PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp delivered his State of the Tour press conference Wednesday morning at TPC Sawgrass, where he identified a number of key themes for the future of the tour. While he stressed that no final decisions have been made, some of the key themes Rolapp identified were:
- Season structure: The tour is looking at a schedule from late-January to early-September, with roughly 21 to 26 events on a first track of elevated events that would include the majors, The Players Championship and the postseason. That would mean at least doubling the current number of Signature Events, of which there are currently eight. Rolapp also noted there would be a second track of tournaments that will ladder up to the elevated events.
- Opening with a bang: Rolapp emphasized the need to open big to start the season, with a marquee event at an iconic venue in the west -- the benefits of which would include finishing on network TV in prime time on the East Coast.
- Major markets: Rolapp said that there is an opportunity to bring events to more major markets where demand is strong. Currently, the tour competes in only four of the top 10 largest U.S. media markets. Rolapp said they are evaluating markets with strong existing fan demand and the opportunity to reach new fans in places like N.Y., Chicago, Philadelphia, S.F., D.C. and Boston, among others.
- Promotion and relegation: The committee is evaluating the role of promotion and relegation between the two tracks within the competitive model to bring an added element to the second track of events. Rolapp said the tour envisions a merit-based system that would see players earn their way to the top
- Enhancing the postseason: The committee is exploring ways to add drama to the postseason, including the potential introduction of match play -- either at the TOUR Championship or across the postseason as a whole -- creating win‑or‑go‑home moments as the season reaches its conclusion.
Rolapp is expected to address the media again at the Travelers Championship in June, with more updates to come through the Tour Championship in August (PGA Tour).
STILL WORKING ON IT: CBSSPORTS.com’s Patrick McDonald writes Rolapp noted that “none of these recommendations have been brought to player-led boards for approval.” There is a “planned meeting” on June 22. The potential changes “will be applied on a rolling basis with some addressed sooner than others” -- with a “target for all significant changes to be implemented for the 2028 season” (CBSSPORTS.com, 3/11).
MOVING PIECES: GOLFCHANNEL.com’s Brentley Romine cites sources as saying that it is “unlikely any monumental changes happen in time for the 2027 season, aside from the season potentially starting at The American Express in mid-January instead of Hawaii.” There is “still the possibility that the Sony Open remains on the calendar for one more year,” but moving forward, though, “that big, West Coast start appears more likely to come at a place like Torrey Pines, Pebble Beach or TPC Scottsdale.” Another “potential change” deals with the future of the playoffs. Tiger Woods, who hosts the Genesis Invitational and chairs the Future Competitions Committee, said last month that “there’s an option for Riviera to become a playoff venue.” Sources said that Riviera “hosting the Tour Championship is on the table, which could bump East Lake into hosting a regular-season tournament” (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 3/11).
UPSET THE APPLE CART: YAHOO SPORTS’ Jay Busbee writes the tour’s moves “will likely upset several” of its longstanding partners and players, but Rolapp “indicated that his intention is to build a foundation for the greater long-term health of the game.” In a “nod to the people watching the game,” Rolapp offered a quote that’s “both significant and a significant departure from the way the Tour has done business in the past.” Rolapp: “The sports business is not that hard. Just think like a fan and 9.5 times out of 10 that’s probably the right answer” (YAHOO SPORTS, 3/11).
SPOTTED: SBJ’s Josh Carpenter notes that many power brokers in golf turned out for Rolapp’s presser on Wednesday. Among those in attendance, including most PGA Tour staff: CBS’s Sellers Shy; DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings; Hambric Sports’ Blake Smith and Walker Huddy; CAA’s Ben Gannett and Megan Nicol; The Team’s Andy Bilodeaux and Carter Bills; Travelers Championship’s Nathan Grube and Andy Bessett; CapTech’s Jon Bradway, Sandy Williamson and Arjun Baradwaj; Sportfive’s Ben Harrison; RBC Heritage’s Steve Wilmot; Wyndham Championship’s Mark Brazil; Versant’s Jamie Palatini and Jake Abrahams; KPMG’s Shawn Quill; USGA’s Jon Podany; Truist’s Joe Smith; Rolex’s Alex Gasser; Excel Sports’ Andrew Kipper; WME’s Jay Danzi; TMRW Sports’ Pete Jung and Matthew Levine; and NBC’s Dan Masonson, among others (Josh Carpenter, SBJ).
