Promotion and relegation, several major tournaments, chasing for the stars and maybe match play for the most prestigious title. The future PGA boss Brian Rolapp makes no secret of the fact that golf fans can expect a small revolution.
Brian Rolapp will take over the helm as head of the world’s largest golf federation in 2027. He is already revealing what the golf TV of the future may look like – and he draws inspiration from a completely different sport.
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“Look at England. There, the teams are promoted and relegated between the Premier League and the Championship. It has to be a consequence of whether you play well or badly,” Rolapp said at a press conference in Florida.
The key changes that could turn the PGA Tour upside down:
More Top Tournaments
Today’s eight signature tournaments could become history. Rolapp will increase the number of “elevated tournaments” to between 21 and 26 per season – including majors, the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup.
Larger field and cut
In contrast to today’s closed signature format with few players and a limited cut, the big tournaments going forward will have around 120 players and a traditional cut. This means more drama and more chances for unknown heroes.
The Premier League model
A system of promotion and relegation is introduced. Players will need to perform to keep their place in the top competitions – just like in football’s top divisions.
New season start and new cities
The traditional opening in Hawaii may be broken. Instead, the season will kick off at an iconic location on the West Coast of the United States. At the same time, the PGA Tour will enter major markets such as New York, San Francisco and Chicago – cities that currently lack regular stops.
FedEx Title Match Play
The biggest turnaround could come in the season finale. Rolapp is considering introducing match play in the last three playoff tournaments: FedEx St. Jude Championship, BMW Championship and Tour Championship. Instead of stroke play, players will fight hole by hole to win.
With over 20 years in the NFL under his belt, Rolapp has both the weight and the vision to change golf as we know it. Now it remains to be seen if the players and fans are ready for a new era.
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