PGA Tour Rules Stalwarts Slugger White And Mark Russell Call It A Career

Big chance of the guard coming to the PGA Tour in 2021.

Mark Russell and Carlton “Slugger” White will be calling it a career.  The two familiar faces have 80 years of experience between them.  Both shared the important title — Vice President of Competitions — a fancy moniker for “Guys In Charge Of Rules and Rulings.”

For those who didn’t follow the PGA Tour in the 70s, Slugger started his career as a player.  He was a Monday qualifier back when only the top 60 players were exempt and he only made the top 150 on the money list twice in his playing days.  “I found out I wasn’t quite as good as I thought I was, I guess,” White said recently.

White got his nickname from his father, who was at one time a boxer.  White grew up with his father being a stickler for the rules of golf.

Russell and White will be around for a few months to insure a smooth transition to the new guard.  Gary Young will oversee the rules and tournaments administration.  Yong has appointed four officials as senior tournament directors — Steve Rintoul, John Mutch, Stephen Cox and Ken Tackett.  Jordan Harris, Pete Lis and Mike Peterson will move from the Korn Ferry Tour to the PGA Tour as rules officials.

Two other rules officials will also be retiring — Dillard Pruitt and John Lillvis.

Earlier this year, on the European Tour, longtime stalwarts John Paramore and Andy McFee called it a career as chief referees for that circuit.