Former NFL executive vice president Brian Rolapp was named the CEO of the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Enterprises on Tuesday.
Rolapp, 53, spent 22 years with the NFL. He will take over the day-to-day operations of the PGA Tour later this summer in place of current commissioner Jay Monahan, who will step down at the end of his contract in 2026.
Per the PGA Tour, Monahan will focus on his role as a member of the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Enterprises boards during the remainder of his tenure. Monahan took over as commissioner in 2017.
“A year ago, I informed our Boards that upon completing a decade as commissioner, I would step down from my role at the end of 2026,” Monahan said in a statement. “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. 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.”
The search committee for the new CEO included Monahan, Tiger Woods, Adam Scott — both player directors on the policy board — and Arthur Blank, owner of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and chair of PGA Tour Enterprises’ management, development and compensation committee.
Rolapp stands as a natural fit, having been the NFL’s lead media and business officer during a period of exponential growth by the league. He is considered a potential successor for commissioner Roger Goodell, and a new role as a CEO at a different pro sports endeavor likely won’t change that.
Rolapp joined the NFL in 2003 and has been in his current role overseeing advertising, sponsorships and media contracts since 2017. Before then, he was the NFL chief operating officer and senior VP of media strategy and digital media. He also was the CEO of NFL Network and executive VP of NFL Media.
“I’m honored to join the PGA Tour at such a pivotal time,” Rolapp said in a statement. “The PGA Tour represents the highest level of competition, integrity and global opportunity in the game of golf, and I believe deeply in the tour’s mission and its potential to grow even stronger. I’m ready to get to work — alongside our players, partners and leadership team — to build lasting value and deliver an even more dynamic future for the sport and our fans.”
Woods applauded Rolapp’s arrival to the PGA Tour.
“Brian’s appointment is a win for players and fans,” Woods 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.”
Speaking to reporters Tuesday at a press conference ahead of this week’s Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn., Rolapp was asked about the challenges of putting a fractured sport back together.
“When it comes to the situation with LIV (Golf), I think that’s a complex situation that’s probably something I should learn more about before I speak,” he said. “But I will say my focus is on growing the Tour, making it better, and really moving on from the position of strength that it has.”
–Field Level Media
