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Martin Slumbers has announced he will stand down from one of the most powerful roles in sport.

In a surprise move, the R&A revealed on Wednesday that Slumbers will depart at the end of 2024 after nine years as chief executive of the game’s ruling body.

Slumbers, the investment banker who replaced Peter Dawson in 2015, will oversee the 152nd Open at Royal Troon and the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews before leaving the Royal and Ancient Club.

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“In any career, there is a time to allow the next generation to have its turn,” he said. “I am grateful to have had the honour, for nearly a decade, to have been the custodian of all that The R&A and the game of golf more broadly represents.“

The hunt for the 63-year-old’s successor is already under way.

Slumbers has earned universal respect across the professional golf world during his transformative tenure, and tour pros expressed their gratitude towards him as news broke regarding his impending departure.

Speaking ahead of his first start at the Dubai Invitational, Rory McIlroy told Golf Digest that he hopes Slumbers will still remain a prominent figure in golfing circles.

“Martin has done a lot of good things for the game and started a lot of good initiatives,” McIlroy said. “He clearly feels deeply about the game. I’ve always had a good relationship with him and he’s always had the best interest of the gams at heart.

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“I’m not sure what the average tenure is in that position but nine years seems like a good stint. Hopefully he stays involved in the game, even if not as deeply involved as he has been.”

Tommy Fleetwood concurs with his Ryder Cup teammate.

“Martin has been great,” Fleetwood said. “It’s a big role and there have been some big decisions made, whether it be with equipment or where the tours go next, but we can all be very grateful for the service he has put in.”

“Nine years is a pretty good innings.” European skipper Luke Donald added. “For a lot of that time he’s been working on some pretty big issues, not least the ball roll-back. That is game-changing potentially. So Martin hasn’t been afraid to do things he felt would be for the betterment of the game. You have to respect that.”

topics

Martin Slumbers R&A Rory McIlroy Luke Donald Tommy Fleetwood

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.