FORMER PGA OF AMERICA CEO URGES PGATOUR TO ACQUIRE RYDER CUP

Pete Bevacqua, formerly chief executive of the PGA of America, has urged PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp to negotiate an acquisition of the Ryder Cup and PGA Championship from the PGA of America. Speaking to Golf Digest, Bevacqua described the two events as "sacred cows" and stated that a deal between the organisations would benefit both if properly structured. Bevacqua held his position at the PGA of America when the Ryder Cup was held at Hazeltine National Golf Club in 2016, at which point internal discussions took place about potentially selling the event.

Bevacqua believes the PGA Tour is disadvantaged by not controlling these two major championships, whilst the Masters, Ryder Cup, U.S. Open, The Open, and PGA Championship represent the five most important tournaments of the season. The Masters is owned by Augusta National, Inc., which operates Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. The U.S. Open is managed by the United States Golf Association, and The R&A organises The Open Championship. Bevacqua stated that acquiring the Masters, U.S. Open, and The Open would be difficult, but that the PGA Tour and PGA of America could reach agreement given their shared historical origins.

Rolapp joined the PGA Tour last year following the organisation's navigation of the LIV Golf conflict. The proposal comes as the PGA Tour continues to operate separately from events it does not directly control, despite their significance to professional golf's calendar.