PGA of America CEO Stepping Down After Less Than a Year—For a Noble Reason

Derek Sprague took over as the PGA of America’s CEO last January when the board decided to go with an internal hire instead of the man Seth Waugh was envisioning for the role, Craig Kessler, who is now the LPGA commissioner. But on Wednesday, the PGA of America announced that Sprague would be stepping down.

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"At my daughter's wedding last month in upstate New York, it became clear that my family needs me nearby to assist with the care of my mother and mother-in-law," Sprague said in a statement. "Focusing on family has become my priority, and the best decision for me is to step away from my role as CEO and return home to be with them."

Sprague will maintain an advisory role to help with the transition when the PGA of America finds his replacement, something it hopes to announce in the coming weeks.

Rory McIlroy recently said he received a “lovely email” from Strague to apologize for what he and his wife had to go through at Bethpage Black from unruly Ryder Cup fans.

"I got a lovely email from Derek Sprague apologizing," McIlroy told BBC Sport at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. "Erica worked with Derek at the PGA of America back in the day, so we know Derek and his wife pretty well. He couldn't have been more gracious or apologetic and he wrote us a lovely letter, which we really appreciated."

Sprague, a former PGA president, was inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2019.

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