Justin Thomas is no longer the youngest player on the PGA Tour. At 31, he's one of the veterans with multiple Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup appearances under his belt.
But that doesn't mean he's behind the times: The former golfer from Alabama understands the importance of social media.
This week's Tour Championship will feature the Creator Classic on Wednesday night, with 16 golf influencers and YouTube content creators competing in a nine-hole stroke-play event.
Golf is becoming more and more popular, and for the sport to continue to grow it needs to attract the interest of younger generations, and the introduction of these creators will help with that.
“It's super cool. It's obviously super different. It's the era it's in now,” Thomas said. “At the end of the day, if it gets more kids and more people interested in golf, that's what matters most.”
Thomas is probably one of the best-known players on the PGA Tour. He's a fan favorite. The 15-time PGA Tour winner admits he doesn't know the field very well, but as long as the fans know, that's all that matters.
“There are a few influencers out there who are probably a lot better known than I am,” he said. “I'm not saying that's right or wrong, but that's the power of influencers.”
Thomas, a two-time PGA Championship winner, is active on social media and is one of the most active players on the tour. When Thomas found out he would be playing in the Tour Championship, Funny Memes About myself.
He praised the 16 Creators who chose to take time out of their schedules to play in the Creator Classic and do the right thing for golf.
“Their time is valuable, just like ours. It's great that they have the opportunity to take the time out of such a big week, play on the course and create a bit more buzz. It gives kids another avenue to want to get involved in golf, whether that's as a pro or an influencer, and I think that's a good thing.”
It's significant that Thomas acknowledged that being an influencer is a great way to get into golf. The PGA Tour and LPGA only make up a small percentage of the golfing population, so if they can find other ways to get involved, it will only make the game better.
Savannah Lee Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow us for more golf articles. Follow You can follow us on all major social platforms. You can also follow us on Twitter Follow Her Instagram account is @golf_girl_sl.
