Mike Nichols is leaving the LPGA after 16 years of leadership, Golfweek has learned. As chief business officer of the Epson Tour for the past decade, Nichols transformed the LPGA’s qualifying tour in substantial ways.
Nichols joined the LPGA in 2006 and served as vice president of tournament business affairs with oversight of the LPGA schedule until being named chief business officer of what was then known as the Symetra Tour in July 2012.
In 2013, the qualifying tour’s season had 15 events and $1.6 million in prize money. This year, players will compete in 21 events for $4.5 million.
Earlier this year, Nichols oversaw the five-year title deal that brought on Epson as the tour’s title sponsor. The level for minimum purses was raised to $200,000 while player-entry fees were lowered by 10 percent per tournament (as much as $1,000 per player for the year). In addition, the yearly…
