Everyone spoke highly of Brian Rolapp when he joined the PGA Tour. The expectation from him was to create a Tour that would focus on promoting the game, rather than having a profit-driven environment. But some players, like Lucas Glover, think that has not been the case. Especially with things like decreasing the accessibility, and adding another $20M signature event to the 2026 calendar.

Lucas Glover recently joined the Monday Q Info podcast, where he discussed the Tour’s direction, policy changes, and their impact. That’s when the host brought up Glover’s direct conversations with the CEO and whether Glover had responded to the CEO’s recent calls. While Glover acknowledged his meeting with Rolapp in Harford, he shared that since then, he has been reluctant to return Rolapp’s calls. The player relations staff has also reached out to Glover multiple times, all to no avail.

Criticising the individualistic, profit-driven environment, Glover shared the real reason behind his refusal. “When the new schedule came out, they added another signature event and took another full-field event out. That’s what made me realize that it wasn’t changing—it was going to get worse.”

The new Miami Championship added to the schedule is one of the many examples where money has controlled the narratives. This event will offer a purse of $20 million, with a limited field of 70 players. That ensures only the marquee golfers have a chance at the event, turning it into a financial wing rather than a crucial stop on the Tour. The introduction of this event only added fuel to the frustration of Glover.

“When the new schedule came out, all I’m hearing is the same conversation: money, money, money, money, money. When’s the last time anybody talked about the charity initiative of the PGA Tour?” the veteran interrogated. “Nobody talks about that anymore.”

Glover also explained that the “wholesome” environment of the Tour has been replaced with a focus on money. With over 2 decades of experience, Glover noted that the past few years have not lived up to the reputation. As is clear from his words, Glover’s refusal to speak with the CEO is not personal, but principled. He realized the conversation would turn out vestigial, with no significant change. However, quipping on the PGA Tour’s condition, Glover couldn’t help but comment, “It just doesn’t feel how it was. It seems dirty, honestly.”

Time and again, Glover has shared his resentment of signature events.

“I’ve been on record as saying I was not a fan of these when they hatched the idea of them,” the 2009 US Open winner said at the Truist Championship. “I didn’t like them then and I have been in most of them since they started and I still don’t like them. I’ve been on the record as saying I don’t like cutting 200 cards and I still don’t. I think it’s getting too exclusive and we’re not giving enough opportunity and I’ve been pretty outspoken about that.”

Clearly, the frustration with the PGA Tour and its recent changes is growing. The reduced number of Tour cards also added to his strong feelings.

“I think it’s terrible,” Glover said of proposed 2026 changes, per Golfweek. “And then hiding behind the pace of play, I think, challenges our intelligence. They think we’re stupid. Don’t cut fields because it’s a pace of play issue. Tell us to play faster, or just say you’re trying to appease six guys and make them happy so they don’t go somewhere else and play golf.”

Glover believes the pace of play issue could be fixed by doing away with the warning and then imposing penalties.

“You get a better pace of play policy or enforce the one you have better,” he said. “If I’m in a slow twosome and an official came up and said, ‘You guys are behind, this is not a warning, y’all are on the clock and if you get a bad time, that’s a shot penalty,’ guess who’s running to their ball? That’s what we need to be doing.”

Marquee golfers like Scottie Scheffler have kept their silence. But Lucas Glover is not alone in his criticisms of the new signature event.

Veterans join Lucas Glover in their critique of the signature events

Lucas Glover is far from the only voice raised against the new addition. Added just weeks before the PGA Championship, the Miami Championship has raised more questions than just the tight scheduling. The veterans have been the least subtle with their digs at the new schedule. The two-time PGA Tour winner, and the 43-year-old veteran, James Hahn, commented, “An extra signature event without a title sponsor at a course owned by the President. This is a joke, right?” Hahn’s remark reflects skepticism on an unnecessary event, with no sponsor backing.

Criticizing the administration of the tour, Hahn didn’t back down when he added, “They just put it together and work it out as the problems come. They’ve made so many mistakes at this point that it’s no surprise they’re still working out the kinks to the FedEx Cup.” Highlighting the multiple slip-ups and mistakes of the tour, Hahn cannot help but note how second-nature this has become to the tour.

Another veteran, Robert Garrigus, also expressed his concerns with the tour’s direction. “What is happening to our Tour?” furrowed the veteran. Moreover, dealing with the sponsor exemptions, or in simple words, free passes to the event, Garrigus didn’t shy away from name-dropping the beneficiaries. “So, does that mean one more sponsor invite for Jordan Spieth? Tell Spieth I’ll play him for any amount he wants. I win, I get his five invites to the signature events,” exclaimed Garrigus.

While the environment stays heated in the PGA Tour, the signature event has only added tension. Whether Glover’s warnings ring a bell to Brian Rolapp or not decides the future of the Tour.