PGA chief Monahan won't renew deal, will be replaced by NFL exec

The PGA TOUR announced Tuesday that commissioner Jay Monahan won't renew his contract and will begin transitioning his day-to-day duties to newly appointed chief executive officer Brian Rolapp.

Monahan will continue to serve in his role on the PGA TOUR policy board and the PGA TOUR enterprise board through the end of 2026.

A search committee consisting of Monahan, Arthur Blank, Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Joe Gorder, and Sam Kennedy unanimously recommended Rolapp for the position.

"A year ago, I informed our boards that upon completing a decade as commissioner, I would step down from my role at the end of 2026," Monahan said in a statement. "Since then, we've worked together to identify a leader who can build on our momentum and develop a process that ensures a smooth transition.

"We've found exactly the right leader in Brian Rolapp, and I'm excited to support him as he transitions from the NFL into his new role leading the PGA TOUR."

Rolapp had been an NFL executive for the past two decades, most recently serving as that league's chief media and business officer.

"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."

The TOUR has made significant changes over the last couple of seasons, adding elevated events with massive $20-million purses, as well as continuing negotiations with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, which owns LIV Golf, to build the framework of a potential merger.

"The PGA TOUR is in the midst of, I think, a comeback, a bounce-back season with real momentum," Monahan told the Sports Business Journal last week. "As it relates to engagement, as it relates to commercial, as it relates to what's happening inside ropes, inside the field of play. Together, we're going to be focused on making certain that we finish this season very, very strong. And we will be doing that together."

LIV also brought in a new CEO in the past year, replacing longtime executive Greg Norman with Scott O'Neil last November.