PGA Tour Shakes Up Leadership: NFL's Brian Rolapp in as CEO, Jay Monahan Out as Commissioner

The PGA Tour unveiled major changes to its leadership team on Tuesday morning. Longtime NFL executive Brian Rolapp will become the Tour’s first-ever CEO and Commissioner Jay Monahan will step down in 2026 at the end of his current contract. 

The commissioner’s day-to-day responsibilities will transition to Rolapp, who was unanimously recommended for the role by the Tour’s search committee, and Monahan will shift his focus to his seat on both the PGA Tour Policy Board and PGA Tour Enterprises Board.

Rolapp has spent more than two decades with the NFL, most recently as the league’s Chief Media and Business Officer, and is a highly respected executive in the industry. A graduate of BYU and Harvard Business School who also worked at Congressional Country Club in high school, Rolapp will serve as the CEO of PGA Tour, Inc. and PGA Tour Enterprises, the new for-profit entity that received a $1.5 billion investment from the Strategic Sports Group in January 2024. That investment was “a big factor” in Rolapp’s decision. 

“I think the Strategic Investment had a big influence. I think the investment of capital and the pledge of future capital has been one of the things that have strengthened the Tour,” said Rolapp in a press conference at this week’s Travelers Championship. “I think it's a huge opportunity.”

The Tour’s press release was littered with statements from Rolapp, Monahan, Tiger Woods, and PGA Tour Policy Board and Enterprises Board chairman Joe Gorder, but a quote from Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who led the search committee and serves on the PGA Tour Enterprises Board of Directors, stood out the most.

“Having worked with Brian during our time in the NFL, I’ve seen firsthand his ability to lead with vision and collaboration, and to deliver results,” said Blank. “He understands what it takes to elevate a global sports brand—and I’m confident he’ll bring that same energy and excellence to the PGA Tour.”

Rolapp oversaw the NFL’s commercial business, such as broadcast and digital rights, NFL Network and NFL Films, sponsorships, and the league’s private investment entity, 32 Equity. His experience in building up the league as a global sports entertainment brand will be vital as the Tour continues to grow both domestically and abroad. 

During his introductory press conference, Rolapp danced around questions on LIV Golf and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, but his most telling answer was to the following question: Is your priority reporting to players or reporting to fans?

“Well, I think it's to both. I think ultimately what has attracted me about this opportunity is that it's unique in sports in that the players own the Tour. It's their Tour,” said Rolapp. “They are the shareholders. They are the owners, so I certainly work for them.”

“Having said that, and we talked a little bit about this in our player meeting, I think they know what's good for fans is also good for the Tour,” he continued. “Working in the sports business as long as I have, sometimes it's not that complicated. If you think what's best for the fan, it's usually best for everybody involved. So I think we're going to keep that mindset here.”

It’s difficult to serve two masters with competing ideals, and the wants of golf fans and players rarely align. Given his success with the NFL, Rolapp may just be the best person for the job.