The Players Championship - A Local Tradition for Over 40 Years

Matthew Rapp, Executive Director of THE PLAYERS Championship, was our club's guest speaker on January 15, 2013.

Matt has worked for the PGA TOUR since 2005. Before taking over The PLAYERS Championship in May of 2010, he worked in the TOUR’s corporate marketing department where he focused on title sponsor sales and was responsible for over $500 million in sponsorship agreements with companies that include: The Greenbrier, Children’s Miracle Network, Transitions Optical, Northern Trust, Norwegian Cruise Lines, the Royal Bank of Canada, Boeing and Regions.

Since taking over as Executive Director of The PLAYERS Championship, Matt has focused on significantly enhancing the fan experience, increasing the event’s charitable impact and reinvigorating its vital connection with the local community. 

Prior to joining the PGA TOUR, Matt held several senior executive positions in public relations and communications with the ATP World Tour, governing body of men’s professional tennis and Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations firm. His first job was working on Capitol Hill with the former assistant majority leader of the US Senate, Wendall Ford.

A native of Louisville, KY, Matt has lived and worked in many cities throughout the United States and around the world including Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, London and Brussels, Belgium but is proud to call Jacksonville his home since 2001.

Matt graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991 where he rowed crew and studied international relations.