European Tour leader O’Grady to step down

Virginia Water, England (SportsNetwork.com) – George O’Grady, the chief executive of the European Tour, has announced his intention to step down.

O’Grady has been with the tour for over 40 years, and has been the chief executive since 2005. He will remain in place until his successor takes office.

Since the creation of the European Tour in 1971, O’Grady was just the third chief executive. He followed John Jacobs and Ken Schofield, who led the tour from 1975 to 2005.

“In the aftermath of what I believe to have been the best presented Ryder Cup since my first involvement in the contest at Royal Lytham in 1977, I felt this was the right time to ask the Board (of Directors) to begin the search for my successor,” O’Grady said in a statement Wednesday. “It is my firm belief that, coming towards the end of what has been another incredibly successful season, we are now seeing the green shoots of recovery across Europe and I am pleased that this coincides with all our building blocks, in terms of key television and sponsorship contracts, being in place.

“I have agreed with the Board to stay not only for the time it takes to appoint a new CEO, but also for sufficient additional time after that to see them properly settled in. The Board also agreed that, at that stage, I will take up a role as President of International Relations which will see me represent The European Tour through the Olympic Games in 2016.”

O’Grady led the implementation of the Race to Dubai and the Finals Series, and also helped the process of reinstating golf into the Olympics.

Categorized in: PGA