Lynch: PGA Tour's new boss has fresh opportunities, but the same old problems need answers
It's probably a testament to Jay Monahan's one-on-one popularity that he managed to remain leader of the PGA Tour for two years and 10 days after announcing the controversial decision that foreshortened his commissionership, but the recent announcement of his successor finally draws to an end the Gethsemane hours of his tenure, when everyone — including Monahan and those closest to him — awaited what they knew was inevitable.
The furious player backlash to the June 6, 2023, Framework Agreement with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund wasn't grounded in moral objections to doing business with authoritarians, nor in shock at the about-face Monahan performed to get there. It was the secretive manner in which he went about it, an enormous governance misstep that led to structural reforms that sharply curtailed the executive authority of his office. That altered balance of power is just one of the many challenges awaiting Brian Rolapp, the newly-named CEO of PGA Tour Enterprises and de facto head of the entire organization.
Rolapp represents a departure from his predecessors at the top of the Ponte Vedra pyramid, beyond not having the commissioner title quite yet (Monahan will remain in that role through '26). He's an outsider, not a product of the Tour's conclave nor even of the broader golf ecosystem. He's barely a golfer at all, despite his game efforts to disguise that reality. None of those facts are inherently negative. While there was no doubt who Rolapp worked for in his last job at the NFL — team owners — the PGA Tour's constituencies are more complex. There's one that wants to be owners (fans), one that thinks they're owners (players), and one that are actually owners (Strategic Sports Group, which invested $1.5 billion). Rolapp's credentials, management style and innovative thinking have been widely praised, and he'll need them to navigate his many stakeholders, who are not always aligned.
For example, every entity with whom the PGA Tour partners — sponsors, broadcasters, tournaments — focuses on the same end user of its services: fans. But headquarters sees the end users of its services as the players, and that's who is always prioritized. Rolapp seems conscious of the need to bridge that divide.
'What has attracted me about this opportunity is that it's unique in sports in that the players own the Tour. It's their Tour. They are the shareholders. They are the owners, so I certainly work for them,' he said. 'Having said that, and we talked a little bit about this in our player meeting, I think they know what's good for fans is also good for the Tour.
"It's not that complicated. If you think what's best for the fan, it's usually best for everybody involved.'
What of the stalled PIF negotiations that came to define the Monahan era? Will that prove uncomplicated too?
Yasir Al-Rumayyan has been incommunicado since leaving the White House in a snit on February 20. Even if he (or H.E. to his supplicants) adopts a more conciliatory tone, is there any upside to Rolapp wading into the same quagmire that trapped Monahan? A new leader who inherits a failed negotiation and widespread player apathy about any deal could be more inclined to cut bait and move on. His comments on Tuesday hinted as much.
'When it comes to the situation with LIV, I think that's a complex situation that's probably something I should learn more about before I speak,' he said. 'But I will say my focus is on growing the Tour, making it better, and really moving on from the position of strength that it has.'
When pushed on the PIF negotiations, he didn't slam the door, but nor did he sound like a man eager to wait around until Al-Rumayyan's ego is sufficiently stroked. 'Again, I'm not close enough to any of those discussions, but I will say what I saw regardless of that is a very strong Tour. I see a strong product.'
It may be that the only avenues for the PGA Tour to work with PIF/LIV involve TGL, the indoor team league in which the Tour is a partner, or an international series staged in concert with the DP World Tour outside of the FedEx Cup season, from September through January. Rolapp expressed enthusiasm about golf's potential for global expansion, but he also doesn't need the Saudis for that. What he does need is buy-in from players and from SSG on spending its investment dollars.
'Where we deploy that capital, I have ideas. It's an investor group that is experienced in sports. They're smart,' he said a few days ago. 'And the player directors are bright and motivated and focused, and that was really great to see. I think what I've seen from the board have been very focused on growing the game, looking out for players, and so it was all positive.'
