PGA Tour: Two-tier tour among proposals for future announced by Brian Rolapp

Rolapp made no specific mention of his tour’s “strategic alliance” with Europe’s DP World Tour in his opening remarks. When asked, the American said: “We would like to extend that.

“In fact, we made a proposal to do that, to actually create a more mutual benefit relationship. So we hope we can do that.”

Under the current arrangement, the PGA Tour helps underpin the DP World Tour’s prize funds. The deal is up for review in 2027 but it is unclear whether the terms of the proposal to extend the relationship would remain as generous.

The European tour’s boss, Guy Kinnings, sat in the front row for Rolapp’s address and later confirmed to BBC Sport that he would like to see the partnership continue.

Rolapp was speaking not just to reporters but hundreds of PGA Tour sponsors, staff and associates. It was held in the huge atrium of the circuit’s grandly titled “Global Home” office complex.

The 53-year-old is one of America’s most highly respected sports executives. But the substance of his message struggled to fit the grandeur of the occasion.

This might suggest “significant change” is taking longer than he might have envisaged.

But that is the challenge of trying to satisfy many constituents, including PGA Tour members at differing levels of the game, as well as long-standing tournament sponsors and broadcast partners.