Kinnings Named European Tour Deputy CEO And Ryder Cup Director

Replacing the retiring and superb Richard Hill, the European Tour has named longtime IMG agent Guy Kinnings their Deputy CEO and Ryder Cup Director.

Kinnings was a candidate for the Chief Executive job race ultimately won by Keith Pelley, making the appointment a tad eye-opening. As Golfweek's Alistair Tait notes, this positions Kinnings to be the next European Tour head.

Kinnings’ appointment should provide a seamless future for the Tour when Pelley moves on. The Canadian hasn’t averaged long in his previous roles with Rogers Media, Canada’s Olympic broadcast media consortium and the Toronto Argonauts. Pelley was challenged at two board meetings last year about his long-term future with the tour, amid concerns his tenure was going to be shorter rather than longer.