Damon Hack and Eamon Lynch discuss Brian Rolapp beginning his first day as PGA Tour CEO, breaking down what the former NFL executive must tackle and the challenges he will face in his new role. #GolfToday #Golf #GolfChannel
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What challenges will Brian Rolapp face as PGA Tour CEO? | Golf Today | Golf Channel
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A COOL STORY. KITAYAMA SHOT 65, ONE-SHOT VICTORY OVER SAM STEVENS, 3M OPEN. CARDED 20 BIRDIES ON THE WEEKEND. THE MOST BIRDIES OR BETTER MADE ON THE WEEKEND BY A TOUR WINNER SINCE 2003. >> A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH AGO, THE NEW CEO, HIS FIRST OFFICIAL DAY ON THE JOB IS RIGHT NOW TODAY. HE TAKES ON THE ROLE AS COMMISSIONER JAY MONAHAN IS SET TO STEP AWAY FROM THE TOUR AT THE END OF 2026. GETTING INTO THE ACTION ON DAY ONE, TWEETING DAY ONE AT THE PGA TOUR, GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND EXCITED TO LISTEN AND LEARN. YOU CAN EXPECT A CARE PACKAGE OF SOME BRANDED APPAREL ON YOUR DESK WHEN YOU GET THERE. IT LOOKS LIKE YET ANOTHER LEADERSHIP CHANGE IN THE LANDSCAPE OF GOLF. WHAT DO YOU SEE ON THE HORIZON FOR BRIAN ROLAPP? >> HE COMES FROM THE NFL. THE NFL SHIELD IS RECOGNIZABLE AROUND THE WORLD. 2005 WAS THE FIRST TIME THE NFL PLAYED INTERNATIONALLY, ONE GAME. 2025, THERE WILL BE SEVEN INTERNATIONAL GAMES ON THE NFL SCHEDULE. THREE IN LONDON. YOU GOT DUBLIN. PLACES LIKE SAO PAULO, MADRID AS WELL. I JUST WONDER IS THERE SOMETHING THAT THE PGA TOUR CAN LEARN FROM THAT? YOU SEE RORY McILROY TALKING ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA, IN AUSTRALIA. THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPANSION. IN A TIME WHERE IT SEEMS HIKE THE TOUR IS BEING MORE LOOKING INWARD, I JUST DON’T KNOW IF THAT’S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TOUR, MAYBE BRIAN WILL THINK THAT’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLOIT. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE PLAYOFFS HAVE BEEN HUGE BUSINESS FOR THE NFL. BY THEIR OWN ADMISSION, PGA TOUR PLAYERS TELL YOU, AT LEAST LUCAS GLOVER WILL, THE PLAYOFFS HAVE BEEN WANTING ON THE PGA TOUR. SO MAYBE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BRIAN TO MASSAGE POSTSEASON. >> INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HIS PRIORITIES ARE. I THINK HE HAS TO START WITH BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. HE IS NOT OF THE GOLF INDUSTRY. HE DOESN’T REALLY KNOW ANYONE IN THE GOLF INDUSTRY. HE HAS TO SORT OF BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH STAKE HOLD. START WITH JACK NICKLAUS. GO TO FLORIDA, MEET JACK, MEET FEDEX, THE SPONSORS, THE TOURNAMENTS, THE PLAYERS, MEET THE FANS. YOU DON’T OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT THE FANS ARE THE BIGGEST STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS GAME. HE HAS TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO THAT. I ALSO THINK HE HAS TO PRIORITIZE SPENDING THE PRIVATE INVESTOR MONEY. IT’S $1.5 BILLION. HAS NOT YET BEEN SPENT. SO HE HAS TO DEVELOP A PLAN AND EXECUTE ON THAT AS WELL. I THINK TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL ASPECT, HE REALLY DOES NEED TO CONSOLIDATE WITH THE DP WORLD TOUR AND FIGURE OUT HOW THAT IS LEVERAGED INTO THIS KIND OF INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULE. THE GUYS TALK ABOUT IT A LOT. THE TRICKIEST THING IS FIX THE BALANCE OF POWER ON THE PGA TOUR RIGHT NOW BECAUSE JAY MONAHAN SPENT HIS AUTHORITY WITH THE PLAYERS WITH THE SIGNING OF THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT. IT COST HIM A LOT OF TRUST WITH THE PLAYERS, COST HIM A LOT OF AUTHORITY. BRIAN ROLAPP COMES IN WITH A LOT OF AUTHORITY. WHAT HE IS GOING TO FACE IS PLAYERS WHO THINK THEY ARE EXECUTIVES AND INVESTORS WHO THINK THEY ARE DAY TO DAY MANAGERS AND THE TOUR WILL SUFFER FROM BOTH OF THOSE. BRIAN HAS TO REASSERT EXECUTIVE FUNCTION AT PGA TOUR THAT HE IS THERE TO MAKE THE