logo
Former NFL executive Rolapp appointed PGA Tour CEO

Former NFL executive Rolapp appointed PGA Tour CEO

Reuters9 hours ago

June 17 (Reuters) - The PGA Tour announced Brian Rolapp as its new CEO on Tuesday with the former NFL executive set to take on the role later this year as Commissioner Jay Monahan transitions his day-to-day responsibilities.
A committee consisting of officials such as Monahan, as well as golfers Tiger Woods and Adam Scott, unanimously recommended Rolapp for the role.
"A year ago, I informed our Boards that upon completing a decade as Commissioner, I would step down from my role at the end of 2026," Monahan said in a statement.
"Since then, we've worked together to identify a leader who can build on our momentum and develop a process that ensures a smooth transition. We've found exactly the right leader in Brian Rolapp."
He will serve as CEO of the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Enterprises, the golf circuit's for-profit entity.
Rolapp, who joined the NFL in 2003, became the COO of NFL Media and then CEO of NFL Network. He was also the NFL's Chief Media and Business Officer, overseeing the league's commercial businesses, including broadcast and digital rights, and launched its digital platform NFL+.
"I come from the National Football League, so I'll be the first to admit - I've got a lot to learn about golf. But I love the game, I play the game, and I am a PGA Tour fan myself," Rolapp said in an open letter.
"To that end, I cannot wait to meet every one of our players, get in front of as many fans as possible, and better understand the needs of our partners."
In February, the PGA Tour said it was closer to reaching a deal with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf, launched in 2022, which would help end the years-long divide in professional golf.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mets place RHP Tylor Megill (elbow) on 15-day injured list
Mets place RHP Tylor Megill (elbow) on 15-day injured list

Reuters

time35 minutes ago

  • Reuters

Mets place RHP Tylor Megill (elbow) on 15-day injured list

June 17 - The New York Mets placed right-hander Tylor Megill on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday because of a right elbow sprain. The move is retroactive to Sunday. In a corresponding move, the Mets recalled right-hander Justin Garza from Triple-A Syracuse. Megill, 29, last pitched on Saturday, allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings of an 8-4 loss to the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. Megill also hit two batters in his worst outing of the season. He is 5-5 with a 3.95 ERA, 33 walks and 89 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings over 14 starts this season. Megill is a career 26-26 with a 4.46 ERA, 163 walks and 435 strikeouts in 409 2/3 innings in 88 games (81 starts) since the 2021 season. The Mets selected Megill in the eighth round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of the University of Arizona. Garza, 31, is 0-0 this season with no runs or walks allowed and two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings over three relief appearances for New York. The Mets purchased him on June 7 from the San Francisco Giants, for whom he pitched at Triple-A Sacramento earlier this season and went 1-2 with six saves and a 6.11 ERA in 17 2/3 innings over 19 relief appearances. For his career, Garza is 2-3 with a 5.33 ERA, 30 walks and 48 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings over 41 games (one start) for Cleveland (2021), Boston (2023) and New York. --Field Level Media

River Plate see off Urawa to make winning start at Club World Cup
River Plate see off Urawa to make winning start at Club World Cup

Reuters

time39 minutes ago

  • Reuters

River Plate see off Urawa to make winning start at Club World Cup

SEATTLE, WA, June 17 (Reuters) - River Plate opened their Club World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday, with goals from Facundo Colidio, Sebastian Driussi and Maxi Meza enough to see off a spirited challenge from the Japanese side. The Argentine team got off to a dominant start and opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Colidio headed home a fine cross from Marcos Acuna on the left. Driussi doubled the lead three minutes into the second half, capitalising on a poor header back from Marius Hoibraten to head the ball over the advancing goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa and into an empty net. Striker Driussi was forced off soon after, having picked up an injury in the build up, and Urawa pulled one back in the 58th minute through Yusuke Matsuo, who calmly converted a penalty following a foul by Acuna. While Urawa pushed hard for an equaliser, substitute Meza delivered the decisive blow in the 73rd minute, with yet another header from Acuna's corner, his second assist of the match. River will face Mexico's Monterrey on Saturday, while Urawa take on Champions League runners-up Inter Milan in Group E.

