PGA Tour CEO Brian RolApp addresses the possibility of major program changes
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp promised “big change” during a press conference. RolApp, who spent years in the NFL as commissioner Roger Goolell, hand in hand, wants to build his PGA tour around equality, scarcity and simplicity – just like the NFL.
Of course, RolApp’s promise of change had everyone wondering what the PGA Tour plans to look like when those changes were implemented. At last week’s RSM, Ryder Caper Harris English offered some clues as to what RolApp might be up to when it gets under the hood.
“We’ve got some great guys at the helm. Now with Brian RolApp coming in, you see the PGA tour in a different light,” English said.
“Sometimes change is good. I get that they want all the best players playing together more often, and the talk of a trip that could start with the Super Bowl I think is a great thing because we can’t really compete with where it’s going.”
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English isn’t the first player to point out that golf can’t “compete” with the NFL. In 2005, Tiger Woods said he believed the PGA Tour season should end on Labor Day before the start of football. PGA TOUR FeakEx Cufp Playoff Schedule to avoid the NFL in 2019. In 2014, in Rory McIlroy, Rory McIlroy praised the NFL for its shortcomings.
All in line with Rolapp’s three pillars. English noted that a change to the 20 or 22 event schedule may not happen until 2027.
During an interview with CNBC’s CEO Forum, RolApp did not appear far from the revelation in English that the PGA tour is considering the reduction of the program and may avoid recognizing his former employer.
“Nothing has been decided, and Harris’ comments have been getting a lot of attention, but Harris’ comments reflect a lot of discussions that have been going on,“ RolApp said. “If you dig deep into what he’s saying, it’s actually not that complicated. If you’re going to compete with football this summer, you’re going to get dollars and dollars and attention.”
When Rolapp first started as CEO of the PGA TOUR, he created a future riding committee, led to look at all the ways the PGA Tour, the Postseason can easily understand in many ways to have many events that are not connected to the jamment.
“These are the kinds of arguments we have,” said RolApp of the Future of Riding Committee. “How do you plan? How do you do big events? How do you move them together in a time that you can understand as a series of events, but you are faced with the postseason, including the postseason, including the postseason you will understand if you did not understand everything whether you are a golf fan or a sports fan.
“So, those are the questions we ask how to make bigger and better events, how to put them on the calendar where fans will watch more and how to include not only golf fans, but sports fans will accept. Those are all things we discuss. Nothing has been decided, but that is the work of the committee.“
When asked if he was starting the season after the Super Bowl was on the table, RolApp said he “saw” it happen.
As rolapp tries to make the PGA tour more competitive in the battle for attention, it’s clear that everything is on the table and big changes are coming. The only question is whether we will arrive officially.
