11. 1.2010
09Jay rains
each fall when the usga issues a press release detailing
nominations to its executive committee, the real news is often
buried near the end of the text. that’s where the organization announces who is “retiring” from their volunteer duties.
to anyone outside a small circle of insiders and rules junkies,
the revelations rarely generate any interest. not this year.
this year’s release announced that Jay rains, current head of
the equipment standards and rules of golf committee and a
bona fide dealmaker, was leaving. before joining the usga’s
15-person board, the well-regarded rains (pictured) brokered
a deal to bring the 2008 u.s. open to torrey pines in his
hometown of san diego and was thought to be in line for the
organization’s presidency. replacing rains as a vice president
is tommy o’toole, an attorney from st. louis and three-year
member of the executive committee, who is very close to
ascendant director of rules and competitions mike davis. (
indeed, one of o’toole’s assignments will be to chair the usga’s
competitions committee.) also joining the executive committee is diana murphy, the wife of former usga president reg
murphy. the more things change at the governing body, the
more they remain the same. —Geoff Shackelford
usga/John mummert
contents // 10 things // pga tour //lpga tour // champions tour //european tour //nationwide tour //eQuipment // tim rosaforte
