The Feed: YouTube golf's new breakaway league raises more questions than answers ... for now
The only constant is change. Nothing gold can stay. All good things must come to an end. You know all the old adages, and despite its relatively recent development, YouTube golf and its community of creators and fans are not immune to the ticking of the clock. This week we got massive announcement from the three of the platform’s biggest stars that threatens to change everything we know (and love) about the format. It’s not all bad though, so let’s get stuck in and see if we can make sense of the news.
Your Golf Tour
Unless you’ve been off planet on a deep-space recon mission the last couple of light years, you’ve probably heard that Grant Horvat, along with George and Wesley Bryan, announced the first-ever “YouTube” golf tour this week. Featuring four events, 16 of the top players from across the creator space and a $1-million championship at Wynn Las Vegas, the YGT—which reportedly already as a multi-year agreement in place—is Martin Borgmeier-sized swing.
We’ve grumbled a lot about YouTube golf’s “jump the shark” moment in past installments. So, far this is the leader in the clubhouse. A lot of questions still surround the YGT, namely who the players will besides Horvat and the brothers Bryan, but the big one is pretty simple:
Does really golf need another tour?
Even with the biggest golf star on the planet not named Tiger Woods, we all know LIV has struggled to find its footing, at least when it comes to television audiences. TGL has been a fun weeknight distraction, but fading numbers during season two cast questions about its staying power. Can YGT avoid similar pitfalls?
The good news for YGT has already pre-built a massive audience on YouTube. We can safely assume the early numbers will look very strong (though we still don’t know when, where or how the league will air). Horvat also stated that the initial playing roster based on skill, not personality, so concerns about YGT being an unwatchable chop fest should be alleviated.
That said, isn’t the whole appeal of YouTube golf the personality not the skill? Does YGT miss the entire point of the content and creators that gave birth to it? Will the once friendly, fun competition that drove viewers to the platform by the millions become just another sterile march toward Sunday? Obviously, we don’t have the answers to these questions yet. Nor are they the only ones. YGT will also use the TGL/LIV team model, featuring four teams of four, each lead by a dedicated captain (Horvat, George and Wesley will make up the first three). Players seem to enjoy the team format, but audiences have yet to fully buy in.
Despite all that, however, the Internet Invitational proved last summer that there’s huge appetite to watch the creators we’ve come to know and love compete in a high(er)-stakes environment. Good Good Golf went the route of partnering with the PGA Tour to broaden their reach, but Your Golf Tour will strike out on its own. It remains to be seen which is the better business decision in the long run, but at least the YGT is being led by actual creators instead of marketing suits in a Ponte Vedra board room or massive outside conglomerates like Barstool Sports.
All in all, it’s WAY too early to say if YGT is a misstep or a building block, but from the outside looking in, we’re rooting for it. Whether you love ove the idea, hate the idea or are still on the fence, I think we can all agree that more good golf is never a bad thing.
Quick Hits
Bob Does Sports
BDS loves group activities, but this week they’re keeping it intimate with a mano y mano match between Bobby Fairways and Joey Cold Cuts. Will this turn the group’s entire power dynamic on its head? You know how to find out.
Good Good Golf
YouTube golf takes another step toward becoming reality TV (or worse yet, Dude Perfect) this week with the $25,000 Good Good Survival challenge. I’m not a ‘Survivor’ guy, so this probably isn’t for me, but maybe it’s for you.
Good Good Pros
If you don’t care who gets voted off the island, then spend some time with the Good Good Pros this week. They tee it up at the PGA West’s Pete Dye Stadium Course—home of The American Express—to see if they can overpower one of the PGA Tour’s toughest tracks. No. 17 (AKA “Alcatraz”) is an island green, however, so perhaps there's some ‘Survivor’ synergy here after all.
Bryan Bros.
Hungry for the feast of burnt umber pine straw and lush green fairways that will be taking over our TVs in two weeks’ time? Then join the Bryan Bros. for a match at the Tom Fazio-designed Sage Valley. Located just 15 miles from Augusta National, Sage Valley is a visual tribute to its more famous neighbor down the road and provides as good of a backdrop as you’ll find on YouTube, so don’t miss it.
Pete Finch
Speaking of the Bryan Bros., Peter Finch tee’s it up with the pair for a 1v1v1 match this week. Will Finch be headed to YGT? He certainly has the game for it and is getting chummy with Wesley and George. Watch this space.