Professional Golf 2024 & 2025

[LincolnShep]

If someone is out there filming with a personal phone then it’s a touch different than having someone there with a professional camera etc

He's a professional YouTuber, his business is YouTube. The production values are excellent, he's not putting out stuff filmed on a smartphone! You've already admitted that you don't watch YouTube golf but maybe you should give it a try so you'd understand why it's ridiculous to suggest someone could just film with a smartphone from the sidelines.

He's not trying to be the world's best golfer, he's trying to be YouTube's best golf content provider. If he can't produce a high quality video, there's literally no point in doing it. I expect declining the invitation was an easy decision for him.

 

[evemccc]

Did anyone have media rights to film Open qualifying

It was also an event he qualified for by his own right , no invite

His main aim and goal was to qualify for The Open

If he was told he couldn’t film it do you think he would have pulled out

Open final qualifying is worlds away from a PGAT event

There’s a better standard of golfer, probably, at Final Qualifying than at the John Deere Classic —— or at least comparable, what with the world’s leading amateurs and DP World, KF, LIV pros and a few ex-major winners

 

[Arthur Wedge]

He's a professional YouTuber, his business is YouTube. The production values are excellent, he's not putting out stuff filmed on a smartphone! You've already admitted that you don't watch YouTube golf but maybe you should give it a try so you'd understand why it's ridiculous to suggest someone could just film with a smartphone from the sidelines.

He's not trying to be the world's best golfer, he's trying to be YouTube's best golf content provider. If he can't produce a high quality video, there's literally no point in doing it. I expect declining the invitation was an easy decision for him.

Then he just doesn’t play in them if he wants his own professional filming and stick to his you tube stuff

He prob isn’t a daft bloke so surely he could understand that the tour have media rights obligations

Or maybe his plan was to turn it down , blame the tour and then put out a crying video about it - there was no need for that imo

 

[wjemather]

He's a professional YouTuber, his business is YouTube. The production values are excellent, he's not putting out stuff filmed on a smartphone! You've already admitted that you don't watch YouTube golf but maybe you should give it a try so you'd understand why it's ridiculous to suggest someone could just film with a smartphone from the sidelines.

He's not trying to be the world's best golfer, he's trying to be YouTube's best golf content provider. If he can't produce a high quality video, there's literally no point in doing it. I expect declining the invitation was an easy decision for him.

Nailed it.

Horvat isn't a tour player. The sponsors didn't extend him an invite because he would be able to compete for the trophy; they did it in order to generate interest and promote their event, with the expectation that there would be plenty of content put out by him via his own channel that would promote their brand. The tour decided to assert its control and eliminate 90% of the incentive and benefit to Horvat of being there, and probably upset their sponsor along the way. The tour is an authoritarian circus run by incompetent clowns who are stuck in the past and can't get out of their own way.

 

[LincolnShep]

Then he just doesn’t play in them if he wants his own professional filming and stick to his you tube stuff

He prob isn’t a daft bloke so surely he could understand that the tour have media rights obligations

Or maybe his plan was to turn it down , blame the tour and then put out a crying video about it - there was no need for that imo

Of course he knows that that the tour has media rights obligations, we all do. Contracts are created by people, they're not like laws of nature, they can be amended if all parties see a benefit. In this case, PGAT, or their broadcast partners, don't see a benefit. I think they're short-sighted but that's hardly out of character for the PGAT.

 

[Swango1980]

No idea who you are all talking about. But, whoever it is, they need to see this thread and get some brilliant career advice.

I've seen quite a few youtuber golfer videos, and the quality of these videos are often better than something a broadcasting company like the BBC or ITV would produce. Think of the money they would save when they find out that this could all be done on a smartphone

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Of course he knows that that the tour has media rights obligations, we all do. Contracts are created by people, they're not like laws of nature, they can be amended if all parties see a benefit. In this case, PGAT, or their broadcast partners, don't see a benefit. I think they're short-sighted but that's hardly out of character for the PGAT.

The last two posts prob show his motive for posting the video moaning

What will happen now is Tours and sponsers will think twice about inviting them

And for me that’s a good thing

Give the invite to a professional who is trying to earn a living on the tour

 

[Swango1980]

The last two posts prob show his motive for posting the video moaning

What will happen now is Tours and sponsers will think twice about inviting them

And for me that’s a good thing

Give the invite to a professional who is trying to earn a living on the tour

I'd imagine the more attention and views YouTube golfers get, it will ultimately improve the life for professional golfers. If influencers can generate an interest in golf, from people that wouldn't sit down and watch a professional tournament, then it can only help the game. I don't really watch any golf tournament outside the Majors anymore. But, if one of the regular tour events featured the likes of Jimmy Bullard and Peter Finch, then I'd likely tune in to watch a bit of it live, as I'd be interested to see how they do against the best. And I'd probably watch their 60 minute YouTube video of the round.

I think your view is extremely short sighted. Personally, I feel like giving this bit of flexibility could be a really excellent marketing opportunity for the Tours

 

[timd77]

Let’s not kid ourselves here, the PGAT only invited him for their benefit not his. There would’ve been no expectation of him competing or having a chance of winning, it was purely to generate interest in their event.

I don’t blame him for turning it down. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.

 

[LincolnShep]

The last two posts prob show his motive for posting the video moaning

What will happen now is Tours and sponsers will think twice about inviting them

And for me that’s a good thing

Give the invite to a professional who is trying to earn a living on the tour

Will it?!?
If they want to reach different markets, they'll explore the channels most appropriate to those markets. In some cases that will be YouTube.
PGAT's marketing people have explored the idea of inviting Grant Horvat but they've been thwarted by the broadcast people.
The PGAT will be the most reluctant to change because they are, by nature, extremely conservative. When you're the dominant tour it's better not to change anything.

