New PGA Tour boss is no stranger to LIV Golf chief | Golf News

Brian Rolapp, the newly appointed CEO of the PGA Tour, has a historical past with Scott O’Neil, the present head of LIV Golf.

The PGA Tour confirmed Rolapp’s appointment in a assertion on Tuesday, forward of this week’s Travelers Championship. The announcement also revealed that the present commissioner, Jay Monahan, will step down after his contract expires in 2026.

Monahan has been concerned in peace talks with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF), having beforehand taken a firm stance against the rival tour, including banning gamers like Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau.

Rolapp, the incoming CEO, may have to navigate relations with their Saudi rivals, but his earlier relationship with LIV CEO Scott O’Neil could possibly be useful. O’Neil joined the breakaway league in January, succeeding Greg Norman, who helped launch the league in 2022.

After the announcement of former NFL boss Rolapp on Tuesday, an exchange on X (previously Twitter) resurfaced, where Rolapp was seen praising one of O’Neil’s books. “Have a nice stack of books to work through this long weekend. This one is on top. Congratulations @ScottONeil,” Rolapp tweeted back in 2021.

O’Neil shortly responded, thanking Rolapp for his sort phrases. “Thanks @brianrolapp. Appreciate you, your leadership (and your summer reading list) #BeWhereYourFeetAre,” the LIV chief wrote in reply.

According to Golf.com, it has been revealed that the 2 main figures in males’s skilled golf first crossed paths at Harvard Business School. The appointment of Rolapp, former NFL Network CEO, is a important transfer for the PGA Tour.

“I’m honored to join the PGA Tour at such a pivotal time,” Rolapp said. “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 prepared to get to work-alongside our gamers, companions, and management team-to construct lasting worth and ship an even more dynamic future for the game and our followers.”

When questioned about his golfing history during a media session on Tuesday, Rolapp admitted it was somewhat limited.

“Yeah, my golf historical past. First of all, my first job in high college I labored at the flip at a nation membership in Washington, D.C. space, Congressional Country Club,” he shared. That’s where I earned gas money. So that’s how I was actually introduced to the game, on employee day, actually learning to play golf.

“In high college I skipped fairly a bit of lessons in faculty enjoying, and then profession and household began, and I took a long time off from the sport because my profession, my household obtained in the way in which in a bit, but I’ve taken it up in current years in the past… I in all probability play perhaps 5 to ten rounds a yr. Not as a lot as I would love to.

“I will say you would have to ask the board and search committee. No one hired me for my golf game here. That’s not my job. My job is to do other things. But I’m a big fan of the sport.”