The PGA Tour eliminated 4 percent of its total workforce Thursday in widespread layoffs, which new CEO Brian Rolapp explained in a memo to staff. The tour confirmed the news.
The downsizing has been expected since the end of 2025. Rolapp had the backing of the tour’s private-equity partners, the Strategic Sports Group.
Though numbers weren’t publicly announced, two sources close to Golf Digest confirmed that just under 80 positions were eliminated. Existing headcount will be reduced by 56 and 73 open roles will be closed. It was not immediately known which departments were impacted.
In 2023 the tour partnered with the SSG following the secret framework agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The deal called for SSG to invest up to $3 billion into a new for-profit arm of the tour, PGA Tour Enterprises, with an initial input of $1.5 billion for a valuation of over $12 billion. The tour announced that the deal with SSG allowed for co-investment from PIF in the future; however, talks between the tour and PIF have been silent since a White House meeting between the two parties went south last spring, and the PIF announced a new strategy last week that calls for a reduction in international spending.
Without PIF investment, and with SSG’s other $1.5 billion not guaranteed, the tour has had to undergo cost-cutting measures. This was seen earlier this week as the Hawaiian Swing is no longer on the PGA Tour schedule, as logistical costs (among other issues) prevented the former Tournament of Champions and Sony Open from being financially viable.
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Main Image: Cliff Hawkins
