PGA Tour boss responds to Harris English claims: "Nothing has been decided"

PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp says "nothing has been decided" as he weighed in on the recent comments made by American golfer Harris English. 

English told reporters ahead of the RSM Classic he had heard on the grapevine that the Tour was considering starting their schedule in February to avoid clashing with the NFL. 

The 36-year-old also claimed the signature events model would be scrapped in favour of 20-22 tournaments where all fully exempt members of the Tour could participate in. 

The signature events - which feature prize purses of at least $20m - were created in response to the PIF-backed LIV Golf League towards the end of 2022.

Rolapp told the CNBC CEO Council Forum that nothing has been decided, adding: "If you dig deeper into what he (English) said, it's not that complicated.

"Competing with football in this country for media dollars and attention is a really hard thing to do."

He continued: "Part of professional golf's issue is it has grown up as a series of events that happened to be on television.

"As opposed to, 'How do you actually take those events and make them meaningful in their own right, and cobble them together in a competitive model — including a postseason — that you would all understand whether you're a golf fan or a sports fan."

Rolapp officially joined the PGA Tour in June and will eventually replace commissioner Jay Monahan when his contract expires in 2026. 

He spent 20 years with the NFL and was widely expected to replace commissioner Roger Goodell. 

Monahan's last few years as commissioner have been dominated by the disruption caused by the aforementioned LIV Golf. 

The 55-year-old was a vocal critic of LIV but then played a key role in secret negotiations that led to an agreement to form a partnership with Saudi Arabia's PIF. 

Those talks angered a number of players and led to him taking a period of leave owing to stress.

Negotiations between the parties now appear to be over, despite intervention from American president Donald Trump and talks at the White House with LIV officials. 

In Rolapp's first news conference, he did not appear to indicate whether the Tour would be pursuing a deal. 

"I think the fans have been pretty clear," Rolapp said. "They want to see the best golfers competing against each other. I agree with that.

"When it comes to the situation with LIV, I think that's a complex situation that's probably something I should learn more about before I speak.

"But I will say my focus is on growing the Tour, making it better, and really moving on from the position of strength that it has."

Rory McIlroy's blunt verdict on LIV Golf

LIV Golf will begin their fourth full season next February. 

The breakaway tour has been on a recruitment drive in recent weeks, with Victor Perez becoming the first off-season signing. 

It is understood England's Laurie Canter has agreed to give up the PGA Tour card he recently won in favour of a return to the league. 

Elsewhere, LIV will be hoping a number of high-profile players extend their contracts. 

Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka are among the players whose contracts expire in 2026. 

Rory McIlroy said he was sceptical about LIV's future if the PIF are expected to fork out similar signing-on fees. 

"They're going to ask for the same number or an even bigger number," McIlroy said. 

"LIV have spent $5 or $6 billion and they're going to have to spend another five or six just to maintain where they are.

"So if I'm looking at the world of golf, I'm way more comfortable being on the PGA Tour side than on their side.

"But who knows what will happen?"

McIlroy also conceded it would be better for the sport in general if there was unification.