The USGA is set to nominate a woman to become its president for just the second time in its 121-year history.
Diana Murphy will be put forth by the USGA's powerful Nominating Committee to succeed Thomas O'Toole as association president, the USGA announced Monday.
Murphy, currently a vice president, would join Judy Bell, who was president in 1996-97, as the only women to hold the position. Bell took the reins from Murphy's now husband, Reg, who was president from 1994-95. Murphy, who lives on St. Simons Island, Ga., is managing director of a private equity firm and heads a venture capital fund. Previously, she spent 15 years with The Baltimore Sun Company
According to a Golf Digest report, Murphy's presidency was made possible by a change made to the USGA bylaws allowing any member on body's 15-person Executive Committee, like Murphy has been for the last five years, to be nominated for and become president. The change was reportedly made to avoid more situations where the seeming heir-apparent to the presidency is passed over for the job by the Nominating Committee for political or personal reasons.
Murphy will formally become president at the USGA Annual Meeting in San Diego in February, when the full voting membership will convene.