DECISIONS, HE IS THERE TO RUN THE BUSINESS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. IT’S NOT THE PLAYERS ON THE BOARD NOR IS IT THE MINORITY PRIVATE INVESTORS WHO RUN — AND OF COURSE THE PIF DEAL IS OUT THERE AS WELL. I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO SEE IF HE SEES THAT AS SOMETHING THAT’S, YOU KNOW, QUAGMIRE THAT THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION GOT BOGGED DOWN IN AND HASN’T REALLY GONE ANYWHERE. IS IT A FIELD EXERCISE AT THIS POINT NOW MORE THAN TWO YEARS AFTER THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED, AND IF HE HAS MOMENTUM, HE HAS A PRODUCT THAT IS WORKING, HE SHOULD CUT BAIT, STOP TREATING LIV AS A SERIOUS COMPETITOR, STOP TREATING THEM AS ANYTHING MORE THAN A DISTRACTION, DISMISS IT WITH THE DERISION IT DESERVES AND MOVE ON. >> THERE IS MURKINESS, I FEEL, IN THE MESSAGING FROM THE PGA TOUR WHERE THAT WASN’T ALWAYS THE CASE. IT WAS THESE GUYS ARE GOOD. THAT WAS HOW THEY PLAY AND ALSO THEIR OFF THE GOLF COURSE CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS. I THINK IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT HAS BEEN LOST A LITTLE BIT IN PART BECAUSE, LISTEN, THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, PILLAGED BASICALLY BY THIS RIVAL LEAGUE. THOUGHT ABOUT FIGHTING THEM. THOUGHT ABOUT JOINING THEM. NOW WE DON’T KNOW WHERE THINGS STAND WITH ALL OF THE TALK ABOUT MONEY AND PLAYERS LEAVING. I THINK SOME OF THE MESSAGING HAS BEEN LOST AND SOME OF THE FANS ARE PROBABLY CONFUSED. WHAT IS THE PGA TOUR’S STORY? THAT IS ALSO GOING TO BE TOP OF MIND FOR BRIAN ROLAPP AND THE REST OF HIS EXECUTIVES DOWN IN PONT VAD RA BEACH. WHAT IS THE MESSAGE THEY WANT TO TELL THE MOM AND POP IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND IN DUBUQUE AND VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA? WHAT IS THE PGA TOUR’S STORY? CHARITY? OUR GUYS ARE GOOD? IS IT ABOUT PUTTING THE ZEROS ON THE PAYCHECK? BE CAREFUL TALKING ABOUT ALL THAT MONEY. YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS OUTSIDE THE ROPES THAT I THINK THE FANS CAN RELATE AND CONNECT TO. >> AND THAT’S SOMETHING THAT BRIAN ROLAPP CAN CONTROL IS HIS OWN NARRATIVE. WHAT HE CAN’T CONTROL IS THE WOMEN’S OF THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND OF SAUDI ARABIA. MAYBE IT’S TIME TO STOP WORRYING. WE WILL CONTINUE WITH ANOTHER “GOLF TODAY” ROUNDTABLE AS WE WELCOME IN GOLFCHANNEL.COM SENIOR WRITERS REX HOGGARD AND RYAN LAVNER. HE IS IN THE OFFICE TODAY, FIRST DAY ON THE JOB. WHAT DO YOU THINK HIS PRIORITIES OUGHT TO BE? >> I AGREE WITH YOU OFF THE TOP. I THINK BRIAN’S, HE HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BRING THE BEST PLAYERS BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. THE PGA TOUR’S INITIATIVE, FAN FORWARD, THE FANS WANTED TO SEE THE BEST PLAYERS PLAYING TOGETHER MORE OFTEN. RIGHT NOW 260 DAYS TO THE MASTERS THAT THAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN. I THINK IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM. TO YOUR POINT, I FEEL LIKE THE PGA TOUR AND THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND ARE FURTHER FROM THAT NOW THAN THEY WERE BEFORE THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT, AT LEAST BEFORE THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT WE KNEW THEY WEREN’T TALKING, THERE WERE LEGAL CHALLENGES. NOW WE HAVE HAD TWO YEARS OF TALKS AND IT FEELS WORSE BECAUSE THEY HAVE GONE ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE AND DOESN’T SEEM TO BE AN ENDING IN SIGHT. THAT’S A PROBLEM HE WILL HAVE TO TACKLE. THE OTHER IS WHAT YOU MENTIONED, THE SSG INVESTMENT. DURING HIS PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP A FEW WEEKS AGO IT WAS THE ONE ANSWER YOU SAW HIS EYES LIGHT UP. THIS IS HIS WHEELHOUSE. THIS IS WHAT HE DID AT THE NFL. HE WAS IN CHARGE ON SOME LEVEL WITH THE INVESTMENTS OF THE MONEY FROM EACH TEAM. HE CLEARLY HAS IDEAS. HE SAID AS MUCH. HE DIDN’T GIVE AWAY SECRETS, BUT THAT’S