Whan, 44, a former executive vice-president of TaylorMade Adidas Golf North America, was approved for the role in a vote of the LPGA’s Board of Directors on Tuesday and will be formally introduced at a press conference in New York today.

 

He joins the LPGA, which runs the $50 million (£30 million) a year tour for the world's top female players, from Mission-ITECH Hockey, a company makes and markets hockey equipment for players on ice skates or roller blades.

 

Whan will take over for Marty Evans, who was named acting Commissioner after Carolyn Bivens was forced out in a player revolt in July.

 

The LPGA has announced just 18 tournaments as under contract for 2010 and projects having between 22 and 25 on the schedule next year.

 

The LPGA has struggled in the current economic crisis having seen the tournaments it stages slip from 34 in 2008 to 27 this year.

 

There are fears that cumulative prize money for next year could dip to below $40 million (£24 million), down from $64 million (£39 million) last year.

 

The LPGA was founded in 1950 by a group of 13 women, including Babe Didrikson Zaharias, who won two gold medals at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles in the 80 metres hurdles and javelin who later went on to excel at golf, winning the US and British Amateur titles.

 

It is now the oldest ongoing women's professional sports organisation in the US.