Brian Rolapp has already built up a good deal of credibility, but there’s still some unease among fans about what the PGA Tour will look like once he’s had a chance to put his stamp on it.
Most of Rolapp’s influence so far has been happening out of sight. He was appointed CEO too late to really shape the 2026 season, so any major changes won’t show up until later.
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But significant changes are likely in 2027. Harris English has mentioned hearing that future PGA Tour schedules could be reduced to just 20 events.
This idea fits with Rolapp’s previous comments about scarcity, a concept he’s referenced when discussing his vision for the Tour.
There is definitely a need for change within the PGA Tour. Still, as preparations for 2027 begin, Rolapp is starting to see just how difficult those changes might be to implement.
The PGA Tour has been under scrutiny ahead of The Players Championship
Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
The PGA Tour dropped a trailer for next month’s Players Championship. The video itself did a good job building excitement around the flagship event at TPC Sawgrass.
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But all the talk was focused on the closing line: “March is going to be major.”
The intention behind it seems clear enough. The PGA Tour is looking to get as much as they can out of their biggest event.
Even so, there’s been plenty of pushback. Lee Westwood even suggested that the slogan revealed some underlying nerves within the tour about where things are headed.
And it wasn’t just those aligned with LIV Golf who were left puzzled by it. Many others have also questioned whether promoting The Players Championship as a major in all but name makes sense for the PGA Tour.
“It was only three years ago that you had players seriously pushing back at suggestions that we needed five or six majors in golf, and nothing has happened since then to change anyone’s mind,” said Chamblee.
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While few agree with Chamblee’s suggestion, there hasn’t been any real push from officials to elevate The Players to major status. Still, Rolapp now has a sense of what happens when you even hint at going against golf’s traditions.
Brian Rolapp faces a tough task as he prepares to make big changes to the PGA Tour schedule
If the new schedule does cut down to around 25 events, several well-known tournaments will be left out. That kind of change is bound to upset fans and players who have strong ties to those stops on the calendar.
It’s also likely that many events with local importance will lose their place in the lineup. These decisions go beyond just tradition – they can impact communities that have relied on these tournaments for years.
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No tournament lasts forever, but removing so many at once will be felt differently than just a few changes over time.
Rolapp’s focus is clearly on making each event feel more important within a smaller schedule. But that approach means some difficult cuts, and not everyone will agree with which ones stay or go.
While there’s some belief that his vision could work out in the long run, he’ll need thick skin early on. If reactions like the one to The Players Championship promo are any indication, it won’t be an easy path forward.
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