At a meeting of the International Golf Federation Board this week, outgoing president Peter Dawson announced he would not seek reappointment when his two-year term expires at the end of the year. The IGF Board has elected Annika Sorenstam as the new IGF President, effective at the start of 2021.
“Peter did a great job the last 10 years as IGF President and I am humbled and honored to have been asked to succeed him,” Sorenstam said in an IGF release. “As an international player, having golf back in the Olympics means so much to me and to our sport. I very much look forward to working with the Board, the IOC and the governing bodies of golf in their efforts to continue to grow the game globally.”
Dawson had served in the role for a decade.
“It has been a great pleasure and privilege to serve as IGF President,” Dawson said. “Golf’s reinstatement to the Olympic program was a landmark for our sport and it was a true thrill to witness our return at Rio 2016. Our Olympic status has been a strong catalyst for increasing cooperation and coordination between the major organizations in golf and has significantly strengthened the bonds between the IGF and our National Federations.
“My thanks go to so many people in golf and in the Olympic family for their support over the past 10 years,” he added. “Their help and goodwill have been invaluable. I wish my successor, Annika Sorenstam, every success. The IGF could not be in better hands.”
The IGF’s Board meeting was planned for the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, but went virtual due to the continued impact of COVID.
Still, when International Olympic Committee President Thomas and IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell spoke about next summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, they delivered a promising message that the competition would proceed as scheduled with a particular focus on health, safety and the simplification and reduction of the complexity of the Games. The Board expressed support and a shared commitment to deliver the golf competition with safety for the athletes and all involved a top priority.
