The LPGA Tour’s season opener was meant to kick off the year on a high note. Instead, it ended with frustration, tough questions and now a public apology from commissioner Craig Kessler.
High winds on Saturday followed by freezing temperatures early Sunday led officials to cancel the final round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona in Orlando. The tournament was officially shortened to 54 holes, a call that immediately drew criticism from players who questioned why the LPGA didn’t push the final round to Monday, when conditions were expected to improve.
Kessler later admitted the Tour was not properly prepared to adjust the schedule.
“We were not prepared fully for Monday. In hindsight if we can do it over again there are a number of creative solutions that absolutely could have worked. We should have explored those and been more prepared. We weren’t,” he said.
With the event ending early, Korda was declared the winner after her third round 8 under 64 put her three shots clear at the top. It marked her first LPGA victory in over a year.
Kessler also sent a letter to players explaining that concerns over player safety influenced the decision, saying cold overnight temperatures had hardened the course
“I made the decision to limit the event to 54 holes, worried that our athletes might be injured given the way record overnight low temperatures hardened the course. While the decision was a tough one and ran counter to prior statements we shared I made a judgement call. With the benefit of hindsight there were clearly other ways we should have managed the situation,” he wrote.
He added that the LPGA will work on clearer contingency plans for extreme weather and improve how quickly and clearly decisions are communicated.
The LPGA Tour returns to action later this month at the Honda LPGA Thailand, with hopes of avoiding another disrupted finish so early in the season.
LPGA brings in Chad Coleman to lead marketing and fan engagement
As the LPGA continues to make changes on and off the course, the Tour has also strengthened its leadership team by appointing Chad Coleman as its new Chief Marketing Officer.
Coleman will handle the LPGA’s marketing, branding, communications, content and fan engagement strategy. His main focus will be on growing the audience and connecting with younger fans around the world. He officially began the role on February 3 and will report directly to Commissioner Craig Kessler.
Announcing the move, Kessler praised Coleman’s background and vision.
“Chad is a proven brand builder with a rare combination of deep golf knowledge, strong industry relationships, and modern content expertise. He understands how to scale platforms, tell compelling stories, and connect with fans in authentic ways, especially younger audiences. As we continue to build momentum and invest in visibility and storytelling, Chad’s experience and creative instincts will be a tremendous asset to the LPGA,” Kessler said.
Coleman brings around 15 years of experience in building major sports and entertainment brands. Most recently he worked as chief brand officer at YouTube sensation Dude Perfect, where he helped grow the platform’s global fanbase to more than 120 million followers and oversaw content that reached over 20 billion views.
Before that, he spent eight years at Callaway Golf, leading social media efforts and brand partnerships, helping the company expand its digital presence within the golf world.
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