The PGA Tour is in its Brian Rolapp era.
The Tour’s new CEO spoke on Wednesday ahead of the Players Championship beginning, his first public address before the Tour’s signature event (no pun intended) given that he is still relatively new to the job.
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Overall Rolapp addressed a future for the PGA Tour that will be built around six particular themes.
It is clear that Rolapp wants the Tour to have more events of a signature variety. He noted that the Tour wants to essentially double the “big time” events and that when you toss in the major championships, Ryder Cup, and Tour Championship… there should ideally be 21-26 events that carry serious weight and status.
Rolapp also noted that the Tour wants to have larger fields for more equitable opportunities throughout itself and that there will be a cut in these hypotheticals. This runs counter to the current Signature Event model.
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One of the biggest things that Rolapp noted was that the PGA Tour wants to begin its season on the West Coast in a big fashion and that they want to have an event that concludes in primetime on the East Coast. Many have often said that the PGA Tour should begin the week after the Super Bowl, and right now they run into that.
It is clear that the PGA Tour also wants to continue to tap into big media markets as any sports business would. Rolapp also noted that promotion and relegation are options that are being considered in the future, and match play is something that could return to specific formats and events.
Overall Wednesday was a very strong step from the PGA Tour’s newest point of leadership. It is clear that they have established the greatest Tour in the world and that they are intent on capitalizing on it as much as they can.
It is exciting for golf fans everywhere.
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