Guardian: George O'Grady Stepping Down As Euro Tour Head
/Ewan Murray reports from Shanghai that George O'Grady will be stepping down as European Tour chief executive.
Murray notes that the 65-year-old O'Grady has been a "notably peripheral figure" in public recently despite holding the tour together admirably while Europe is mired in the economic doldrums.
The Guardian can reveal he has decided that both he and the Tour are in need of a fresh start, with a formal announcement thought to have been scheduled for the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai this month. The European Tour refused to comment on Tuesday but may be forced to issue clarification before this week is out.
**PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem statement on George O’Grady retiring:
On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I want to congratulate George O’Grady on his exemplary 40-year career with the European Tour and thank him for his extraordinary leadership in the world of golf.
Under George’s direction and vision, the European Tour dramatically expanded the growth of golf around the world, bringing the game to vast audiences and influencing the development and popularity of golf across the globe. The introduction of the season-long Race to Dubai in 2009 brought an exciting and meaningful conclusion to the European Tour season each year and put an exclamation point on the dramatic growth in earnings opportunities for European Tour members under George’s leadership.
George has been a great friend and collaborator to all professional tours through his active participation and leadership within the International Federation of PGA Tours and the growth of the World Golf Championships. And I think it is safe to say that golf’s inclusion in the Olympics would not have been possible without George’s leadership, vision and partnership in growing the game around the world.
George’s true measure as a leader is reflected in the fact that he leaves the European Tour in a vastly better position than when he began his tenure. All of us at the PGA TOUR wish George and the European Tour well in accomplishing a smooth transition. We’re delighted George will continue his involvement and leadership with respect to golf’s return to the Olympics in 2016. Given George’s accomplishments and contributions to the game of golf, we value his presence in our sport going forward.
**The European Tour confirms the Guardian report and that O'Grady will stay in the job until a successor is found by a, gulp, task force:
George O’Grady, Chief Executive of the PGA European Tour has today confirmed that he has asked The Board of Directors to begin the process to appoint his successor.
The Nominations Committee, chaired by David Jones, has been tasked with recruiting the new Chief Executive as the Board looks to implement its growth strategy and build on the firm traditions and relationships of The European Tour. The search is at an early stage.
An announcement about this process had originally been planned for the week of The DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, the season ending finale of The 2014 Race to Dubai, but recent media speculation has hastened that process, although no further comment will be made by The European Tour or its Board of Directors until during that event.
O’Grady – who will remain in his position until his successor takes office – became only the third Chief Executive in The European Tour’s history on January 1, 2005, succeeding John Jacobs, who supervised the Tour’s formative years from 1971 to 1974 and Ken Schofield, who took over the reins on January 1, 1975.
He has been with The European Tour for over 40 years and during this time he has been instrumental in its development. In his role as Chief Executive, he has led a number of key initiatives including the implementation of The Race To Dubai and The Final Series, overseeing the significant growth of The Ryder Cup, securing key TV and sponsorship agreements, helping the process which saw golf reinstated in the Olympic Games, and instigating strong relationships with golfing bodies and fellow Tours across the globe.
George O’Grady commented: “In the aftermath of what I believe to have been the best presented Ryder Cup since my first involvement in the contest at Royal Lytham in 1977, I felt this was the right time to ask the Board to begin the search for my successor.
“It is my firm belief that, coming towards the end of what has been another incredibly successful season, we are now seeing the green shoots of recovery across Europe and I am pleased that this coincides with all our building blocks, in terms of key television and sponsorship contracts, being in place.
“I have agreed with the Board to stay not only for the time it takes to appoint a new CEO but also for sufficient additional time after that to see them properly settled in. The Board also agreed that, at that stage, I will take up a role as President of International Relations which will see me represent The European Tour through the Olympic Games in 2016.”
David Williams, Chairman of The European Tour, commented: “On behalf of the Board and all of the Members of The European Tour I would like to thank George for his contribution to The European Tour and professional golf generally over the last 40 years.
“The European Tour and its players are admired throughout the world of golf and George has played a key part in building global relationships and developing the Tour. He has always respected the traditions of the Tour and built on the strong foundations put in place by John Jacobs, Neil Coles and Ken Schofield.
“The Tour is now embarking on a new phase in its development and that is why George has considered that it is the right time to ask the Nominations Committee to find his successor.”
**Doug Ferguson from Shanghai with this story and flashback to a key moment in O'Grady's reign.
With more players heading for America, the European Tour bumped up the required number of events for its members from 11 to 13 to beef up support.
A critical point was in 2006 at La Costa for the Match Play Championship, where O'Grady assembled two dozen European players in the field for a meeting to allow them to share ideas on keeping the European circuit strong. He said the central message that night was that the "European Tour is worth fighting for."
