The PGA Tour approved Brian Rolapp as its fifth commissioner Tuesday and also revealed a new competitive structure that features both a Championship and Challenger Series.
Rolapp, who was appointed PGA Tour CEO in June 2025, will assume the post on Jan. 1, 2027, while the new two-tiered system will begin in 2028.
“I am grateful for the trust the boards have placed in me for the opportunity to serve the PGA Tour and our membership as commissioner,” said Rolapp, who follows Joe Dey (1969-74), Deane Beman (1974-94), Tim Finchem (1994-2016) and Jay Monahan (2017-26) in the role.
“Over the past year, we have made meaningful progress by prioritizing our fans and working collaboratively — with our players, our partners, our boards and the Future Competition Committee — to strengthen our foundation and shape what comes next.”
The Future Competition Committee’s recommended changes for the new structure were approved by the PGA Tour Policy Board and PGA Tour Enterprises Board on Monday in West Hartford, Conn.
Rolapp announced the details Tuesday morning at the TPC River Highlands, site of this week’s Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn.
Tiger Woods, chairman of the PGA Tour’s Future Competitions Committee, appeared with Rolapp. The 15-time major champion was making his first public appearance since his arrest in March on DUI charges.
The Championship Series will have up to 24 events, including 16 signature events, the four major championships, The Players Championship, the Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup, as well as a reimagined playoff that will involve some version of match play and a rotation of courses.
Each event in the Championship Series will boast a purse of at least $20 million, including fields of roughly 120 golfers with no alternate list and no sponsor exemptions.
The season will run from around February through August, however the full schedule is expected to be announced early next year. An August finish would give elite players an opportunity to compete in premier events overseas.
At least the top 90 players in the points list from the Championship Series will retain their membership the following season. Another 20 will be promoted from the Challenger Series, which will serve as the path to the Championship Series.
The Challenger Series will include at least 20 events with 144-players fields and minimum $4 million purses.
“This was never about one player or one person … (but) thinking boldly of the game we love,” Woods said.
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy also weighed in on the news.
“Today’s announcement is a positive step for professional golf. As more details emerge, it is encouraging to see the PGA Tour reaffirming the importance of meritocracy and creating a structure that will serve both players and fans well into the future,” McIlroy said.
“I’ve always been proud to compete around the world, and the collaboration between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour is one founded in the betterment of the game globally. The commitment to elevate some of these historic international tournaments and national opens is incredibly important for the game and something I’m very supportive of.
“Over the last few years, golf has faced a period of uncertainty and division, which has not been in the best interests of the players, or the fans of the game. Today, we are putting the fans first, and I am excited about the future of our sport.”
Lucas Glover, chairman of the Players Advisory Committee, spoke to Golf Channel about the news.
“This is just the foundation, this is just the framework,” he said. “The challenge now is going forward. There are still a lot of questions. We have to take this thing to market, get the feedback, get the sponsors on board, the media on board, television on board.”
–Field Level Media
