The PGA Tour is entering a new era under fresh leadership, but the shadow of past decisions still looms large. One move in particular, seen by some as a turning point, continues to spark debate about what went wrong and who should be blamed. Many critics say Jay Monahan mishandled the PGA Tour and its relationship with LIV from the start. First, he came down hard, suspending every player who joined LIV’s first event and warning others they would face the same fate.

That move drove a wedge between the Tour and some of its biggest stars and made the split in golf even wider. Then, out of nowhere, he announced a secret deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, LIV’s backer, without telling most players. The surprise angered locker rooms, shook public trust, and even caught the attention of regulators. The swing from tough punishments to a sudden agreement made it clear that the Tour’s leadership struggled to handle the situation or explain a consistent plan.

Brendan from Fried Egg Golf said it bluntly, Jay Monahan has left a giant mess for Brian Rolapp to clean up. “From the last five years in golf, talk is cheap,” he said. “You can walk away from the Rolapp press conference generally excited about some of the things he said.” At a press conference on August 20th, Rolapp signaled a fresh era of energy and innovation at the PGA Tour, making it clear that capturing attention is everything in today’s crowded sports world. “Anybody who’s in the sports business, their general competition is for the mind share of sports fans and for their time,” he said, noting that fans have a million alternatives vying for their attention. Rolapp’s focus on grabbing that attention shows he understands the modern challenges of sports and is ready to make golf more compelling for fans.

He also stressed the need for constant innovation, drawing from his NFL experience. “You just have to constantly innovate… I think if there’s anything I learned at the NFL, it’s that we did not sit still. We changed the rules every March. We changed the kickoff rule. That’s what I mean by honoring tradition but not being bound by it.” Rolapp boiled the sports business down to its essentials: get the product right, partner with the right people, and fans will reward you with their time. The rest, he says, will follow. His vision of creativity, fan focus, and bold leadership makes the future of the PGA Tour feel exciting and full of possibilities.

Brendan highlighted what he enjoyed about the press conference, pointing out how both leaders acknowledged the importance of players and partners. “You know what I loved about the press conference… Jay getting players and partners in his intro…and then Rolapp talking about… who’s these great partners of ours… the partners can… are a lot of times one of the biggest issues on the Tour,” he said. Rolapp reinforced this during the conference when he explained, “You get the product right, you get the right partners, your fans will reward you with their time because they’re telling you it’s good…then the..business part will take care of itself.” This shows that building strong partnerships is central to the Tour’s strategy and long-term success.

Brendan didn’t hold back in calling out what he sees as the biggest failure of Jay Monahan’s tenure. “I think on the whole the fact that professional golf was divided under his rule makes it a failure… he allowed a relationship with one of the greatest players of all time… run into the arms of the Saudi Arabians was a cataclysmic disaster… allow them to then pull the game apart,” he said. Under Monahan, the LIV Golf era began, and he let not just Phil Mickelson but other top players like Bryson DeChambeau slip away from the PGA Tour, leaving a fractured landscape that Brian Rolapp now faces as the most difficult challenge of his leadership. 

While Brendan highlights the challenges Rolapp inherits from Monahan’s era, Monahan himself has been quick to endorse the new CEO, praising his experience, leadership, and ability to connect with players and partners.

Monahan Backs Rolapp as PGA Tour’s Fresh Leadership Takes Shape

Jay Monahan hasn’t held back in his support of Brian Rolapp as the new PGA Tour CEO. “Brian Rolapp is off to a great start. As I’ve told everyone that’s asked me, Brian is very bright. His experience lends itself perfectly and precisely to the future opportunity of the PGA TOUR,” he said, pointing to Rolapp’s experience as a perfect fit for the challenges ahead.

Monahan also highlighted how quickly Rolapp has started building relationships, noting, “It’s been a pleasure to watch him connect with our players, our partners and team members,” showing that trust and credibility are already forming around his leadership.

Monahan believes Rolapp has stepped in at exactly the right time for the Tour. By focusing on collaboration with players and partners and bringing fresh ideas to the table, Rolapp is setting the stage for innovation and stronger fan engagement. For Monahan, these early moves suggest that the PGA Tour is in capable hands and that its next chapter is off to a promising start.