At some point, those stakeholder interests will begin to arc in different directions. Rolapp will never be more powerful than in his first year, and he's been bought valuable breathing space by the tailwinds Monahan leaves behind, like robust TV ratings and a healthy book of sponsor business. But he's still at the mercy of the players, who control votes on the board. Striking a balance between what players are willing to do, what fans are willing to accept, and what SSG is willing to pay for will be a time-consuming task. It's a good thing he's not worried about maintaining an index.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
PGA Tour Sends Strong Scottie Scheffler Message on Saturday
PGA Tour Sends Strong Scottie Scheffler Message on Saturday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The PGA Tour celebrated Scottie Scheffler in style on Saturday, honoring the world No. 1 golfer on his birthday with an Instagram post from @pgatour showcasing his top 10 career shots. Advertisement The post, shared earlier today, serves as a tribute to his remarkable journey, timed perfectly as fans and the Tour alike mark his special day. This gesture underscores Scheffler's status as a golfing icon and the Tour's commitment to celebrating its brightest stars. The post highlights iconic moments, including his hole-in-one at the 2023 Charles Schwab Challenge and his remarkable eagle hole-out at the 2024 Players Championship. These shots reflect the precision and power that have defined his rise, with three wins in his last five starts this season, including a victory at the 2025 PGA Championship. Scottie Scheffler plays his shot from the tenth tee during the first round.© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The birthday tribute aligns with Scheffler being in contention at the Travelers Championship this weekend, tying for the 36-hole lead with a score of nine under par. Advertisement This celebration sends a clear message: Scheffler, at 29, is the Tour's present and future and will continue to dominate a majority of the tournaments he plays in. With competitors like Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas challenging his lead, his career highlights remind fans of his consistency and clutch performances. The post has sparked excitement, reinforcing the Tour's intent to honor excellence while hyping its toughest course setups and merit-based finales. For golf enthusiasts, it's a fitting birthday salute to a player redefining the sport. Related: PGA Tour Teases Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas Pairing at Travelers Championship This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dale Jr. talks total team effort after first crew chief victory
Do NOT Tell George Kittle That the 49ers' Title Window Has Closed 49ers TE George Kittle and Rich Eisen talk Tight End University 2025, Brock Purdy's huge new deal, and the Niners' revamped roster.
Newsweek
39 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Scottie Scheffler Has Not-So-Happy Birthday at Travelers Championship
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Any performance by Scottie Scheffler that doesn't reflect absolute dominance is newsworthy. No wonder there's been a buzz with his start of the third round of the Travelers Championship, when he proved that he belongs to the human race in a way that hadn't been seen there in almost a year. Scheffler began Moving Day at TPC River Highlands tied with Justin Thomas for first place at 9-under. However, he got off to a disastrous start, carding 4-over on the front nine. From the outset, it was clear that the three-time major champion would be far from his usual form, as he recorded a triple bogey on the first hole. Scottie Scheffler of the United States walks from the sixth hole during the third round of the Travelers Championship 2025 at TPC River Highlands on June 21, 2025 in Cromwell, Connecticut. Scottie Scheffler of the United States walks from the sixth hole during the third round of the Travelers Championship 2025 at TPC River Highlands on June 21, 2025 in Cromwell, who coincidentally celebrated his 29th birthday on Saturday, sent his tee shot into the rough to the left of the fairway. From there, he tried to reach the green but couldn't, as his ball settled in a front-side bunker. He tried again to reach the green but overshot it, landing in the back-side rough. He made another attempt to reach the green, but he fell short again and the ball rolled back down the slope. He finally succeeded on his fourth attempt (his fifth shot) to reach the green, but then two-putted, carding a 7 for the par-4 first hole. According to the PGA Tour Communications X account, it's Scottie Scheffler's first triple bogey on Tour in 300 days. His previous one occurred on the 10th hole during the fourth round of the 2024 BMW Championship. Golf is hard, even for Scottie Scheffler. A triple bogey on the first hole moves him from T1 to T10 @TravelersChamp. 📺 Golf Channel — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 21, 2025 His troubles didn't end there, by any means. Scheffler responded to his first-hole setback with a birdie on the second hole but bogeyed the fourth after landing in a bunker again. He then birdied the sixth but doubled the eighth to make the turn at 4 over par. On the back nine, the 16-time PGA Tour winner appeared to have found better form. He played his final nine at 2-under and finished his day 7-under overall. But any chances at winning this week appear to have gone by the wayside. Tommy Fleetwood is leading the Travelers Championship at 16-under. The Englishman is seeking his first PGA Tour victory and holds a three-stroke lead over Russell Henley and Keegan Bradley. More Golf: Collin Morikawa Uses New 'Weird' Strategy at Travelers Championship
