Grant Horvat will not be playing the Barracuda Championship after turning down an invite to play at the PGA Tour event.
Horvat is a YouTube content phenomenon, and is one of the leading golfing content creators in the world.
The American is a very good golfer as well. He plays to around a plus three handicap, and has improved exponentially over the past few years.
Horvat shot a round of six-over par 77 at Royal Portrush under Open Championship conditions last week.
He had the chance to prove just how good he is when the PGA Tour invited him to play in the Barracuda Championship at the Tahoe Mountain Club in California.
PGA Tour player Michael Kim suggested that he understood the arguments of both Horvat and the PGA Tour.
Meanwhile, Wesley Bryan wasn’t happy one little bit, but now he has backtracked slightly.
Wesley Bryan apologises after what he said about Grant Horvat’s PGA Tour situation
Bryan let rip at the PGA Tour after Horvat rejected the chance to play in the Barracuda Championship because he was told he wouldn’t be allowed to have a camera crew follow him around.
The one-time PGA Tour winner sent a message on X after Horvat received criticism on social media.
“Dear Traditional golf media/writers: Stay away from YouTube golf. What y’all are doing to Grant Horvat is a joke Also, there is a reason y’all are weighing in…“
However, Bryan then took to his X account to offer an apology for his previous message:
“Upon further review. This was a little over the top. I’m sorry. This is not a proper way to grow the game. Everyone is welcome. Even traditional golf media. I was emotional. Sorry.“
That sounds to me like Horvat has asked Bryan to back down slightly. Nobody knows of course, but it was somewhat surprising to see Bryan change his tune so quickly.
Why the PGA Tour should reconsider Grant Horvat stance
Firstly, it’s worth pointing out that the PGA Tour’s decision not to allow Horvat’s camera crew to follow him is completely understandable.
The presence of a camera crew, and indeed the eyes of the golfing world, may have put a journeyman tour pro under unnecessary added pressure.
These guys are playing to make cuts in order to pay the bills, so it would perhaps not have been fair to have the circus that would have accompanied Horvat following him around.
However, if the PGA Tour really do want to grow their brand, and the game in general, having people like Horvat play an event here and there would surely be a good thing.
Can you imagine how much the viewership figures for the Barracuda Championship would have increased, had the YouTube star been in the field?
Perhaps there is room for negotiating on both sides of the table. I’m convinced it won’t be too long before we see a YouTube content creator play a PGA Tour event.
It has already happened on the DP World Tour after all, with the Bryan brothers playing in the BMW international open two weeks ago.
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