New LPGA Tour Commissioner Announced

Today, the LPGA Tour announced that Michael Whan, former president and chief executive officer of Mission-Itech Hockey, will begin serving as commissioner in January 2010.

This past July, former commissioner Carolyn Bivens stepped down from her position, after the LPGA Tour continuously lost numerous sponsors in recent times.

Marty Evans, a member of the LPGA board of directors, has been serving as acting commissioner ever since.

Whan, a former marketing executive in golf, working for both TaylorMade and Wilson in the past, will be primarily focused on rebuilding the LPGA Tour's relationships with sponsors during the beginning of 2010.

Evans is looking forward to Whan's future with the tour.

"The LPGA Tour is a resurging, resilient association, and Mike will be a leader around which the wonderful LPGA staff and all of our stakeholders will rally," said Evans. "I'm looking forward to working closely with him during the (upcoming) transition period as we celebrate the close of a tremendous season and look forward to the LPGA's 60th year in 2010."

Finally, Whan believes that he will be able to instill some of his greatest life passions through his new role with the LPGA Tour.

"It is rare to work for an organization that combines all the passions in your life, but with the LPGA, I feel I've been presented with the unique opportunity to do just that," said Whan. "First, this is an association surrounded by passionate, value-driven people. Secondly, I'm energized by brand building and the work involved in marketing and growing a sport. Thirdly, I simply love the game of golf - both the life lessons it teaches and the friendships it helps creates."

During the coming months, Whan will certainly have opportunities to live out his passions while helping the LPGA Tour continue to succeed well into the future.

Daly Decides to Return to Tournament Action Earlier Than Expected

(John Daly, Loudmouth Pants and all, expects to play in the

PGA TOUR's Viking Classic, starting October 29th)

Ever since withdrawing from this year's PGA Championship, John Daly has not played competitive golf. However, that is all about to change in a little less than two weeks.

During the last couple months, Daly has been recovering from a rib injury he first sustained at the 2007 Honda Classic. Daly's quick recovery is mainly due to stem cell surgery, allowing him to play three professional tournaments around the world before the beginning of 2010.

Along with the PGA TOUR's Viking Classic at Annandale Golf Course in Madison, Mississippi, Daly is also expected to play in both the Australian Open and the Australian PGA Championship in December.

Two-time PGA TOUR winner Will MacKenzie hopes to successfully defend the Viking Classic, which begins on October 29th. Daly has played in the Viking Classic six times during his career, including the last three years. Last year, Daly finished T-40th in the event.

In the meantime, Daly's play in last year's Australian Open was rather controversial after he threw a spectator's camera against a tree during tournament play. The spectator was supposedly taking pictures of Daly continuously even after Daly asked him to stop. During the three tournaments he played in Australia, Daly missed the cut three times. He will hope to improve his record in Australia this year.

Daly will play in the Australian Open from December 3rd - 6th at the New South Wales Golf Club at La Perouse in Sydney and in the Australian PGA Championship the following week at the Hyatt Regency Coolum Course in Queensland.

According to Viking Classic tournament director Randy Watkins, Daly was added to the Viking Classic field for various reasons despite not having full-time status on the PGA TOUR for the past three seasons.

"John has been a loyal participant here," said Watkins. "People want to see John Daly play...I want people to come watch golf and, right now, John Daly is a bigger draw than anybody."

John Daly's Conclusion to 2009 Season

~ Viking Classic - October 29th - November 1st

~ Australian Open - December 3rd - 6th

~ Australian PGA Championship - December 10th - 13th

Phil Mickelson Ends Season on a High Note, Prepares for 2010

(2009 TOUR Championship Winner Phil Mickelson with Tiger Woods)

Years from now, Phil Mickelson will remember 2009 not for the three PGA TOUR victories he obtained, but for the challenges his mother and wife endured while fighting and defeating breast cancer.

The year was one of off-course struggles and on-course triumphs for Mickelson and, fittingly, he ended the season a high note - with a three stroke victory over long-time rival and world number one Tiger Woods.

While Woods obtained the $10 million FedEx Cup prize, Mickelson captured what Woods was truly seeking - another PGA TOUR victory.

The win was Mickelson's third of the season (Northern Trust Open and World Golf Championship - CA Championship) and first in THE TOUR Championship since 2000. With the 37th PGA TOUR victory of his career, Mickelson seems poised for success in 2010.

While finishing in second-place in the 2009 FedEx Cup race and obtaining second-place in the World Golf Rankings once again, Mickelson owes some of his recent success to Dave Stockton, the two-time PGA Champion who helped Mickelson with his putting stroke during the past week.

Two weeks ago, Mickelson was searching for a method to improve his putting, an aspect of his game which has been rather inconsistent this season, leading to some of Mickelson's dissapointing finishes in 2009. After speaking with his long-time caddy Jim "Bones" McKay, Mickelson decided to talk to Dave Stockton, one of the most talented short game experts in the game.

With Stockton's help, Mickelson shot 66 and 65 during the last two rounds of THE TOUR Championship to defeat Woods by three shots and Sean O'Hair by four.

With his wife and mother's improving health, Mickelson will once again be able to focus entirely on his golf game during the off-season and in 2010. As Mickelson returns to prominence, his fellow PGA TOUR competitors and fans will not be surprised if he captures his first major championship since the 2006 Masters, quite likely at Augusta National.

There would be no sweeter major championship victory for Mickelson than to have his healthy wife and mother with him next April as he tries on his third green jacket.