 

[evemccc]

The last two posts prob show his motive for posting the video moaning

What will happen now is Tours and sponsers will think twice about inviting them

And for me that’s a good thing

Give the invite to a professional who is trying to earn a living on the tour

What’s the need and function of a sponsor’s invite then?

Either they’re a sham in terms of sports fairness — in that they’re not exactly ‘sporting’ because they don’t go to the most deserving golf professional trying to earn a living from Tour golf…….Or, they’re fair game because it’s an invite based around increasing the profile of the event and interest in the event (to the benefit of the sponsor, and also the PGA Tour) - and in this case Grant Horvat clearly would increase the profile of the event for the Sponsor, and the Tour…

Ultimately you either are in all cases against Sponsor Invites, or you’re not in all cases

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Will it?!?
If they want to reach different markets, they'll explore the channels most appropriate to those markets. In some cases that will be YouTube.
The PGAT will be the most reluctant to change because they are, by nature, extremely conservative. When you're the dominant tour it's better not to change anything.

What are the different markets that need to be reached ?

Wouldn’t most of the people that subscribe to any Internet golfer already have a passing interest in the sport

We have already seen a golf boom at a local club level but that was because of Covid

So which markets that are currently untapped are being looked at

 

[LincolnShep]

What are the different markets that need to be reached ?

Wouldn’t most of the people that subscribe to any Internet golfer already have a passing interest in the sport

We have already seen a golf boom at a local club level but that was because of Covid

So which markets that are currently untapped are being looked at

I'm actually annoyed with myself for engaging with one of your posts so I'm going to stop now. Have a good day.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

What’s the need and function of a sponsor’s invite then?

Either they’re a sham in terms of sports fairness — in that they’re not exactly ‘sporting’ because they don’t go to the most deserving golf professional trying to earn a living from Tour golf…….Or, they’re fair game because it’s an invite based around increasing the profile of the event and interest in the event (to the benefit of the sponsor, and also the PGA Tour) - and in this case Grant Horvat clearly would increase the profile of the event for the Sponsor, and the Tour…

Ultimately you either are in all cases against Sponsor Invites, or you’re not in all cases

For me sponsers invites should be going to tour players - either the young up and coming ones from junior tours who are looking to battle their way in , players who have over the years added something to the event or the tour , someone who has been through some tough injury times , maybe some up and coming Amatuers from university

But imo it should be someone who’s main career is being a professional golfer as a opposed to a social media creator

 

[Backache]

For me sponsers invites should be going to tour players - either the young up and coming ones from junior tours who are looking to battle their way in , players who have over the years added something to the event or the tour , someone who has been through some tough injury times , maybe some up and coming Amatuers from university

But imo it should be someone who’s main career is being a professional golfer as a opposed to a social media creator

I'm not bothered who gets sponsors invites, but surely the best thing for the sponsor is getting someone who reflects well on their product, be it a tour player a fading star or whatever.

 

[The Squirrel]

He's a professional YouTuber, his business is YouTube. The production values are excellent, he's not putting out stuff filmed on a smartphone! You've already admitted that you don't watch YouTube golf but maybe you should give it a try so you'd understand why it's ridiculous to suggest someone could just film with a smartphone from the sidelines.

He's not trying to be the world's best golfer, he's trying to be YouTube's best golf content provider. If he can't produce a high quality video, there's literally no point in doing it. I expect declining the invitation was an easy decision for him.

I agree with all of the stuff about very good production value, BUT this was likely the issue. If Horvat is trying to portray it as just having asked for a mate following him round in the crowd with a handheld camera then he is being very disingenuous. He would have turned up with multiple tcrews expecting unobstructed sight lines. That’s means inside the ropes. That’s broadcasting privileges. If he wants access to broadcast rights then he can negotiate with the company that paid for them and holds them.

Maybe he did try that and suddenly realised just what smallfry he is in the realms of broadcast events and doesn’t like the ego check?

 

[Mel Smooth]

I agree with all of the stuff about very good production value, BUT this was likely the issue. If Horvat is trying to portray it as just having asked for a mate following him round in the crowd with a handheld camera then he is being very disingenuous. He would have turned up with multiple tcrews expecting unobstructed sight lines. That’s means inside the ropes. That’s broadcasting privileges. If he wants access to broadcast rights then he can negotiate with the company that paid for them and holds them.

Maybe he did try that and suddenly realised just what smallfry he is in the realms of broadcast events and doesn’t like the ego check?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1945186389357724015

 

[Pin-seeker]

Well it’s Open week & here we are discussing Grant.
He must be doing something right

 

[SatchFan]

Well it’s Open week & here we are discussing Grant.
He must be doing something right

Makes a refreshing change from McIlroy.

 

[The Squirrel]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1945186389357724015

What people negotiate for in private then how they tell the story later in public to justify themselves are two very different things.

He’d attract quite a crowd. A single handheld camera with no access privileges, so just mainly filming the backs of peoples’ heads is never going to be the request that was actually made. Nor would it ever be a genuine dealbreaker one way or the other.

On balance I’m still with the decided to swerve it theory. On a top level pro course and pressure going round in +10 even a fair bit more would be a real possibility and probably not great for the image.

He’s made pulling out good for the profile though. Skilled media operator for sure - and as that’s his job then well done him.