It’s safe to say the world of YouTube golf has had a huge effect on the game in general and the train doesn’t seem like it’s going to be slowing down anytime soon.
From long-time content creators like Rick Shiels to the modern day big guns such as Good Good Golf and individuals like Grant Horvat and Micah Morris, the world of online content creation is bigger than ever.
Indeed, we’ve even seen Bryson DeChambeau branch out into that very world and he’s quickly become one of the most-watched on the platform.
Of course, we’ve even seen the YouTubers entered into actual PGA events, with the Myrtle Beach Classic also endorsed and backed by the PGA Tour.
Naturally, the impact of these personalities is now transcending the game and it’s been predicted that in the future, YouTubers could hold even more say so in the pro game.
Why YouTube golfers will continue to impact the PGA Tour
Speaking about the impact of YouTube on the golf scene, both Smylie Kaufman and journalist Kyle Porter suggested the transition has changed the sport completely.
“There is a trickle down effect of this too. When you talk about the PGA Tour and the players. When I was on tour, it didn’t matter who you were, if you came up from the Korn Ferry Tour or the web.com or the Hogan Tour, you got a PGA Tour contract from these legacy companies like you are talking about, the club manufactures,” Kaufman commented.
“Now what you are starting to see is the investment into more YouTube type of properties that have the big audiences and then much more of an emphasis into paying their top guys. And then as it trickles down to the rest of the guys on tour, it is not quite as easy to get the re-ups, the extensions of making a lot more money. You’re seeing it trickle down to the PGA Tour.”
Adding his own insight, journalist Porter suggested that the YouTube players could prove even more lucrative than the lesser known players on the PGA Tour.
“I think what is interesting is we kind of joke about who is more recognisable in the golf world – Riggs or JT Poston? It’s not even close, right? JT Poston is on national television once in a while, Riggs is on YouTube all day every day.
“I think that what you are saying is right. You are going to get the Rory’s, Spieth’s, Scottie. Whoever the top five or 10 guys are. Because they are on TV all the time whether they are playing well or not. But for the numbers 11 through to whatever, it can make more sense to go and sponsor Grant Horvat or whoever.
“You’re betting on whether this guy gets into contention or you’re betting on whether people will tune in and watch Grant Horvat. It seems like a much less risky bet to go in that direction. That’s fascinating! Who could have even envisioned that 20 years ago? That would have sounded insane to people, now it’s a very normal reality.”
YouTube is here to stay for some time yet
It’s quite amazing to find the world of golf so engrossed in the world of YouTube and co-existing and as Porter says here, 20 years back this was probably deemed unfathomable.
Now, though, it seems like we are on an upward trajectory of YouTubers getting closer and closer to being regulars in the fields on actual PGA Tour events.
Rick Shiels recently spoke of the impact of Me and My Golf on the sport when Aaron Rai won on TOUR and Bryson DeChambeau has admitted he’s looking to push the envelope further by getting Tiger Woods on his own channel.
Right now, then, we are in a whole new era for the sport and with the likes of DeChambeau pushing on, it’s not going anywhere for some time.
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