Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko weigh in on what they’d like to see in next LPGA commissioner

NAPLES, Fla. – Twenty-two days ago, LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan was giving a state of the tour press conference at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. Now, as LPGA players gather once again at Tiburon Golf Club, this time for the mixed team Grant Thornton Invitational, much has changed.

Marcoux Samaan has announced her resignation, which goes into effect Jan. 9, and the process is underway to find a replacement. Liz Moore, the LPGA's Chief Legal and Technology Officer and Corporate Secretary, will assume the role of Interim Commissioner.

As the tour prepares to celebrate 75 years next season, Golfweek caught up with several players to find out what traits they’d like to see in the tour’s 10th commissioner:

Nelly Korda

I’m never going to talk poorly about anyone. I got along really well with Mollie, but I think it’s a great time to capitalize on the trend in women’s sport, and hopefully we do that.

(On traits she’d like to see in the next commissioner)

I would have to think about it. Obviously, someone that has had a lot of experience in this field. And someone that knows how to talk to people the right way to get attention and more investment into the game of golf.

Lydia Ko

"I believe that with the help of our board and the player directors and the whole search committee, we're going to find the right commissioner for us right now. I think who is the commissioner really depends on where golf is in general. We're at a very different place on the LPGA now in 2024 to when we were during COVID, and even the time when Mike came along. It just has to be somebody that fits the situation for right now.

"I think not only golf, but women's sport is in such a good spot that I feel like we don't need a lot of push, it's kind of trending on its own. So somebody that just really understands the complexities of it. And, I mean, I've never been the commissioner so I can't speak entirely for one, but it seems like almost an impossible job really."

Mel Reid

"Listen, it’s no easy feat being the commissioner of the LPGA. I think somebody that has a business head, a very modernized marketing head and a very personal person, which I think having those three attributes is tricky to find, but I think they’re certainly out there, and I think someone is up for the challenge."

Megan Khang

"You know, I would love to see this new commissioner be more proactive in the sense that, you know, with new sponsors, not quite kissing up to them, but kind of seeing what else we can do as a tour to help promote their events or even just kind of get more news about it … just being able to have open communication and be up front of about what we want. In a sense, being a little more, not demanding, but know kind of what the LPGA’s worth is."

Ashleigh Buhai

"I think they need to come in and have a clear vision of what they would like to bring to the table. An understanding of the relationship with sponsorship that needs to happen, and maybe give us their ideas of how they would like to grow the LPGA.

"They need to have trust with the players. Trust, communication and vision for players.

"I think those are the three big things that players are looking for."

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LPGA stars weigh in on what they’d like to see in next commissioner