San Diego, United States: Diana M. Murphy has been elected to serve a one-year term as the 64th President of the United States Golf Association (USGA), which together with The R&A governs the game worldwide.
The election of officers and the 15-member USGA Executive Committee also took place during the USGA Annual Meeting.
As President, Murphy assumes the leadership of the more than 300 professional staff and nearly 1,200 volunteers who serve on more than 30 USGA committees.
“Although golf will always face challenges, the great golfers – such as Bob Jones, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and my dear friend Louise Suggs – had one trait in common: they were optimistic about their games and the game,” said Murphy after her election. “It is a time for all of us, together, to be positive about golf and act accordingly.”
Murphy has been formally associated with the USGA since 1996, when she began a 12-year tenure on the USGA Membership Committee. She joined the Executive Committee in 2011, and has chaired several committees, including the Championship (2015), Commercial (2012-13), Compensation (2014-15), Finance (2012-14) and US Senior Amateur Championship (2014) committees. She was elected Treasurer in 2013 and Vice President in 2014 and 2015.
Murphy, 59, is the Managing Director of Rocksolid Holdings, LLC, a private-equity firm focused on small business and real estate. She is also Managing Director of the Georgia Research Alliance Venture Fund, which supports the state’s public and private research universities.
Murphy earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from West Virginia University in 1978 and holds an advanced executive business degree from Northwestern University.
She is the second woman in the association’s 121-year history to serve as President, following Judy Bell.
Two other current members of the Executive Committee have been elected to serve as officers – Sheila Johnson, continuing as Secretary, and George Still Jr as Treasurer.