Battery makers sweat as antimony shortage hits after China's export curbs
Battery makers sweat as antimony shortage hits after China's export curbs

Reuters

time41 minutes ago

  • Reuters

Battery makers sweat as antimony shortage hits after China's export curbs

MELBOURNE, June 18 (Reuters) - When China restricts exports of a key mineral, sometimes the pain is sudden and even crippling - enough to spur a major outcry almost immediately. Other times, it takes longer to be felt. For the world's makers of lead-acid batteries, China's restrictions on critical mineral antimony that were put in place late last year have become a major headache - one that their customers also now have as sky-high procurement costs are passed on. "We consider it a national emergency," said Steve Christensen, executive director at the U.S.-based Responsible Battery Coalition, whose members include battery maker Clarios, Honda (7267.T), opens new tab and FedEx (FDX.N), opens new tab. He noted the key role batteries play in industry and civilian life, how antimony is used in military equipment, as well as the surge in spot prices. Antimony now costs more than $60,000 per metric ton, having more than quadrupled over the past year. "There are no quick solutions... We were completely caught off guard collectively, as an industry," he said. China likely produced 60% of all antimony supply in 2024, according to the United States Geological Survey. Much of antimony mined in other countries is also sent to China for processing. Beijing added the mineral to its export control list last September, requiring companies to gain licences for each overseas antimony deal. It then followed up in December with an outright ban on shipments to the U.S. - an action seen as retaliatory after Washington further restricted exports of advanced semiconductors to Chinese companies. China's global exports of antimony are now just a third of levels seen this time last year. Christensen said U.S. companies are hugely reliant on China for their supply of antimony and buyers are increasingly having to procure from an emerging "grey market", where sellers that have stocked up on the material are charging extremely high prices. China's restrictions on antimony precede its controls on rare earths and rare earth magnets that were imposed in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and do not appear to have been discussed in last week's efforts to stabilise a truce in trade tensions between the two countries. Last week's talks between China and the U.S. also did not include any agreement on specialised rare earths such as samarium needed for military applications. Lead-acid batteries, commonly found in gasoline-engine vehicles, are mostly used to start the engine and to power low-voltage instruments. They are also used as sources of backup power in various industries and to store excess energy generated by solar and wind systems. In addition to batteries, antimony is also essential to military equipment such as night vision goggles, navigation systems and ammunition. Overall antimony demand is some 230,000-240,000 tonnes a year with lead-acid batteries accounting for about a third of that, according to consultancy Project Blue. While many battery makers may have access to antimony-lead alloy from recycled materials, Project Blue estimates they collectively need around 10,000 tonnes a year of higher purity antimony to top up the alloy to reach the right battery properties. Securing that additional portion could be challenging. Project Blue director Nils Backeberg said there is enough antimony outside China to satisfy non-Chinese demand but buyers need to compete with Chinese purchasers such as the country's huge solar industry, and China's smelters are able to offer better terms. "With antimony prices at nearly 5x normal market conditions, the cost becomes a factor and with supply limited on the Western market, a shortage is being felt," he said. For now, it seems that battery makers' antimony woes have not yet led to cuts in output, with companies like Germany's Hoppecke saying they have managed to pass on higher costs. Japan's GS Yuasa (6674.T), opens new tab said it has passed on costs to some customers and is negotiating with more of its customers to do so. One source at an Indian battery maker said antimony represented only a small cost of a battery and price increases were being passed onto customers, but any more price rises could spell trouble. "If the price does increase further, everyone (in the industry) will be vulnerable," said the source who was not authorised to speak to the media and declined to be identified. The companies and the source at the Indian battery maker declined to disclose the size of their product price hikes. In a sign that profits are being affected, India's Exide Industries ( opens new tab blamed high prices for antimony when it logged smaller-than-expected income for its fourth quarter. Christensen of the Responsible Battery Coalition said policymakers should treat the issue as one of national security, arguing that Western countries had become "overly reliant on a single geopolitical adversary for minerals foundational to both national defense and civilian life." "For the U.S., the path forward must include onshoring processing capacity, scaling domestic recycling, and building strategic mineral alliances with trusted partners. Otherwise, this crisis will repeat itself again and again," he added. Some baby steps towards building an antimony supply chain outside of China are being taken. Clarios, owned by global investment firm Brookfield, said last month it was scouting locations for an up to $1 billion critical minerals processing and recovery plant in the U.S. that will extract antimony among other minerals. Nyrstar, owned by global commodity trader Trafigura, also said last month it could produce antimony at its South Australian metals processing plant but would need government support to do so.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store