When a PGA Tour CEO personally calls players instead of waiting for them to reach out, you know something fundamental has changed in professional golf’s power dynamics. The days of learning major tour decisions through media reports appear numbered. Meanwhile, a new era of direct player engagement has quietly begun.

Max Homa stepped to the microphone at the Procore Championship on September 10, 2025, carrying more than just thoughts about his upcoming tournament defense. Instead, he brought firsthand insight into the PGA Tour’s leadership transformation. The two-time champion at this venue had just experienced something relatively unprecedented in recent tour history.

“Yeah, chatted with him at the Travelers, chatted with him at the Rocket Mortgage and chatted with him on the phone with him a week or two ago. He seems awesome,” Homa revealed when asked about his interactions with new CEO Brian Rolapp.

The casual tone masked a significant shift. Furthermore, Max Homa quickly clarified that the initiative came from the top. “He called me. I think he called a bunch of people. He’s very proactive,” Homa explained, highlighting an approach that contrasts sharply with previous tour leadership.

Rolapp’s background particularly impressed the California native. Moreover, Homa appreciated the CEO’s willingness to leave his comfortable NFL position. “I think the most exciting part is just his, one, willingness to be with us. He had a pretty good job. And then two, his energy towards it and like what he sees,” Homa shared during the press conference.

The “pretty good job” reference understated Rolapp’s previous role. Actually, he served as the NFL’s Chief Media and Business Officer for 22 years. Additionally, sports media runs in Rolapp’s family, with his father orchestrating the PGA Tour’s first television network deal decades ago.

Homa’s enthusiasm grew when discussing Rolapp’s expertise in the entertainment industry. “I always found that, we’re such a niche sport so it’s cool when somebody with the background he’s got in like the biggest sport wants to come here and then has the energy when he does get here,” he explained.

The perspective resonated deeply with golf’s current challenges. Consequently, Homa sees Rolapp’s NFL experience as ideally suited for golf’s evolution. “His perspective on entertainment and stuff is I think is very unique to — it’s like the highest level of entertainment is football,” Homa noted.

A new era of PGA Tour player-leadership communication

This proactive outreach represents a dramatic departure from recent tour history. Previously, players regularly complained about communication gaps under Commissioner Jay Monahan. Specifically, multiple pros criticized learning major policy changes through media reports rather than direct communication.

However, Rolapp’s approach has already generated positive responses across the membership. Similarly, Jordan Spieth praised the new CEO after their initial meeting, calling him “incredible.” Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler expressed excitement about the “new leadership” and “good energy” Rolapp brings.

The communication style extends beyond casual conversations. Instead, Rolapp actively seeks player input through structured meetings and personal calls. Therefore, players now feel included in decision-making processes rather than excluded from them. Homa’s outlook reflected the broader sentiment among players. “Yeah, more excited. Excited and curious, but curious just because I’m excited to see what he does. Not anxious,” he stated when asked to characterize his feelings about the new leadership.

The assessment culminated in a ringing endorsement. “I could say like just from what I’ve heard about him, talked to him and all these things, like you can’t really have a whole lot of better person coming in to do what he’s about to do,” Homa concluded. Golf’s communication revolution has clearly begun. Consequently, players like Homa now anticipate leadership decisions rather than fear them. What will Rolapp’s next move reveal about this transformation?