Brian Rolapp and Tiger Woods (right) at a press conference. [Getty Images]
Brian Rolapp and Tiger Woods (right) at a press conference. [Getty Images]

The PGA Tour is undertaking a sweeping structural overhaul and leadership transition in line with the rapidly shifting sports business landscape.

The tour announced a bold plan to split its schedule into upper- and lower-tier tracks starting in 2028, and has appointed a media and sports business veteran as its new commissioner to drive the transformation.

Under the new structure, the PGA Tour will be divided into a Championship Series — featuring top-ranked players competing for large purses — and a Challenger Series for lower-ranked players.

The Championship Series will run from February through August and consist of 23 to 24 events, including the four major championships, The Players Championship and international team competitions such as the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup. Each event will carry a minimum purse of $20 million and field approximately 120 players, with no alternates or sponsor exemptions.

The Challenger Series will run concurrently with the Championship Series, except for select events, and will field 144 players. The top roughly 90 players in the Championship Series will retain their cards for the following season, while those outside that threshold will be relegated to the Challenger Series. In turn, 20 players from the Challenger Series will earn promotion to the Championship Series the following season.

The tour also plans to sharpen the competitive edge of its signature events, each carrying a $20 million purse. A 36-hole cut — previously absent from five of the eight signature events — will be reinstated to drive merit-based competition even within the top tier. "This is designed to give players a more intense challenge and fans edge-of-your-seat drama every round," a tour official said.

Brian Rolapp, who spent 20 years as the NFL's top media and business executive, has been named to lead the transformation as the tour's new commissioner. Rolapp will serve as CEO of both PGA Tour Inc. and PGA Tour Enterprises, overseeing efforts to strengthen the tour's commercial operations and maximize the value of its broadcast rights.

A Harvard Business School graduate, Rolapp built his reputation in the sports business world during his time at the NFL, where he negotiated landmark media deals with global streaming platforms including Amazon, Netflix and YouTube.

"I feel the weight of joining the PGA Tour at such a pivotal moment," Rolapp said upon taking office. "I look forward to working with players and partners to create sustainable value for the tour and deliver a more dynamic sporting future to fans around the world." Outgoing Commissioner Jay Monahan will transition his responsibilities gradually and take on a policy oversight role.

Tiger Woods, who served on the PGA Tour Policy Board, played a prominent role in the leadership transition. Woods joined Arthur Blank and Adam Scott on the CEO search committee, which unanimously recommended Rolapp. The appearance also marked the first time Woods had attended a formal public event since his serious car accident.

Woods voiced strong support for the appointment. "Brian Rolapp's addition is a very positive change for both players and fans," he said. "He brings not only a deep respect for the game and its players, but a completely fresh perspective to the PGA Tour built on his vast experience at the NFL." Woods said he was excited about the tour's future under Rolapp's leadership.


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