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AUGUSTA, Ga. — PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp pointed out during a news conference on March 11 at the Tour's Global Home that the Tour doesn't own or operate any of golf's four major championships, despite supplying most of the talent that has elevated those events.
"I think if you look at all of those golf organizations [that own the four majors], at the end of the day, they are entirely financed by professional golf and professional golfers," Rolapp said. "So the entire ecosystem is funded by the success, or quite frankly ― it wouldn't be successful without the success of professional golf."
Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley hears Rolapp but said during his annual news conference on the eve of the Masters Tournament that there is an entire golf "ecosystem" that feeds major championship dreams, beginning with junior golf, and the PGA Tour one part of it.
Ridley also said he has had multiple "very positive" conversations with Rolapp about the Tour's relationship with the Masters, the first of the four majors on the golf calendar that will begin on April 9.
Ridley said some of those conversations came when Rolapp visited Augusta National in February, with Ridley giving Rolapp a tour of the club and its improvements made over the last year.
"Brian was nice enough to come to Augusta and we spent a good half a day talking about a lot of topics," Ridley said. "We talked a lot about collaboration, and I thought it was a very positive conversation."
Ridley agreed with Rolapp that the PGA Tour develops most of the talent that gets players to the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and British Open.
But he said the bigger picture that starts at the junior level through college golf, motivates young players to want to play in events such as the Masters. That pathway, for the most part, is the PGA Tour.
"I think it's important to note that there are a number of golf organizations, including ours, that makes the journey to the PGA Tour possible," Ridley said. "I think about the [Masters] field this year, and I don't know the exact numbers, but I suspect that quite a few are alumni of the American Junior Golf Association. Certainly, our collegiate system is the most direct pathway to the PGA Tour and provides the PGA Tour with the best-trained and best-prepared players.
"So I think I understand Brian's comment, I suppose, or his perspective," Ridley continued. "But I think we really need to look at the entire ecosystem to get a full perspective of that issue. I also think it points out that, when we talk about collaboration, that what we should be talking about and what I'm talking about is collaboration to elevate the game of golf. I think that's where we're all going to be successful."
The Tour does not have a financial stake in any of the four majors, and acceptance of The Players Championship, its flagship event, as a major has never taken hold despite a 52-year history.
Rolapp hinted during his March 11 news conference that "it would be a benefit for the entire golfing ecosystem to work closer together commercially."
It may be wishful thinking if Rolapp means the Tour should get a cut of the revenue reaped by the majors. One option that has been floated is the PGA reuniting in some manner with the PGA of America, which owns the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup.
PGA Tour players broke off from the PGA of America in 1968 over purse and control issues.
There has also been some concern by Tour players because the Masters stopped inviting winners of the FedEx Cup Fall events in favor of adding winners of national opens in Australia, Japan, Spain, Hong Kong and South Africa.
Ridley said that the decision to invite Open winners from those countries was "independent of other schedules," but also said those schedules and criteria could change, a hint about proposed modifications to the PGA Tour schedule that Rolapp laid out in March.
"The purpose ... is really to honor the history and the significance of those championships," Rolapp said. "I do think there might be other national Opens that should be considered. Because we say over and over again that we review our criteria every year, we'll be looking at that next year and the coming years, and possibly we would do that.
"We'll just have to wait and see what his [Rolapp's] plans, how they unfold, and what that means for the schedule and for who's playing in what tournament and how those tournaments sort of stack up in importance," Ridley continued. "Then we'll react accordingly."
Ridley said his relationship with Rolapp has been cordial and open.
"Brian and I had far-reaching conversations," Ridley said of their February meeting. "We've spoken several times since then. He's been very transparent and open to me in his comments."
However, Ridley said those conversations have not moved the club to consider changes to the current qualifications for a Masters invitation.
