George O'Grady to step down
The European Tour CEO will relinquish his post as soon as a successor is found


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European Tour Chief Executive George O'Grady has announced he will step down from his post as soon as a successor is found
European Tour Chief Executive George O'Grady has announced he will step down from his post as soon as a successor is found.
The 65-year-old - who has spent more than 40 years with the European Tour - took over from Ken Schofield in 2005.
The announcement was originally scheduled for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship but O'Grady decided to bring it forward in the face of increasing speculation from the media.
"In the aftermath of what I believe to have been the best presented Ryder Cup since Royal Lytham in 1977, I felt this was the right time to ask the board to begin the search for my successor," said O'Grady.
"It is my firm belief that, coming towards the end of what has been another incredibly successful season, we are now seeing the green shoots of recovery across Europe.
"I am pleased this coincides with all our building blocks, in terms of key television and sponsorship contracts, being in place.
"I have agreed with the board to stay on not only for the time it takes to appoint a new CEO but also for sufficient additional times after that to see them properly settled in.
"The board also agreed that, at this stage, I will take up a role as president of International Relations which will see me represent the European Tour through the Olympic Games in 2016."
During his tenure, O'Grady supervised the implementation of the Race to Dubai and the Finals Series, currently in its second season.
He also played a role in securing golf's return to the Olympics and growing the size and stature of the Ryder Cup.
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Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, commissioning and feature writing. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
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