On June 19th, 2025, the golf world buzzed with Brian Rolapp's PGA Tour CEO appointment, drawing mixed player reactions, while Rory McIlroy geared up for the Travelers and The Open eyed a historic Irish venue.
PGA TOUR LEADERSHIP SHIFT: ROLAPP STEPS IN
- Brian Rolapp's appointment as PGA Tour CEO on June 18th sparked varied responses, from Rory McIlroy's optimism about his NFL experience to Lucas Glover's pointed criticism of Tour governance and player representation.
- Lucas Glover: "Hiding behind pace of play, I think challenges our intelligence. They think we're stupid."
- Scottie Scheffler, like McIlroy, highlighted Rolapp's NFL background as a positive, assuming the news was "generally well received by the players," contrasting sharply with Glover's dissent.
RORY'S RIVER HIGHLANDS RETHINK
- Rory McIlroy, preparing for the Travelers Championship, now calls TPC River Highlands the "perfect chaser" after a U.S. Open, a significant shift from previously deeming the course "obsolete."
- McIlroy: "Excited to come back and play again" after a major.
- McIlroy shared his Pro-Am strategy: offer green-reading help but avoid swing advice, advocating "boring" percentage golf for amateurs. He also aced the 8th hole here in 2023.
SPAUN'S SPECIAL TRAVELERS CONNECTION
- U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun revealed a deep personal tie to the Travelers Championship through Andy Bessette and JDRF, a connection solidified by an "Umbrella Challenge" win around his Type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
- Spaun's daughter Violet was born during Travelers week two years ago, making his arrival that year a "wild" journey.
- Today, June 19th, marks his daughter Violet's birthday, adding another layer to his Travelers experience.
LIV GOLF: THE PERSONAL PULL
- Sebastian Muñoz and Carlos Ortiz shed light on their moves to Liv Golf, emphasizing the allure of increased personal and family time, alongside the unique "once in a lifetime" team aspect.
- Carlos Ortiz: The team aspect was a "once in a lifetime" opportunity.
- Both players highlighted the desire to spend more time with family as a primary driver for joining the new league.
THE OPEN EYES PORTMARNOCK
- R&A CEO Mark Darbon confirmed serious consideration for Portmarnock, Ireland, as a future Open Championship venue, praising the "Wonderful links golf course" while clarifying it's within the "British Isles" historical context.
- Darbon (June 18th): "We're serious... We're having a proper look at it."
- This potential move to Ireland is seen as an expansion within historical boundaries, not a signal for globalizing The Open's venues beyond the British Isles.
Quick Hits
Travelers Championship in focus this week • Rory's 2023 TPC River Highlands ace recalled • J.J. Spaun's daughter turns two today (June 19th)
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