PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp delivers 'State of the Tour' address - as it happened

Here's a recap of what transpired in Brian Rolapp's press conference on Wednesday. 

Rolapp focused on six key themes he hopes the PGA Tour will introduce by 2028:

1. A streamlined schedule that features 21-26 "elevated events"
2. Moving away from limited fields without no cuts
3. Starting the season with a bang on the west coast in late January
4. Two separate tours, with "Track A" laddering up to "Track B"
5. Exploring bigger markets
6. The potential return of Match play at the Tour Championship or across the postseason as a whole

Brian Rolapp has concluded his first State of the Tour address.

Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA Tour in January after leaving LIV Golf through the returning member programme. 

Rolapp is asked if more players could use it in the future. 

He says that he was very explicit that it was a "one-time" programme but insists there is a pathway back for LIV players, citing Patrick Reeds return. 

Rolapp is asked about changes to the format of the season-ending Tour Championship. 

He says several different formats have been discussed but nothing has been decided yet. 

Though he teased that Match Play could be introduced. 

Rolapp is asked whether the PGA Tour would consider letting LIV Golf players qualify for The Players in the future. 

He says it's "not a priority". 

Brian Rolapp is asked the inevitable LIV Golf question. 

He says his brief is to make the PGA Tour better and he is open to making it better by any means. 

"That's where I'm putting all of my efforts," he says. 

Rolapp says the PGA Tour have made a proposal to extend their strategic alliance beyond 2027. 

Brian Harig of SI asks about the current play-off system. Will it remain as three events?

Rolapp says it's important that whatever happens it is a compelling system.

"We're actively discussing that but have not made any decisions yet," he says. 

Rolapp is asked whether The Players should be elevated to the fifth men's major. 

Rolapp says it's not for the PGA Tour decide but it's "a really special event". 

Rolapp is asked about the PGA Tour's position on the proposed golf ball roll back. 

He was asked about this during his first presser as the new CEO and admitted he didn't know enough about it. 

Rolapp says opinions are clearly not consistent across the board. 

"We have not taken a position, we have not made our mind up with where this is," he says. 

Rolapp is now taking questions from the assembled media here. 

Full quotes to come. 

Rolapp says the PGA Tour is looking at doubling the number of signature events "with a second track of PGA Tour events which will ladder up to those events". 

Rolapp says the PGA Tour is focusing on having field sizes of at least 120 players. 

Rolapp says there is a consensus that the PGA Tour should begin in late January, with around 21-26 events. 

Brian Rolapp says the future competition committee has met more than 30 times. 

He thanks Tiger Woods for his input. 

Brian Rolapp begins speaking to the media. 

There has been a concerted effort by PGA Tour officials to push the narrative that The Players is in fact the fifth men's major. 

But as has been pointed out, several LIV Golf players (and former champions) are absent. 

How can the tournament be considered a major when it doesn't have the strongest field?

Well, some reports - such as this one by Golf Digest -  suggest the PGA Tour would consider letting LIV Golf players qualify for The Players in 2027. 

Rolapp is likely to face questions on this topic. 

Tiger Woods told reporters before the Genesis Invitational that the biggest challenge of the FCC is trying to serve "literally everyone". 

"From the player side of it, from our media partners, from all of our title sponsors, from the local communities or even changing venues and going to bigger markets," he said. 

"It's what do we need to do from a competitive model to make our tour the best product it can possibly be each and every year and still have room for development. How do we do all of that at the same time."

Woods added: "It's been a lot of moving parts, but it's been in sync. We've had a lot of information thrown our way, which has been great. Everyone is working collaboratively together."

England's Justin Rose spoke to the media yesterday ahead of his tilt at the 2026 Players. 

Aside from calling for Jon Rahm to end his long-running dispute with the DP World Tour, Rose urged Rolapp to give PGA Tour players and fans clarity. 

"We're getting into the meat of the season now, so I think it's probably fair to the players to know if there's going to be a change this year or next year or is it going to be the year after," said Rose. 

Several PGA Tour veterans have expressed their scepticism over the direction of the American circuit. 

Seven-time PGA Tour winner Peter Jacobsen told Golfweek that Rolapp is undertaking a "huge gamble". 

He said: "Well, we all know the PGA Tour has to change, and I ask the question, why? 

"It was working really well before and if the players wanted to have tournaments where the good players play more often together, they have that at LIV. Go join LIV.

"The PGA Tour started and has always existed and has thrived based on the communities where we play and the charities that we support. 

"I'm just worried that in the future we're going to lose sight of the fact that people love their communities, and they love to support and strengthen their communities through charitable work in those communities and the PGA Tour has always been a big part of that."

Former Masters champion, Adam Scott, is part of the future competitions committee. 

Speaking to reporters at TPC Sawgrass yesterday, the Australian explained that he believes the PGA Tour is in a strong position. 

But it could be better. 

"If you're sitting still, you're going backwards, when you step outside the game of golf," he said. 

"I don't think there's anything drastically wrong with the PGA Tour because I would think it's the strongest professional golf tour in the world.

"But it can't sit still. I think Brian and his team are now challenged with the task of looking years into the future of how it needs to look to continue to be the strongest tour in the world. 

"That's where their expertise lies, and I'm confident in his ability to guide the Tour into the future."

And welcome to today's live page. 

PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp begin his State of the Tour address in 60 minutes.