PGA Tour’s Potential Schedule Overhaul
The PGA Tour is exploring a potential schedule change to increase fan attention and avoid competing with the NFL season. The idea stems from a desire to create more scarcity, similar to the NFL’s successful model, which has proven to keep fans engaged year-round.
Why a Schedule Change?
New PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp, who has extensive experience in the NFL, acknowledges that events like Chris Gotterup’s win at the Sony Open can be overshadowed by major NFL moments. For example, Gotterup’s victory in Hawaii coincided with Caleb Williams’ viral playoff prayer during a Bears game, capturing widespread media attention.
Rolapp, who served as Roger Goodell’s right-hand man in the NFL, understands the competition for fan attention. He aims to reshape the PGA Tour to prevent these types of overlaps and maximize fan engagement.
The Role of Tiger Woods
Rolapp isn’t alone in this vision. PGA legend Tiger Woods, who is also involved in shaping the future of the Tour, spoke about the historical impact of NFL dominance. Woods reflected on how the NFL’s influence led to the Tour moving away from events in September, October, and early November in previous years.
Woods recalled, “That’s one of the reasons why we quit playing in September and October and even early November back when I was playing in my early days at the Tour Championship,” referencing the NFL’s increasing grip on those months.
Promising Change on the Horizon
Since taking over, Rolapp has promised significant changes, with the schedule’s volume and structure at the forefront. As the head of a for-profit organization, his goal is clear: deliver strong returns for investors and provide equitable compensation for players by enhancing the product’s appeal.
Rolapp summarized, “The sports business is not that complicated. 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 the business part will take care of itself.”
The Push for a Shorter Schedule
Hints of a shorter PGA Tour schedule were made by Harris English during the RSM Classic, aligning with Rolapp’s vision of a more focused, easier-to-follow season that leads to a postseason with clear stakes. This model, inspired by the NFL, emphasizes parity and scarcity to maintain fans’ interest throughout the year.
Rory McIlroy praised the NFL’s ability to keep fans engaged, stating in 2014, “I think the great thing about football is that it’s always in demand. People, once the Super Bowl finishes, they can’t wait for football season to start up again.” Woods echoed this sentiment, adding, “The scarcity thing is something that I know scares a lot of people, but I think that if you have scarcity at a certain level, it will be better because it will drive more eyes because there will be less time.”
Avoiding NFL Competition
At its core, the PGA Tour’s schedule shift aims to reduce direct competition with the NFL. In a world increasingly disrupted by technology and multiple entertainment options, capturing fans’ time and attention is more critical than ever. Rolapp, understanding the challenges of this complex media landscape, shared, “Anybody who’s in the sports business, their general competition is for the mind share of sports fans and for their time. [Sports leagues want to capture attention] in a complicated world that is increasingly disrupted by technology, where you have a million things to do with your time, a million alternatives.”
While golf has a global presence, Rolapp’s strategy is driven by the NFL’s massive influence on American fans. He joked, “I didn’t cheer for teams, I cheered for television ratings. So whoever is behind, that’s who I’ll cheer for.”
What’s Next for the PGA Tour?
A potential PGA Tour schedule change could come as soon as 2027, with the goal of avoiding clashes with major NFL events like Caleb Williams’ playoff appearances, ultimately creating a more strategic and fan-focused calendar.
