Industry News

The Starter: PGA Tour change is blowin' in the wind

While not offering specifics, CEO Brian Rolapp indicated how different the Tour will look in the coming years; Should we view Akshay Bhatia in a new light after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational?; Bryson DeChambeau seeks to find a form that may not exist.

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PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp addresses the media regarding the Tour's future plans.

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿฝ At The Players Championship, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp introduced his (somewhat vague) ambitions for the future of the Tour, part of which is a schedule of 21-26 events for top-tier players, including the playoffs and the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup. Is he on the right track?

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿฝ One of the obvious but largely unstated reasons for wholesale changes at the PGA Tour is that the NFL is about to renegotiate its media rights deals, which will leave much less money for other sports. Rolapp is trying make golf more attractive to the networks. Is that a good enough reason to make all the competition alterations?

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿฝ Rolapp says the Tour has not decided what position to take in the upcoming USGA ball rollback. Or is he just not telling us?

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿฝ A relationship with LIV Golf is apparently not on Rolappโ€™s to-do list. "Thatโ€™s not something Iโ€™ve sort of considered to date," he said. Would he rather pick off LIVโ€™s best players instead?

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿฝ In the run-up to The Players Championship, the Tour (Rolapp?) has re-ignited the debate as to whether the Players should be golfโ€™s fifth major. Legitimate discussion or can we just move on?

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿฝ Akshay Bhatia won his third PGA Tour event, beating sentimental favorite Daniel Berger in a playoff at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Should Bhatia now be on peopleโ€™s lists of best young players?

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿฝ Scottie Scheffler was seen practicing in a steady rain Thursday afternoon after another round of trouble with his driver. Who did you have more sympathy for standing in the rain: caddie Ted Scott or teacher Randy Smith?

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿฝ Bryson DeChambeau, who leads after two rounds at LIV Singapore says heโ€™s "trying to get back to my 58 form," when he shot the score at LIV Greenbrier in 2023. Does anyone have "58 form"?

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿฝ The PGA Tour has hired Davis Love III to oversee changes to the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass with the aim being to "restore" the original design features created by architect Pete Dye. Is this a case of be careful what you wish for?


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