Grant Horvat has rejected the chance to play on the PGA Tour after receiving an invite into the field at the Barracuda Championship.
Horvat is a YouTube phenomenon, and is hugely popular in the world of YouTube golfing content creation.
He posts regular videos to his YouTube channel, taking on some of the best golfers in the world.
Horvat recently faced Scottie Scheffler in a match and began with a five-shot head-start, but the plus-three handicap golfer was soundly beaten by the world number one.
However, he is a very good golfer. Horvat shot a round of six-over par 77 at Royal Portrush last week – a decent score given the fact that the course was set up under Open conditions.
There is a genuine chance he would have been able to make a run at making the cut at the Barracuda Championship.
However, we won’t get to see him play at the Tahoe Mountain Club.
Horvat released the following statement after rejecting the invite to play in the PGA Tour event:
“Unfortunately I will not be playing in a PGA Tour event. The rules and regulations around PGA Tour tournament play will not allow us to film. The only reason I was in the position to receive an invitation like this is because of YouTube and you all watching the videos, so if I’m going to play, we want film it. I am hopeful that this won’t always be the case. I would be honored to play in a PGA Tour event and bring you all along in the future. Huge thank you to the Barracuda for the invite and belief in YouTube golf.“
Michael Kim reacts to Grant Horvat turning down PGA Tour invite
Like Horvat, Michael Kim is someone who has a huge online presence on social media.
Kim has made a name for himself over the past few years by spilling the beans about life on the PGA Tour via his X account
The 31-year-old is often outspoken, and offers great insight into what life as a touring pro is really like.
And Kim offered his take on Horvat rejecting the chance to play on the PGA Tour at the Barracuda Championship.
He responded when journalist Brian Kirschner posted on X: “Need someone from the press pool to ask a PGA Tour player at Portrush their thoughts on Grant Horvat not accepting an invitation to the Barracuda.“
Kim said: “Barracuda’s right to offer and his right to decline. I see both sides. Tour worried about their contracts, Grant wants to make content out of it. If all Grant wanted was one person outside the ropes to film some stuff and posted at a later date? I don’t see the big problem in that but there are contracts and lawyers for a reason. Either way, I don’t see a big deal either way.“
Wesley Bryan and Peter Finch react to Grant Horvat situation
Horvat is one of the biggest and most popular YouTube golf content creators in the world.
And the same can be said for Peter Finch. Wesley Bryan has entered the fray over the past couple of years, but he is also a PGA Tour winner.
Here is how both men reacted to Horvat rejecting the chance to play on the PGA Tour due to being told that he wasn’t allowed to have a camera crew accompany him.
One point I would like to make here in defence of the PGA Tour is that Horvat bringing along a camera crew, albeit outside the ropes, may have been extremely off-putting for a journeyman pro who is desperate to make a cut in order to earn a living.
Having those extra eyes on the group that Horvat would have been playing in and the fanfare that would have surrounded the threesome would have been slightly unfair in my opinion.
However, I can see both sides of the debate. It will be interesting to see whether or not the PGA Tour relax their rules moving forward.
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