Daytona Beach, Florida, United States: The importance of Asia to the LPGA has been underlined with the appointment of Chris Madsen as Managing Director of the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

Madsen will oversee all LPGA business operations across the APAC region, including partnerships, events and strategic development.

Interim LPGA Commissioner Liz Moore said: “Asia is central to the LPGA’s identity, not only because of the events we host there, but also because of the many world-class players from the region and our global corporate partners based there.

“While many sports and entertainment properties strive to be global, the LPGA is truly global – reflected in our schedule, our athletes and our fanbase.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chris to the LPGA. He brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the region, making him the ideal leader to drive our strategic efforts across Asia and the Pacific.”

In 2025, the LPGA Tour is staging two Asian swings with a total of eight events in the region – two each in China and Korea and one apiece in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Beginning in late February, there was the Honda LPGA Thailand, the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Singapore’s Sentosa Golf Club and the Blue Bay LPGA in China.

The Tour will return for a five-week Asian stay towards the end of the season – Buick LPGA Shanghai (October 9-12), the BMW Ladies Championship (October 16-19) and Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown (October 23-26), both in Korea, followed by the Maybank Championship at Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (October 30-November 2) and the TOTO Japan Classic (November 6-9).

A seasoned sports executive, Madsen has more than a decade of experience in global sports, entertainment and lifestyle brands. He has held senior leadership positions with Nike, Chelsea Football Club and SpoTV (Eclat Media), managing multi-million-dollar budgets and leading teams throughout Southeast Asia, India and the broader APAC region.

Most recently, Madsen led business development for SpoTV in Southeast Asia, where he launched a pioneering badminton initiative and oversaw rebranding efforts, production and commercial strategy.

Prior to that, he served as Sports Marketing Director for Nike in Southeast Asia and India, managing a portfolio of more than 300 athletes, clubs and federations. He played a key role in developing campaigns that elevated brand presence and supported the growth of women’s sports.

Earlier in his career, Madsen spent more than a decade at Chelsea Football Club, where he served as Head of Region, APAC. In that role, he led commercial partnerships and managed the club’s image rights strategy. He also previously held a commercial development position at London Irish Rugby Club.

Madsen said: “It’s an incredible honour to join the LPGA, an organisation with unmatched global recognition in women’s sports. The LPGA’s legacy has been built over generations, and I’m proud to help continue that growth in one of its most vital and dynamic regions.”

*Sentosa Golf Club and Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club are Members of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.