The next chapter of Tiger Woods‘ golf legacy will likely be written off the course, as part of a new era for the PGA Tour.
The Tour’s recently hired CEO, Brian Rolapp, announced a new Future Competition Committee. Woods will serve as the chairman of the new committee that, according to Rolapp, will aim to “design the best professional golf competitive model in the world for the benefit of PGA Tour fans, players, partners.”
How Tiger Woods Will Shape Future of PGA Tour
Rolapp, a former executive at the NFL, also noted the Tour hopes to spark a “holistic relook at how we compete on tour in the regular season, postseason and offseason,” seemingly signaling there will be some big changes coming to not only the Tour’s schedule but how it conducts its playoffs and championships.
The CEO promised “not incremental change (but) significant change.”
The committee itself is made up of six players, including Woods. Joining the 15-time major champion on the committee are Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott, Camilo Villegas, Maverick McNealy and Keith Mitchell.
Joining them as “business advisors” are PGA Tour Enterprises chairman Joe Gorder, Boston Red Sox owner John Henry and former Red Sox and Cubs general manager Theo Epstein. Henry, of course, also owns Fenway Sports Group (of which Epstein is also a senior adviser and part owner). FSG is arguably the biggest part of the Strategic Sports Group, a conglomerate of owners who have committed $1.5 billion to PGA Tour Enterprises.
Three Principles of PGA Tour’s New Committee
Rolapp also revealed he has three “guiding principles” or “key characteristics” that are at the root of the new committee’s work.
1. Competitive Parity
“All sports chase competitive parity. … we’re gonna lean into this while also maintaining meritocracy.”
2. Scarcity
“(There will be a) focus on the tour’s top players to compete together more often in events that feel special for fans and and feel special players.”
3. Simplicity
“Competitions should be easy to follow. The regular season and postseason should be connected in a way that builds toward the Tour Championship in a way that all fans can understand.
What It Means for Golf Fans
So, how do golf fans benefit from this exactly? The details and execution will obviously be how Rolapp, Woods and the committee itself are judged. But there’s reason for optimism.
Despite impressive TV ratings, the model has gotten a bit stale. The Tour tried to shake things up with signature events, but that left holes in the schedule. The promise of major change is notable, as it signifies Rolapp and the Tour aren’t satisfied with what they have — or, at least, they see considerable room for improvement.
Rolapp certainly has the right experience. He previously served as the chief media and business officer at the NFL and was seen by some as a potential successor to commissioner Roger Goodell. The NFL has seen major on- and off-field change in the last decade or so, and the results are hard to argue.
Rolapp revealed the one guiding principle he learned at the NFL that he believes can guide the Tour, too.
“Look, the sports business is not that complicated,” he explained. “You get the product right, you get the right partners, your fans will reward you with their time, because they’re telling you it’s good and they want more of it, and then the commercial and business part of it will take care of itself.”
Positioning someone like Woods, the most famous golfer of all time, while leveraging the experience and brilliance of an outsider like Epstein, should set the tone to deliver on the promise of positive change moving forward.
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