A legendary golfer is endorsing a candidate for LPGA commissioner. Annika Sorenstam, a 72-time winner on the LPGA Tour, is backing former Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott for the role, which became vacant last month after Mollie Marcoux-Samaan stepped down following over three years in the position.
In an interview with Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal, Sorenstam highlighted Scott’s experience as chairman and CEO of the WTA, where he significantly increased player purses during his tenure, alongside his notable achievements as Pac-12 commissioner. “He was a very respected leader around the world when he ran the WTA. He secured the largest women’s sponsorship deal in history and brought their purses close to equality with the men,” Sorenstam said. “Additionally, he initiated the Pac-12 Network during his time as Commissioner. He has strong relationships with sponsors and the gravitas that commands respect in any room, qualities that are essential for this role.”
However, Scott faced criticism as commissioner of the Pac-12, with many attributing the conference’s struggles to his management. Critics point to his decision to launch the Pac-12 Network without a broadcast partner, a unique choice for a conference-affiliated network, which led to significant setbacks in securing important carriage agreements with distributors such as DirecTV, falling behind peers in media rights as a result.
Despite these challenges, Scott possesses a strong track record as a sports executive, and his success with the WTA remains an attractive prospect for the LPGA as the Tour aims to expand its presence in the sport of golf.
