Brian Rolapp tips hat to LIV Golf amid defunding reports

Multiple reports recently claimed that LIV Golf is in trouble due to financial issues. Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund is supposedly considering withdrawing its multibillion-dollar backing of the golf league.

LIV Golf had a meteoric rise when it was founded in 2022, posing a direct challenge to the PGA Tour. Big-name golfers transferred to LIV Golf, which offered lucrative contracts.

Now, it seems it is trying to weather the storm.

On “The Pat McAfee Show,” PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp was asked about LIV Golf and its various problems. But instead of gloating, Rolapp was classy and tipped his hat to their overseas rival.

“I think that whenever you get competition, you end up figuring out what you do well, what you don’t do well. I think that’s what LIV did,” said Rolapp.

“It exposed some things that maybe the PGA Tour could do better—how we can make it better for fans, how we can make it better for professional golfers, how we can make it better for our television partners. That’s a good thing.”

Never seen it written as “CEO of the PGA Tour” instead of “PGA Tour CEO” but will watch rn pic.twitter.com/6jKvnddjtI

— claire rogers (@kclairerogers) April 20, 2026

Rolapp, who assumed his post in June, has already stated possible changes on the PGA Tour, including expanding signature events, adjusting the calendar, and implementing a promotion and relegation system.

Rolapp stressed that they cannot remain stagnant, again crediting LIV Golf for pushing them to think of innovations for the PGA Tour.

“The changes we’re doing now, I think, show that when you do those things, fans go to where the best product or where the best golfers are or where the best athletes are,” added Rolapp.

“In a lot of ways, I think LIV did the professional golf world a favor.”

Rolapp, who previously worked as an executive in the NFL, compared LIV Golf to the AFL and the USFL.

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