SOMETHING I THINK HE WILL FOCUS ON EARLY AS WELL. THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS IS I DON’T THINK HE IS GOING TO SPEND MUCH TIME WORRYING ABOUT PACE OF PLAY, SPEND MUCH TIME WORRYING ABOUT WHAT THE FORMAT IS OF THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP. HE WILL LEAVE THAT TO PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE GOLF BETTER. HE MADE IT CLEAR, BROUGHT THEM IN, HE A BUSINESS GUY, WILL INNOVATE AND IMPROVE THE BUSINESS. >> LAV, WHAT DO YOU THINK? BESIDES WATCHING THIS PROGRAM NOW, WHAT SHOULD BRIAN’S PRIORITY BE TON THIS MONDAY? >> I AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT HAS BEEN SAID. THE $1.5 BILLION INVESTMENT, AT LEAST THE PGA TOUR LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN COY ABOUT HOW THEY WANTED TO DISPENSE THAT CAPITAL. OBVIOUSLY, THAT WILL DO A LOT IN TERMS OF SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE PGA TOUR. YOU MENTIONED HOW TO GET ALL OF THE BEST PLAYERS TOGETHER EVEN IF IT IS ON A LIMITED BASIS, THAT’S WHAT THE FANS TELL THE PGA TOUR THEY WANT HOW TO FIGURE OUT SORT OF A PATHWAY FORWARD EVEN IF, AGAIN, A PARTIAL BASIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND THEN THE MEDIA RIGHTS DEAL ON THE HORIZON. BRIAN ROLAPP WAS THE CHIEF NEGOTIATOR FOR THE NFL WHEN THEIR TV CONTRACTS THAT TOTALED $110 BILLION. GOLF IS NOT GOING TO DEMAND OR SUMMON THAT SORT OF FUND WHEN THE DEAL COMES UP IN 2030, BUT THAT WAS A BIG REASON WHY HE WAS BROUGHT IN BECAUSE THOSE NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING TO START IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. HOW CAN THE PGA TOUR BEST POSITION ITSELF FOR THE FUTURE. HE HAVE A HEAVY SAY IN THAT. >> REX, DO YOU THINK POSITIONING THE TOUR IN THE BEST POSITION POSSIBLE INCLUDES EXPANDING MORE GLOBALLY? AS I MENTIONED, THAT NFL SHIELD IS RECOGNIZABLE AROUND THE WORLD. WE HAVE HEARD RORY TALK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES IN AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH AFRICA. DO YOU THINK THAT SHOULD BE A PART OF THE PGA TOUR PLAYBOOK GOING FORWARD? >> I THINK IT IS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY GUY KENNINGS THINKSED IT. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HIM AT THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE SCOTTISH OPEN ABOUT THIS TOPIC. YOU LOOK AT THE SUCCESS OF THE SCOTTISH OPEN ON THE TOUR SCHEDULE. IT FITS INTO A PERFECT TIME THE WEEK BEFORE THE OPEN, GIVES PLAYERS A REASON TO GO OVER AND PLAY THAT EVENT. HE WAS QUICK TO POINT OUT THE IRISH OPEN GIVES THEM A REASON. THE EUROPEAN TOUR FLAGSHIP EVENT A PARTNER THAT THE PGA TOUR AND THE DP WORLD TOUR TOGETHER CAN BUILD SOMETHING SPECIAL WHEN IT COMES TO AN INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULE. I WILL SAY IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE PGA TOUR, THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN RELUCTANT TO EMBRACE INTERNATIONAL MARKETS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. THE WORLD
4 Comments
The most difficult challenge will be finding the delicate balance point between airing 1 golf shot between the 3 hours of advertisements on any given Sunday.
Pretty simple… let LIV players play again, add better slow play rules, show 1/4 of the ads, and add a subscription ability to watch like YouTube golfers camera angles and shot tracers instead of the boring tv broadcast with commentators that suck.
The biggest challenge will be getting fans to swallow his rhetoric whole hog.
Pace of play is the most important thing. Rolling the ball back is another. You know which one he thinks is most important and says the fans think it is too? Getting the best players all playing each other week in and week out. That ship has sailed, homie.
Lunch is beyond out of it. Everyone in golf is demanding leaders bring everyone back together but he keeps arguing about ignoring reality.
Completely out of it. How much longer of this guys spiel?