PGA TOUR Makes Major Investment into YouTube Golf with ‘Creator Classic’

The PGA TOUR is rounding up the most influential and biggest names in YouTube Golf for the first-edition of the “Creator Classic” at East Lake Golf Club just one day prior to the TOUR Championship.

A nine-hole competition, the Creator Classic will feature confirmed participants like Tyler Toney from Dude Perfect, the Bryan Bros, Fat Perez from Bob Does Sports, and Good Good’s Garrett Clark, Brad Dalke, and Sean Walsh.

On Aug. 28, the Wednesday before @TOURChamp, the @PGATOUR will host the “Creator Classic,” a 9-hole competition at East Lake, featuring 16 top golf creators.

Already confirmed:
– @FatPerez33
– @bryanbrosgolf
– @goodgood_golf
– Tyler Toney (@DudePerfect) https://t.co/tkupmmRfIn pic.twitter.com/w6bbUc2BQl

— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) July 29, 2024

The competition will feature an eight-hole stroke play format, with the ninth hole being a playoff between the top four finishers. More influencers are expected to join in, and will be announced as the event nears on August 28.

The event was created by Pro Shop Studios, the production company behind Netflix’s Full Swing. In conjunction with the PGA TOUR, the event aims to bring more eyes to the TOUR’s premiere event, the TOUR Championship at East Lake, using some of the biggest names in YouTube Golf.

Chris Wandell, PGA TOUR senior vice president, media, said:

“The PGA TOUR is proud to partner with Pro Shop and these popular golf content creators for an exciting new concept. We look forward to bringing the fans of these social media stars closer to all the PGA TOUR has to offer, and what better place to debut this competition than at the culminating event of the FedExCup Playoffs.”

Golf has felt a major growth spurt since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which forced people to interact outside. Golf became the main activity, and has evolved quite a bit over the last four years in nearly every aspect.

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To a certain extent, YouTube golf and content creation has become more influential than the professional game, and the PGA TOUR knows that it can use this as a runway to help combat declines in viewership.

Chad Mumm, Founder and President of Pro Shop, said:

"Golf is in the middle of an explosion in popularity and, for many young people, some of the biggest stars have emerged on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. The Creator Classic will bring the brightest of these new stars to the biggest stage in golf, giving them a chance to compete in a real PGA TOUR environment in front of fans both on site and all over the world. The combination of these creators, who have millions of loyal fans, and the PGA TOUR’s unparalleled competitive atmosphere, production value and massive reach promises to deliver a landmark golf event unlike any other."

Cover Image via Golfweek