USGA Set To Nominate Second Female President, Mask Nominating Committee Politics By Eliminating VP's

Ron Sirak reports that the United States Golf Association is set to elevate Vice President Diana Murphy and more bizarrely, no longer announce vice presidential figures after numerous painfully embarrassing line-of-succession pass-overs by the nominating committee. (Most recently Dan Burton joined the whoops-in-hindsight hall of fame already occupied by the likes of Rains, James and several others.)

Sirak writes:

Sources familiar with the situation tell GolfDigest.com that a change was made in the USGA bylaws so that, going forward, the new president can be anyone on the 15-member Executive Committee.

The sources say the change was made to avoid the embarrassing situation that has happened several times in which the seeming heir-apparent for the president’s post has fallen out of favor with the Nominating Committee and was passed over.

Under the new system, there will be no distinguishable line of succession.

The majority of golfers could care less if there is a line of succession in place, particularly after the decision last week to annoy their core consituency of handicap-posting golfers.

But add this to the list of trial evidence that (A) the USGA Executive Committee determined to conduct even more business in secrecy, (B) is even more willing than ever to hand power to its nominating committee by leaving open the opportunity to ascend to the presidency with little time on the Executive Committee.

As for Murphy, the same person who proudly announced the USGA's 12-year television deal with Fox as a "game-changer" feels the broadcast needs improving.

Sources close to the situation say Murphy, who has business experience and an education in communications, is committed to working intensely with Fox to make the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont C.C. in Pennsylvania significantly better.

Fun times!