CME Group Executive Chairman Terry Duffy stepped to the podium at CME Group Titleholders media day in Orlando and admitted that he was nervous. A polished executive who is very familiar with the business media, Duffy had never spoken in front of the sports media until Wednesday’s press conference at Grand Cypress Golf Club. To counter his nerves, Duffy brought along current NHL players Dave Bolland and Ben Eager – both Stanley Cup winners with last year’s Chicago Blackhawks – and former player Troy Murray, also a Stanley Cup winner and current Chicago Blackhawks radio analyst to keep him in a sports frame-of-mind.

Duffy was also joined by LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan, 9-time Tour winner Paula Creamer and Orange County District 1 Commissioner S. Scott Boyd at the press conference hosted by new chief communications officer Kraig Kann. In regards to the company’s first-ever foray into sports sponsorship, Duffy said he sees “huge opportunity in the LPGA” and that CME Group did not consider any other leagues or teams when deciding to increase their marketing efforts. CME Group has long hosted a pro-am featuring LPGA players at their end-of-the-year worldwide conference held in South Florida, so title sponsoring a Tour event was the natural next step, Duffy said.

Grand Cypress will play host to the CME Group Titleholders, the LPGA’s season-ending event, Nov. 17-20. The field features three qualifiers from each LPGA tournament for a total of 69 players. Creamer qualified at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup and her caddie will wear a bib representing that event at Titleholders.