YouTube golf star Grant Horvat declined an invitation to play in this week's Barracuda Championship on the PGA Tour, turning down a remarkable, unique opportunity because he wouldn't be allowed to film content around his appearance.
Horvat took to social media to explain his decision to not play in the event at Truckee, California's Tahoe Mountain Club, saying, "Unfortunately I will not be playing in a PGA Tour event. The rules and regulations around PGA Tour tournament play will not allow us to film. The only reason I was in the position to receive an invitation like this is because of YouTube and you all watching the videos, so if I’m going to play, we want film it.
"I am hopeful that this won’t always be the case. I would be honored to play in a PGA Tour event and bring you all along in the future. Huge thank you to the Barracuda for the invite and belief in YouTube golf."
The PGA Tour has supported YouTube golf and social media influencers in the game with several tournaments streamed online and played at tournament site of PGA Tour events, including an event Horvat won this year at TPC Sawgrass ahead of The Players Championship in March. Since that event, part of the Creator Classic series, wasn't an official PGA Tour event, the creators were allowed to and encouraged to film individual content around their participation in the event. However, playing in an official PGA Tour event is something different altogether.
PGA Tour players and contestants -- members or not when they play -- are required to adhere to the Tour's rules and restrictions around their individual media rights while playing in the event. Since the PGA Tour has massive contracts with its media-rights partners, including Comcast-owned (for now) Golf Channel, which will air the Barracuda Championship, the Tour restricts players from creating their own content around the event. To participate in the Barracuda Championship, Horvat would have to abide by those rules.
Horvat maintains that he wouldn't participate in a PGA Tour event if he can't bring along his subscribers through the prism of his own content. The PGA Tour is highly unlikely to change its stance given the tremendous amount they receive in rights fees from broadcast and streaming partners.
Ultimately, this all means that Horvat won't showcase his game inside the ropes at an official PGA Tour event.
