PGA Tour Officially Taps Rolapp, Ends Monahan’s Run: What It Means

The PGA Tour officially named Brian Rolapp its first CEO on Tuesday morning, as expected after the executive stepped down from his previous role as the NFL’s chief media and business officer last week.

But the bigger news is that PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan will transition his day-to-day responsibilities to Rolapp and step down at the end of 2026, when his contract expires.

Monahan will “increasingly focus on his role as a member of the PGA Tour policy board and the PGA Tour Enterprises board through the end of next year, according to Tuesday’s announcement. He said he informed those boards of his decision to step down as commissioner a year ago.

“Since then, we’ve worked together to identify a leader who can build on our momentum and develop a process that ensures a smooth transition,” Monahan said in a statement. “We’ve found exactly the right leader in Brian Rolapp, and I’m excited to support him as he transitions from the NFL into his new role leading the PGA Tour.”

Rolapp, who will officially start later this summer, will be CEO of both the PGA Tour, which will continue to operate as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, and the for-profit entity PGA Tour Enterprises. The PGA Tour management team will report to Rolapp, and he will report to both boards of directors.

“My goal as CEO is to honor golf’s traditions but not be overly bound by them,” Rolapp said in an open letter to fans. “Over the past few years, the Tour has made meaningful progress in addressing these changes—from creating more opportunities for players to improving the competitive structure and enhancing the fan experience. But there’s still significant work to do and incredible opportunity remains ahead.”

PGA Tour Enterprises was created in 2024 after the Strategic Sports Group, a conglomeration of professional sports franchise owners, invested $1.5 billion, with an option to double that to $3 billion. Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who knows Rolapp very well from their NFL ties, is the director of the PGA Tour Enterprises board and led the CEO search. 

Tiger Woods was also on the search committee and offered his support for Rolapp on Tuesday. 

“Brian’s appointment is a win for players and fans,” he said in a statement. “He has a clear respect for the game and our players and brings a fresh perspective from his experience in the NFL. I’m excited about what’s ahead—and confident that with Brian’s leadership, we’ll continue to grow the TOUR in ways that benefit everyone who loves this sport.”