Nelly Korda issues verdict on departing LPGA Tour commissioner

World No.1 Nelly Korda has given her verdict on what qualities she would like to see in the next commissioner of the LPGA Tour after Mollie Marcoux Samaan unexpectedly quit. 

Samaan confirmed last week she was stepping down from the role following an up-and-down year for women's golf. 

Prize purses in the women's game rose to record levels but Samaan, at times, attracted considerable criticism. 

Chief of which was the logistical debacle at the 2024 Solheim Cup in September that saw spectators waiting for hours to gain access for the course on day one. 

Samaan blamed insufficient planning on what transpired at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia but ultimately accepted full responsibility. 

"I need to own that," she said. 

Samaan also attracted criticism over how the LPGA handled its gender policy. 

The LPGA Tour have now updated their policy that will exclude players who have gone through male puberty from women's events. 

Korda told Golfweek before the Grant Thornton Invitational that she was not going to speak 'ill' of Samaan and she got along well with here. 

She added: "But I think it’s a great time to capitalize on the trend in women’s sport, and hopefully we do that."

Asked what she would like to see in Samaan's successor, she said: "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."

Samaan will officially step down from the role on 9 January 2025. 

Her contract ran through to 2026. Liz Moore, the LPGA's chief legal officer, will replace her until her successor is found. 

Samaan took over the role in 2021 after serving as the athletic director at Princeton. 

In her resignation statement, she did not indicate what she plans to do next. 

"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," she said. 

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