New PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp (ex-NFL) just brought in two seasoned NFL operators—Dhruv Prasad to drive commercial deals and Paul Hicks to sharpen communications.
Internal roles shifted, too, as the Tour lines up for a faster, cleaner product and a steadier message. (Source: Sports Illustrated)
Why This Move Matters
Rolapp helped the NFL become a weekly habit. Bringing that mindset to golf points to:
Must-watch weeks with clearer storylines and more meaning.
Smarter partnerships that show up in coverage, apps, and in-person perks.
Better broadcasts so casual fans can follow without a rulebook.
Message discipline that keeps focus on players and competition, not boardroom noise.
If you want a refresher on being the partner everyone loves to play with as the spotlight grows, my modern etiquette refresher is a quick win right now inside the Tour’s changing era.
What Could Change Soon
1. Broadcasts that teach while you watch
Expect tighter storytelling, faster highlights, and clearer on-screen cues.
When you see pros manage lies and wind, pair it with this 18-hole strategy and etiquette guide to copy decisions you can use this weekend.
2. Appointment golf, not background noise
Marquee windows and stronger build-ups make it easier to plan your viewing.
If you’re getting back into the game, this simple 7-tips primer helps you translate what you watch into quick on-course wins.
3. Partnerships you can feel
Think fan-first deals that improve apps, ticketing, and shoulder content.
4. Clearer communications in messy moments
With seasoned comms leadership, expect steadier messaging. And when your foursome gets tense, this guide to handling difficult partners shows calm, simple tactics that save the day.
How This Can Help YOU Right Away
If you watch:
Follow one feature group per round and study their choices. To reduce pressure while you learn, try my score-blind plan—you’ll focus on shots, not numbers.
If you play:
Steal one habit per week—pre-shot timing, smart misses, or a safer target line. When the game feels heavy, this mindset reset brings joy back without changing your swing.
If you travel to events:
Cleaner schedules make planning easier. Prep with a quick etiquette checklist so you’re dialed in from parking lot to 18th green.
What I’m Watching Next
Scheduling signals: Do “big weeks” lock into predictable windows?
Production upgrades: New camera angles, faster cut-downs, and richer shot data.
Tone and trust: Fewer distractions, more focus on performance and story.
While you track those, sharpen your own game with my course-tested etiquette essentials and 7 practical tips—both pair perfectly with the Tour’s push for a cleaner fan experience.
A Simple Plan For the Next 4 Weeks
Week 1: Watch one marquee pairing and note a single pre-shot cue you’ll test next round.
Week 2: Go “score-blind” for nine holes to free your swing, then note 3 decisions you’d repeat.
Week 3: Play with someone new and apply the better-partner rules to keep the round fun and fast.
Week 4: Rebuild confidence with the impossible-to-enjoy fix and pick one tip from the 7-tips primer to lock in.
And That’s It
This isn’t a title shuffle, but a signal.
The Tour wants golf that’s easier to love every week: clearer stakes, better pictures, fewer headaches.
Use it. Learn from it.
—Hakan
Founder, ParTalk.com | X/Twitter: ParTalkGolf | Instagram: @golfingphoto