Liz Moore to serve as Interim Commissioner while Association begins global search

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Dec. 2, 2024 – The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) announced today that LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan will be stepping down from her role effective January 9, 2025. Liz Moore will assume the role of Interim Commissioner, working closely with Marcoux Samaan, the LPGA Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors to ensure a seamless transition. The LPGA Board of Directors will work with an executive search firm to conduct a global search for the organization’s next commissioner.

“On behalf of the LPGA Board, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mollie for her exceptional dedication and passion in advancing the Association’s reach and impact,” said LPGA Board Chair John B. Veihmeyer. “Since joining the LPGA in 2021, Mollie has been instrumental in solidifying our position as the global leader in women’s professional golf, realizing record growth in player earnings and fan engagement. Mollie has been a steadfast advocate for equity in the sport and has worked tirelessly to expand opportunities for women and girls through the game. I am confident that the LPGA is well-positioned for continued success as we build on the growth trajectory of the past three and a half years of Mollie’s leadership. We deeply appreciate the lasting impact of Mollie’s many contributions.”

“I thank Chairman John Veihmeyer and the rest of the LPGA Board for trusting me to serve as the ninth Commissioner of the LPGA,” said Marcoux Samaan. “In this role, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside a remarkable community of athletes, teachers, partners, tournament operators, industry colleagues, media, fans, volunteers, and staff who share a deep commitment to growing the LPGA and using the organization’s unique platform to empower and advance women and girls. I am proud of the unprecedented growth the LPGA has enjoyed since I began my tenure. The strategy we have built for growth and impact along with the infrastructure we have added to capitalize on the tremendous opportunity ahead will serve the LPGA well in the coming decades. With the LPGA positioned for continued growth, it’s time for me to have more time to cheer on our three amazing children as they live their dreams while I continue to pursue my passion for building leaders, uniting communities and creating value through sports, particularly women’s sports.”

Marcoux Samaan’s tenure as the LPGA’s ninth Commissioner, beginning in 2021, marked the largest period of growth in the history of the organization. Under her leadership, the LPGA’s prize fund increased by over 90%, and athlete earnings reached record highs, with average earnings for the top 100 players doubling from just over $570,000 in 2021, to more than $1 million in 2024. She prioritized athlete well-being and performance by adding missed-cut stipends, domestic travel stipends, access to mental health and physical performance resources, and fully-subsidized healthcare insurance, benefits previously unavailable to LPGA athletes. Off the course, the LPGA achieved record fan engagement, with global audiences hitting all-time highs in 2024 and strategic partnerships enhancing fan understanding and growth. Additionally, the LPGA Foundation experienced unprecedented success, with record fundraising and participation, resulting in more girls and women than ever playing golf and learning the game from LPGA teaching professionals.

Liz Moore currently serves as the Chief Legal and Technology Officer and Corporate Secretary of the LPGA, where she has led legal and technology teams for more than a decade and is spearheading the organization’s digital transformation. In her role, Moore has been an integral part of all aspects of the association’s business and has extensive knowledge of every significant transaction in which the LPGA is involved. A graduate of the University of Kentucky and Stetson University College of Law, she is also Chair of the Ladies European Tour joint venture board and primary liaison to the LPGA’s international business offices in Europe and Asia.