Brian Rolapp is expected to oversee some much-needed change on the PGA Tour over the course of the next few years.
Rolapp was recently named as the new CEO of the PGA Tour, and one of his main priorities will be to help smooth over negotiations with LIV Golf regarding a potential merger.
The recent suggestions were that a merger between the PGA Tour and LIV will not happen.
And PGA Tour star Matt Kuchar lifted the lid on why that might be.
Kuchar said that LIV’s insistence on the team aspect is proving to be a major stumbling block.
The good news is that Rolapp will bring fresh ideas and a different perspective to the negotiating table.
But what does the new PGA Tour CEO really feel about having a team aspect included in any kind of deal with LIV?
Brian Rolapp responds when asked whether the PGA Tour could emulate LIV
Rolapp is clearly more open to new ideas and embracing change than Jay Monahan has been over the past few years.
Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
However, introducing a team format into the PGA Tour’s schedule may be a step too far.
When speaking to NBC, Rolapp was asked about LIV’s insistence on team golf and whether he is keen to change the sport in the same way that LIV is.
He said: “Well I think the PGA Tour product is strong as it is. I think if you look at the underlying viewership numbers, we have grown this year significantly. One of the reasons why I took this job is because I really studied that fan engagement. If you look at a competitive round on a Sunday afternoon when they’re pulling in three to four million views, it’s a large sports event.
“I think the product is working and the golf fans are voting with their remotes and with their mouses. They’re watching what they want to watch. I think we’re definitely going to have a culture of innovation.
“As I said, when I took the job I said we’re going to honour golf’s traditions, but we’re not going to be overly bound by them. So wherever there is innovation, we’re going to look at it.”
Rolapp seems to be ready to lead the PGA Tour into an exciting new era. However, unless LIV are prepared to back down regarding their demands for team golf, it’s hard to envisage a deal being struck between the two tours.
Why Brandel Chamblee has already been so impressed by Brian Rolapp
Brandel Chamblee does not mince his words, so when he offers praise, he genuinely means it.
Chamblee spoke last month about what has already impressed him about Rolapp.
“At such a pivotal time for the PGA Tour’s business dealings, I think it’s great that the SSG and the PGA Tour board have found such a potentially phenomenal leader. One of the things he said that I just loved was, ‘I don’t know if I know enough about the dynamics of LIV and PGA TOUR, and when I learn enough I’ll speak on that, just give me some time, I’m going to wait and see and get up to speed on this and then I’ll have some comments on this’.”
Rolapp is clearly a very intelligent, clued-up man.
However, he’s not prepared to just give the fans lip service.
And that bodes really well for the long-term future of the PGA Tour.
