Haigh Named PGA of America's Chief Championships Officer


Kerry Haigh, widely recognized as one of the leading authorities in tournament golf course set-ups and operations, has been named chief championships officer of the PGA of America.

Haigh, who joined the PGA in 1989, was most recently the association's managing director of Championships and Business Development. He will continue to lead the overall operation, administration, golf course set-up and success of the PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, Senior PGA Championship and PGA Grand Slam of Golf. His responsibilities also include managing more than 20 PGA cub professional, amateur and junior tournaments throughout the year.

"The golf industry looks to Kerry Haigh as an innovator and a master of championship set-up and management, and we are delighted that he will continue to lead the way," said Pete Bevacqua, chief executive officer of the PGA of America.

After graduating from the University of Leeds, Haigh worked for the Professional Golfers' Association in Great Britain, organizing events throughout Europe. In 1984, he became a tournament official for the LPGA Tour, working more than 30 tournaments a year. In 1988, he was hired by KemperSports to be the tournament director for the 1989 PGA Championship, held at Kemper Lakes in Chicago.

Following the 1989 PGA Championship, Haigh was hired by the PGA of America to oversee the entire Tournament Department. Promoted to managing director in 2004, he is widely considered one of the foremost experts on the Rules of Golf.

"Kerry is such an incredibly valuable leader on our team, and the PGA is most fortunate to have him as the caretaker of our championships," added Darrell Crall, the PGA of America's chief operating officer.

"It is an honor to be named chief championships officer for the PGA of America," said Haigh. "The PGA stages some of the most compelling and drama-packed championships in all of golf. It is a privilege to manage these prestigious, world-class competitions that feature the finest players in the game."

In addition to naming Haigh chief championships officer, the PGA of America promoted Kevin Carter to serve as managing director of Business Development. While serving as its senior director since 2006, Carter has steered the PGA's continued relationships with an extensive list of sponsors, partners and licensees, including Official Patron sponsorships with American Express, Mercedes-Benz, OMEGA and RBC.

The above report is courtesy of the PGA of America. For more information, visit www.pga.com.