There have been a lot of changes in the PGA Tour in recent times. With Greg Norman & LIV Golf breathing down their neck, the American League has had to take some tough steps in order to get their affairs right.

From new formats, new policies, the PGA Tour Studios, and TGL, to their search for a CEO. Even when it comes to the PGA of America, fans have witnessed major developments in the past few weeks. the most notable one being the compensation provided to the Team U.S. players for their participation in the Ryder Cup.

Now, there is another development at the headquarters as announced by the organization. As per the latest reports, the PGA of America has hired a new CEO to replace Seth Waugh. The man in question who is going to take up the mantle is the former President of the PGA of America; Derek Sprague. Derek is set to take office soon and lead the for-profit organization in their future endeavors.

But what else do we know about Derek Sprague other than him being a former President of the establishment? Well, according to his LinkedIn profile, he is currently positioned as the General Manager of TPC Sawgrass under the PGA Tour, which is different from the PGA of America. It is safe to assume that Derek was able to fulfill his responsibilities really well as he has held this position for nearly 7 years since January 2018.

Prior to that, he worked as the President of the PGA of America. Derek had two stints in the position, the first was from November 2014-16. During his second run in office, he was named the Honorary President from November 2016-18. Ironically, his role allowed him to manage the CEO of the organization back then. Fans would be pleased to know that Derek comes with such a vast range of experience.

Sprague also served at the Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was there for two years from January 2016 to November 2017 where he took up a lot of responsibilities. Interestingly, his role in this golf club coincided with his role as a President at the PGA of America for a short period of about 10 months. Astonishingly, his longest stint in an organization lasted for 27 years. Something the younger generation might not be familiar with, Derek was a loyal General Manager at the Malone Golf Club from January 1989 to January 2016.

There is no question that Derek Sprague comes with loads of experience under his belt. The fact that he was also the person who managed the current position he is hired for is what makes him a superb candidate for the role of the CEO of the PGA of America. Especially when the organization is going through so much criticism for its actions.

But how did he get here? Going back to his LinkedIn profile shows that he had completed his degree from James Madison University College of Business in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He was in college from 1985 to 1988 and achieved a Bachelor’s in Marketing during his time there. According to his Facebook profile, he did his schooling at Franklin Academy High School.

Derek has also been endorsed quite often by his associates. He has been acknowledged for sports marketing, sports, & golf over a hundred times. Sprague is also considered excellent in event planning & management by his acquaintances. There is no surprise that he is also highly rated in the sports management category.

That’s all that we could find about the professional life of the incoming CEO of the PGA of America, Derek Sprague. But what about his personal life? Let’s find out.

Family, friends, & close associates of Derek Sprague

There is not much information available about Derek Sprague’s personal life online. However, we were able to get a few pictures of his family. It seems he and his wife, Jennifer L. Sprague have two children, a son and a daughter. His son’s name is Davis Sprague while his daughter is Alexandra Sprague. Based on the timeline of their graduation pictures, there might be 3 years of difference between the two siblings. Davis Sprague graduated in 2015, while Alexandra earned her certificate in 2018.

Derek Sprague also seems to be a close associate with PGA golf professional Jason Polka. There is no record of him being a player, but he seems to have worked in the headquarters alongside Derek over the years. Other than that, on his social media, there are quite a few pictures of snow and skiing while captions also talk about the same. It may seem like Sprague enjoys skiing and loves to visit ski resorts.

What changes do you think Derek Sprague should bring to the league once he officially becomes the CEO of the PGA of America? Share your views in the comments section.