One of the biggest channels in YouTube golf has been incredibly quiet lately, with Rick Shiels not posting a full length video on his channel since December.
In the last month, Rick Shiels has posted two teaser videos on his YouTube channel. On both occasions, the Englishman seems to give very little away about what is next for him.
However, given the length of the build-up and the amount of teasers, it is hard to imagine that he is now simply launching a new series of Break 75. In fact, some have wondered if they have spotted a big clue in the video he has now posted on X.
Shiels can be seen putting on a jacket. However, with the lights turned out, it is not clear what the jacket is advertising. But he did suggest that he will make the long-awaited announcement on Friday at 4pm UK time.
Golf fans suspect Rick Shiels is on his way to LIV Golf after latest teaser
There is a chance that Shiels will completely miss the mark and make an underwhelming announcement. But others are wondering whether he is about to join LIV Golf in some capacity.
One follower wrote: ‘There’s a guy with a similar jacket‘, having attached a photo of the jacket Jon Rahm wore when he joined the league in December 2023. And that was pointed out by another viewer, who said: ‘Looks like a LIV jacket. Like the one Rahm was wearing in his announcement‘.
Elsewhere, another said: ‘That’s the famous letterman jacket worn by Rahm. Rick officially joins liv..question now is what capacity? Guessing its some sort of content partnership…‘
And one follower simply wrote: “Hmmmmm…….‘ as they posted a picture of the LIV Golf jacket alongside the jacket Shiels is putting on in the video.
There is also some frustration, with one follower writing: ‘thanks Rick for the announcement of the announcement of the announcement of the announcement really appreciate it‘. Another said: ‘There is no way this is going to be as serious as these videos are trying to portray‘.
What role Rick Shiels could play on LIV Golf
It remains to be seen if Shiels is indeed joining LIV. There is potentially another clue in that he has turned his logo black and white – also the colours of the LIV Golf logo. If he does join, the question has to be, what role will he actually be taking on?
With all due respect to him, it is hard to imagine that he will be signing up as a player. But perhaps LIV are going to completely revolutionise their programming, particularly after rounds and behind events.
They usually have their Club 54 show before and after rounds. But adding someone like Shiels – who has over 2.9 million subscribers on YouTube – could really bring new fans in. And he is no stranger to filming videos with a number of the players on LIV.
It has been the case for a little while that whichever tour capitalises on YouTube interest first will secure a huge advantage in the years to come.
Signing perhaps the biggest name in the space feels like exactly the kind of thing LIV would set their sights on.
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