"There was nothing that we talked about that would trigger any thoughts, immediate thoughts on changing criteria," he said.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Masters chairman Fred Ridley met with PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp
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"I think if you look at all of those golf organizations [that own the four majors], at the end of the day, they are entirely financed by professional golf and professional golfers," Rolapp said. "So the entire ecosystem is funded by the success, or quite frankly ― it wouldn't be successful without the success of professional golf."
Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley hears Rolapp but said during his annual news conference on the eve of the Masters Tournament that there is an entire golf "ecosystem" that feeds major championship dreams, beginning with junior golf, and the PGA Tour one part of it.
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Ridley also said he has had multiple "very positive" conversations with Rolapp about the Tour's relationship with the Masters, the first of the four majors on the golf calendar that will begin on April 9.
Ridley said some of those conversations came when Rolapp visited Augusta National in February, with Ridley giving Rolapp a tour of the club and its improvements made over the last year.
Augusta National 'understands' Brian Rolapp's concerns
"Brian was nice enough to come to Augusta and we spent a good half a day talking about a lot of topics," Ridley said. "We talked a lot about collaboration, and I thought it was a very positive conversation."
Ridley agreed with Rolapp that the PGA Tour develops most of the talent that gets players to the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and British Open.
But he said the bigger picture that starts at the junior level through college golf, motivates young players to want to play in events such as the Masters. That pathway, for the most part, is the PGA Tour.
"I think it's important to note that there are a number of golf organizations, including ours, that makes the journey to the PGA Tour possible," Ridley said. "I think about the [Masters] field this year, and I don't know the exact numbers, but I suspect that quite a few are alumni of the American Junior Golf Association. Certainly, our collegiate system is the most direct pathway to the PGA Tour and provides the PGA Tour with the best-trained and best-prepared players.
"So I think I understand Brian's comment, I suppose, or his perspective," Ridley continued. "But I think we really need to look at the entire ecosystem to get a full perspective of that issue. I also think it points out that, when we talk about collaboration, that what we should be talking about and what I'm talking about is collaboration to elevate the game of golf. I think that's where we're all going to be successful."
PGA Tour wants 'commercial' relationship with majors
The Tour does not have a financial stake in any of the four majors, and acceptance of The Players Championship, its flagship event, as a major has never taken hold despite a 52-year history.
Rolapp hinted during his March 11 news conference that "it would be a benefit for the entire golfing ecosystem to work closer together commercially."
You must be registered for see images attach
It may be wishful thinking if Rolapp means the Tour should get a cut of the revenue reaped by the majors. One option that has been floated is the PGA reuniting in some manner with the PGA of America, which owns the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup.
PGA Tour players broke off from the PGA of America in 1968 over purse and control issues.
Masters stopped inviting PGA Tour Fall winners
There has also been some concern by Tour players because the Masters stopped inviting winners of the FedEx Cup Fall events in favor of adding winners of national opens in Australia, Japan, Spain, Hong Kong and South Africa.
Ridley said that the decision to invite Open winners from those countries was "independent of other schedules," but also said those schedules and criteria could change, a hint about proposed modifications to the PGA Tour schedule that Rolapp laid out in March.
"The purpose ... is really to honor the history and the significance of those championships," Rolapp said. "I do think there might be other national Opens that should be considered. Because we say over and over again that we review our criteria every year, we'll be looking at that next year and the coming years, and possibly we would do that.
"We'll just have to wait and see what his [Rolapp's] plans, how they unfold, and what that means for the schedule and for who's playing in what tournament and how those tournaments sort of stack up in importance," Ridley continued. "Then we'll react accordingly."
Ridley said his relationship with Rolapp has been cordial and open.
"Brian and I had far-reaching conversations," Ridley said of their February meeting. "We've spoken several times since then. He's been very transparent and open to me in his comments."
However, Ridley said those conversations have not moved the club to consider changes to the current qualifications for a Masters invitation.
"There was nothing that we talked about that would trigger any thoughts, immediate thoughts on changing criteria," he said.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Masters chairman Fred Ridley met with PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp
Continue reading...
