Carolyn Bivens resigned under pressure as commissioner of the LPGA Tour on Monday with board of directors member Marsha Evans appointed acting commissioner.
Several top players called for Bivens to be ousted in a letter to the board of directors earlier this month, citing the loss of several key sponsors and events with more defections expected for 2010.
Bivens, who held the post since 2005, stepped down a day after the US Women's Open, the last US-based major of the LPGA season.
"I love the LPGA and have been proud to serve as its commissioner for the last four years," Bivens said in a statement.
"I am also proud of what the LPGA has accomplished during my tenure. It is time to turn this organization over to someone who can build on the solid foundation we've established."
Seven LPGA events have been dropped from the schedule over the past two years and Bivens was criticized for pushing for an English-only policy for the LPGA - which has 120 non-US players from 26 nations - that was never adopted.
Evans, an advisor to the LPGA for two years before joining the board of directors this year, is a former US Navy rear admiral who has led the US Girl Scouts and American Red Cross.
Evans made it clear she is serving only in a temporary capacity while the LPGA seeks a new leader.
"I have no interest, no intention to serve as commisioner," she said. "We need someone with new energy who can bring passion and skills and experience to the position."
Swedish star Annika Sorenstam, who retired after last season, was named an advisor to the board of directors as they begin to search for a new leader.
The LPGA is off this week but resumes play next week with the 3.25 million-dollar Evian Masters in France with the year's final major championship, the Women's British Open, starting on July 30 in England.
With the Solheim Cup between US and European stars set for August 21-23 in Sugar Grove, Illinois, the next LPGA event on US soil is not scheduled until August 28-30 in North Plains, Oregon.
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