Ty Votaw
BornFebruary 1962 (age 61)
Greenford, Ohio, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materOhio University
University of North Carolina
Occupation(s)Lawyer, golf executive
Employer(s)LPGA (1991–2005)
PGA Tour (2006–2022)
OrganizationInternational Golf Federation
Spouse(s)Paula Keiffer (?–2006)
Sophie Gustafson (2006–2010)
Kelli Suire (2013–present)

Ty Votaw (born February 1962) is an American lawyer and golf executive.

Career

Votaw worked in corporate law for a Cincinnati-based firm before joined the Ladies Professional Golf Association as general counsel in 1991. He served as its Commissioner from 1999 to 2005. In 2006 he was appointed Executive Vice President, International Affairs of the PGA Tour.[1] In 2013, Votaw was named Executive Vice President and Chief Global Communications Officer for the PGA Tour, and in September 2014, was named the Tour's Chief Marketing Officer where he is responsible for all of the organization's communications, marketing, branding and advertising.[2] Votaw also serves as Vice President of the International Golf Federation.[3]

Votaw also coordinated the 2016 Olympic golf movement on behalf of the International Golf Federation's Olympic Golf Committee and other golf organizations around the world. Votaw served in a newly created position as executive director, IGF Olympic Golf Committee.[4] Golf was subsequently included in the 2016 Summer Olympics.[5] In June 2022, Votaw retired as Executive Vice President, International, of the PGA Tour.[6]

Personal life

Votaw was born in Greenford, Ohio. He graduated from Ohio University in 1984 with a degree in journalism and public relations and earned his J.D. degree at the University of North Carolina in 1987.[7]

While Votaw was at the LPGA, he and tour golfer Sophie Gustafson became personally close, sparking press coverage because he was still married, though separated (since 2003) from his first wife, Paula Keiffer.[7][8] The couple were married on June 16, 2006.[9] They divorced in January 2010.[10] As of 2013, Votaw was married to Kelli Suire.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "PGA Tour Names Ty Votaw to Executive Position". LPGA. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012.
  2. ↑ Smith, Michael (September 15, 2014). "Ty Votaw moves into CMO role at PGA Tour". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  3. ↑ "IGF Names Peter Dawson As President, Ty Votaw As Vice President". International Golf Federation. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  4. ↑ "International Golf Federation Creates Olympic Golf Committee to Enhance Drive for 2016". International Golf Federation. July 2008. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Golf & rugby voted into Olympics". BBC Sport. October 9, 2009.
  6. ↑ "Golf industry veteran Ty Votaw announces retirement from PGA Tour". PGA Tour. February 15, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Boeck, Greg (March 10, 2004). "Under Votaw, LPGA goes for the green". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012.
  8. ↑ Sternberg, Stina (February 2, 2010). "Gustafson and Votaw divorce". Golf Digest. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Sophie Gustafson Weds Ty Votaw!". Ladies European Tour. July 8, 2006. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
  10. ↑ "Ex-LPGA commish Votaw divorces Gustafson". ESPN. Associated Press. February 2, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  11. ↑ Strickland, Cheryl (June 9, 2013). "Marriage Licenses Applications – 6/9/2013". HistoricCity News. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016.
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