The CEO of the Ladies European Tour to Step Down, What Does it Mean for the LPGA?

Being the commissioner or CEO of a professional golf tour seems to be the hot ticket job this year.

Since the announcement that Craig Kessler will be taking over the role of LPGA commissioner was made, pro golf leadership has been shaken up. After the Kessler news, the PGA TOUR announced Brian Rolapp to be the new CEO taking over for Jay Monahan and now the Ladies European Tour (LET) announced that Alexandra Armas will step down as its CEO effective October 1.

Armas knows the LET like the back of her hand. She was a former player, competing from 2001 to 2005 before becoming the Executive Director in 2005 (she'd served until 2012), after being chosen by the the tour board from her position as a Player Director.

In January 2020, Armas returned to the LET as the CEO and made her mark by increasing the number of tournaments and doubling purses during her time at the top. She also oversaw the LET's joint venture with the LPGA—where talks of a potential merger had been echoed but never came to fruition.

RELATED: Women’s golf tour unification has been discussed for years, is now the time?

In the a public release announcing her departure, Armas said, "It has been an honour to serve as CEO of the Ladies European Tour and to contribute to the advancement of women’s golf. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together—from expanding the schedule and prize funds to building a stronger, more sustainable future through international collaboration. I want to thank the players, partners, board members, and the exceptional team at the LET for their support, passion, and commitment."

When she took over as CEO, the LET was playing for €18 million in over 24 events for the season. In 2025, the LET is playing for €39 million across 30 events.

Alexandra Armas (left) pictured with Chiara Tamburlini and Trichat Cheenglab. Credit: Tristan Jones/LET.

Plans of who will replace Armas have yet to be announced, but the same firm that led the search for the LPGA's new commissioner has been enlisted to help find her successor.

What does this mean for the LPGA?

Well, the news that the same folks who helped put together the committee to hire Kessler have been retained feels like a great way to remain unified in terms of women's golf leadership. Though the LET is it's own tour, it's still largely linked and connected to the LPGA—it's leaders should remain on the same page, and potentially reintroduce the vote for unification that's been delayed since November 2023.

Interim LPGA commissioner Liz Moore said in the release, "Alex has been a transformative force for the LET and for women’s golf globally. Her leadership over the past six years has brought meaningful progress—not just in terms of increased purses and expanded playing opportunities—but in building a collaborative, international vision for women’s professional golf. She’s helped shape the LPGA-LET Joint Venture and her legacy will be characterised by growth, inclusion, global ambition and deep care."

Finding someone to fill Armas' shoes feels just as important as finding the new commissioner—and let the search begin.