Rob Neal, who currently serves as the LPGA vice president of tournament business affairs, will be leaving the LPGA to assume the role of Executive Director of Tournament Golf Foundation Inc. (TGFI). TGFI currently owns and operates two LPGA events, the Safeway International Presented by Coca-Cola and the Safeway Classic Presented by Pepsi. Neal will work out of the TGFI headquarters in Portland, OR.
"We are thrilled to welcome Rob as the new executive director of TGFI" said Tom Maletis, President. "His experience with both the LPGA and LPGA Tournament Sponsors Association will be an invaluable asset to our organization. Our members have worked closely with Rob over the past 12 years and look forward to working with him to create a focused and efficient operational structure to our two LPGA events.
"TGFI has a 35-year history of staging LPGA tournaments. With Rob’s background, we are confident that the Safeway Classic and Safeway International will become even better events for fans and provide greater opportunities and economies allowing us to give more money to local charities in Oregon and Arizona through the Safeway Foundation.
"We would like to thank LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens for her support and assistance in allowing Rob to make a smooth transition to his new position at TGFI."
"I, along with the entire LPGA organization, will miss Rob," said Bivens, "but want to extend a sincere thanks to him for his dedication to furthering the LPGA business and for his unwavering commitment to the LPGA tournament family"
Neal joined the LPGA staff as vice president of tournament affairs in June 1999. Neal has been an integral part of the LPGA’s business success over the past seven years and is closely involved with tournament business transactions, including tournament sponsorship and contract negotiations.
Prior to joining the LPGA, Neal served as executive director of the LPGA’s TSA from 1994-99, where he was responsible for implementing and participating in the development of policies for the international association comprised of LPGA tournaments. Prior to the TSA, Neal maintained a private law practice in Atlanta that focused on business, sports and entertainment law after graduating from Emory University Law School in Atlanta.
Neal received a bachelors of arts degree in economics in 1987 from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., where he was also a student assistant in the sports information department. He earned his juris doctorate and master of business administration degrees from Emory University in 1991.
Neal currently serves on the advisory board of the World Golf Hall of Fame. He is a member of the Entertainment and Sports Law Section of the Sate Bar of Georgia.
Tournament Golf Foundation Inc. is a Portland area non-profit group. Begun in 1972, the group is now comprised of 47 local individuals and couples. TGFI is the managing organizers and is responsible for the Safeway International, held in Arizona each March and the Safeway Classic held in Portland each August. Since their inception the two LPGA events have raised over $20 million for local area charities.
Safeway Inc. is a Fortune 50 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America based on sales. The Company operates 1,800 stores in the United States and Western Canada, and has annual sales of $35.8 billion from continuing operations in 2004. The Company’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWY.
For more information on the Safeway Classic, Safeway International and Tournament Golf Foundation, visit their website: www.safewaygolf.com. For more information on Safeway Stores, visit www.safeway.com.
Contact:
Tom Maletis
(503) 702-5000
Reid Hutchins
(503) 291-0109
