By: Fred Altvater
When you start a new high-profile job, you want to make a big impression, especially when you are Michael Whan coming into a situation with an old guard USGA membership that is ready to jump on any mistake and crucify you, before you even get started.
Whan, who last year left the LPGA as the most successful chief executive that organization has ever seen, just hit a home run with the recent announcement that ProMedica has partnered with the USGA to sponsor the U.S. Women’s Open.
This is a stroke of genius for Michael, the USGA and women’s sports in general.
Toledo-based Promedica’s partnership with the USGA will immediately raise the total purse for the U.S. Women’s Open to $10 million, nearly double last year’s purse of $5.5 million. Promedica is also guaranteeing the U.S. Women’s Open total prize money will increase to $12 million over the next five years. For that largesse, they become the presenting sponsor of the U.S. Women’s Open, which will make it the most prestigious women’s golf event in the world, by a significant margin.
ProMedica, a mission-based, not-for-profit integrated health and well-being organization, serves communities in 28 states. In addition to the U.S. Women’s Open presenting sponsorship, ProMedica becomes the official health and well-being partner of the USGA.
Back 9 Report talked with Promedica’s CEO Randy Oostra during the Solheim Cup last September. He stressed their commitment to and the importance of sports activities to health and wellness of kids, as well as, the general population. Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/sZZGcyiTL7Q
The U.S. Women’s Open has been a women’s major championship for 75 years and the 2022 championship will be conducted, June 2-5 at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina.
This agreement also guarantees that the U.S. Women’s Open will continue to be held at the most prestigious golf clubs in the nation. Future sites include; Pebble Beach, Erin Hills, Riviera, Oakmont, Pinehurst, Oakland Hills and fabled Merion.
Coming off the Solheim Cup’s huge success, The Inverness Club has been chosen to host the 2027 U.S. Women’s Open. Inverness has been the site of several high-profile men’s tournaments over the years. It has hosted four U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships, as well as, two U.S. Senior Opens. The 1973 U.S. Amateur, won by Craig Stadler, was held at Inverness, plus it will be the host club for the 2029 U.S. Amateur.
Michael Whan said,
“While I’m incredibly proud of what we are announcing today, I know this is just the beginning, as together with ProMedica, we’ll push to change the game and what it means to young women worldwide in order to reach new heights every year.”
The joint partnership is committed to highlight the importance of addressing health inequities across the United States, which will include sharing the personal stories of golfers and USGA competitors nationwide, who have used golf as a means to a healthier lifestyle.
ProMedica will also utilize this global stage to generate charitable dollars for its ProMedica Impact Fund, which will become the official charity of the U.S. Women’s Open. The Fund is committed to raising more than $1 billion to invest in grants, impact investments, plus research and learning activities, designed to improve individual and community health.
“You simply cannot talk about improving the health and well-being of all individuals without talking about the disproportionate impact of social determinants of health on women. The U.S. Women’s Open is a perfect platform for bringing this message to a much broader audience,” said Oostra.
This agreement makes a big splash for new USGA Chief Executive, Michael Whan and it moves women’s golf one step closer to gaining parity with the men’s game. In addition, ProMedica gains a national stage to promote Health and Wellness, particularly for women.
