Since its inception in 2021, LIV Golf’s credibility and, more importantly, its contribution to the sport have been questioned multiple times. However, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp mentioned that the rebel tour did benefit the PGA Tour.

Rolapp spent 22 years as the Chief Media and Business Officer of the National Football League (NFL). From his experience regarding the various factors that have benefited the NFL, Rolapp mentioned that LIV Golf benefits the sport in the same way that the AFL once made the NFL better indirectly.

“Yeah, I've said this. I think, you know, competition makes everybody stronger. I think, you know, there was this, a bit of a narrative around that LIV wasn't competition,” said Rolapp on The Dan Patrick Show. “It was. It was competing for, uh, people's attention and time, and certainly competing for players before I got here. Um, but I've said it often, this, it was a little bit of golf had their AFL NFL moment.”

Apparently, Rolapp implied that golf had its moment “late” with LIV Golf coming up as the renowned PGA Tour's rival. His remarks about the NFL becoming “better” because of their competition with the AFL say that he views LIV Golf as the PGA Tour's competitor, which constantly pushes the latter to be better.

In April, Rolapp appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and stated that LIV “exposed” certain aspects in which the PGA Tour was lacking.

After LIV's growth, the PGA Tour went on to increase its purses at various events and also underwent a schedule overhaul, amongst other changes. World No.2 Rory McIlroy also said that LIV forced a change in the PGA Tour’s "antiquated system." 

Rolapp also said, “I don't think it's the modern NFL without it. Um, so I don't know enough about the ABA NBA history, but there's probably a parallel there to be drawn. So I think, I think they got that right. Um, and, and sort of push the PGA tour to, to, to get better. Um, so yeah, I think that has had a lasting impact.”

Although Rolapp found LIV to have its pros, the team-based league is facing uncertainty regarding its future.

Besides all this, the PGA Tour CEO also had his share of words on LIV Golfers who want a return to the PGA Tour.

Brian Rolapp On The Return Of LIV Golfers to the PGA Tour

After the PIF’s withdrawal, LIV started its search for new, long-term investors. With uncertainty around the league, LIV Golfers have started assessing their options for the future.

“I’ve always been very clear publicly that I’m interested in whatever makes the PGA Tour better, but at the same time, there is a reality that we have a membership and anything we do to make the PGA Tour better, we need to balance that with the interests of our current members, the current golfers,” said Rolapp.

With Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed making a comeback to the tour, it’s likely that LIV Golfers could make a return to the league. However, there is a possibility of penalties being handed out to those returning, as was the case with Koepka.

What are your thoughts on Rolapp’s comparison of the LIV-PGA competition to the AFL-NFL tussle? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Souvik Roy