Samaan Commissioner Leaves LPGA

Resignation Intent Announced via Statement, Farewell on January 9 Next Year
Third Shortest Tenure in History, Total Prize Money Grows 90%
"Parting to Support Children's Dreams"

Molly Markus Samaan, commissioner of the United States Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, is stepping down.

Molly Markus Samaan LPGA Tour Commissioner

Commissioner Samaan announced her resignation on the 2nd (local time) in a statement, saying, "It is time to devote more time to supporting my three children as they pursue their dreams." Commissioner Samaan will bid farewell on January 9 next year, just before the opening event of the 2025 LPGA Tour season. Until a successor commissioner is appointed, Liz Moore, the director of legal and technical affairs, will serve as acting commissioner. Since becoming the 9th head of the LPGA Tour in May 2021, Commissioner Samaan will have served the third shortest term in history.

She took office amid the global spread of COVID-19, which greatly impacted the tour, but left a legacy of increasing the total prize money of the LPGA Tour by a remarkable 90% compared to before her tenure. In particular, next year, the LPGA Tour will offer a record total prize money of $131 million and hold 35 tournaments. The LPGA Tour explained, "In 2021, when Commissioner Samaan took office, the average prize money earnings of players ranked within the top 100 was $570,000, but this year it has risen to $1 million."

Commissioner Samaan not only increased prize money but also provided medical coverage to LPGA Tour players for the first time in history and regularized consolation payments to players who were 'cut off.' She also significantly improved player welfare by subsidizing travel expenses for tournament participation. She said, "I will continue to pursue my passion for nurturing leaders, uniting communities, and creating value through women's sports."