun Day Red.
Abeles has other attributes beyond his close relationship with Woods. His time at TaylorMade and other companies such as Titleist and Acushnet gives him a global vision of a sport as unique as golf. It has also allowed him to connect with numerous players through his sponsorship deals.
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According to the report, Abeles’ main competitor would be Steve Phelps, the current NASCAR commissioner. The information suggests that Phelps is an attractive candidate for the tour, as he has been instrumental in the successful relaunch of NASCAR from 2018 to the present.
The report cites numerous sources to support its information, although it does not identify them. There is also no official confirmation of the Tour’s interest at this time.
The PGA Tour commissioner acknowledged the organization’s interest in naming a CEO last December. Since then, the tour has been searching for the right person, but the position has yet to be filled.
The appointment of a CEO is part of a restructuring of the PGA Tour that included the creation of PGA Tour Enterprises as the business arm of the organization. All of this comes on the heels of a $1.5 billion investment in the tour from Strategic Sports Group.
Since 2024, several top positions in the world of golf have changed hands for one reason or another. DP World Tour Commissioner Keith Pelley accepted a new position in his native Canada and was replaced by his former No. 2, Guy Kinnings.
Meanwhile, the heads of the R&A and the LPGA Tour resigned their positions, with no permanent replacements yet named.
The most talked-about case was that of LIV Golf founder Greg Norman, who was replaced as the leagues CEO by Scott O’Neal, whose business experience includes the NBA, NHL, NFL and other ventures.
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