VIA GRANT HORVAT GOLF/YOUTUBE
Audio By Carbonatix
YouTube Golfer Grant Horvat was recently invited by the PGA Tour to play at the Barracuda Championship, but after being denied access to film, he has turned down the offer.
Boasting over 1 million YouTube subscribers, Grant Horvat has taken the golf world by storm with his videos. He regularly collaborates with professionals such as Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, John Daly, and many more. All while showing a more personal side to a golf round that we don’t get to see when watching the PGA Tour.
He also has athletes from other sports on his channel, with Saquon Barkley joining most recently for Grant’s “Can We Break 60?” Series.
Having the personal “vlog” aspect to these videos has caused the YouTube golf scene in general to explode within the last few years. Channels like “Good Good” and LIV pro Bryson DeChambeau have caused other pros to get into the mix of YouTube golf as well after seeing how smart it is for their personal brand.
After all, DeChambeau went from being one of the most hated golfers, to what some would call the new “face of golf” with his massive fanbase always cheering him on.
As someone who avidly watches the YouTube golf scene, it feels as if you’re watching a friend rather than a professional, which makes it easier to relate to the person filming. The funny moments and back-and-forth banter make for top-tier entertainment, and something you can also throw on in the background while you’re cooking dinner or sippin’ a brew.
You’ll probably find yourself getting addicted to the idea as a whole. Just imagine it was your job to play golf for a living, without the stress of making cuts or keeping your tour card. These guys make money, as long as the viewership is there… and it sure is. A video Horvat did with Scottie Scheffler raked in 4.3 million views in just 2 months!
Through Grant Horvat’s successful YouTube videos, he received an invite from a sponsor to play in the Barracuda, which his fans were very excited about. He would be the first YouTube golfer to play in a real PGA Event. However, he has unfortunately turned down the invitation, as the PGA will not allow him to film any of his round to post on his YouTube channel.
Horvat posted a video on his second channel explaining, saying:
“So the reason I will not be playing in a PGA Tour Event is due to the rules and regulations around media rights and filming during tournament play of a PGA Tour Event.”
“I was not going to be allowed to film my round during tournament play. And for me personally, doing YouTube for a living and wanting to document everything I do…”
“This was the reason we got the invite in the first place was because of YouTube and because of the amazing experiences I get to share with you guys.”
He also added that rather than having an entire crew filming he was going to have just one person standing outside the ropes recording him, stating the last thing he wants would be to distract the players.
Now, some people, including Joe Pompliano, don’t seem to want YouTube golfers entering the professional scene. He threw a backhanded jab at Horvat on X:
YouTube Golf is GOOD For The Sport
Whether you agree or disagree with the invitation Grant Horvat received from the PGA Tour, there’s one thing that is for sure. YouTube golf is very good for the sport.
What 12-year-old do you know watches golf? Probably very few. But what 12-year-old do you know who watches YouTube? Almost all of them. It’s giving the game of golf a lot more eyeballs, and it’s doing it in a fun refreshing way, all while introducing the game to audiences who may not have had any prior interest in picking up a club.
As for Grant Horvat, I won’t be surprised if we do see him teeing off at a PGA Tour Event in the near future. It’s only a matter of time before everyone realizes how the social media age is catching up, and may even pass the PGA in viewership very soon.
For example, the PGA tour averages about 2 million viewers weekly, with about 10 million viewers for Majors. Grant Horvat is currently averaging about 15-16 million views a month.
Pretty wild to think about.