The situation between Brandel Chamblee and Anthony Kim has been a hot topic on golf Twitter.
The controversy between the two players led to a broader debate, with fans and media figures questioning the current state of professional golf and its wide gap. Phil Mickelson took a cheap shot from Chamblee during this Twitter tirade.
The six-time major champion finally responded to fans’ calls on social media. the golf game is broken.
“Or the Golf is broken and is being repaired,” Mickelson responded. “1) The average age of the PGA Tour audience recently went from 60 to 65. 2) It is completely US-centric and has no plans to globalize its opportunities. 3) Exclusive control of media rights. , players cannot use YouTube or other social platforms to promote the game to the next generation, meaning there was no option for Bryson to be active within the tour. [DeChambeau]. What he is doing now was not allowed before LIV. Solving the problem will take time, but it’s better than waiting for it to completely collapse. ”
Or your golf is broken and is being repaired. ♂️
1) Recently, the average age of the PGA Tour audience has gone from 60 to 65 years old. 2) Completely US-centric, with no plans to globalize opportunities. 3) Exclusive control over media rights prevents players from using his YouTube etc.— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) May 12, 2024
Mickelson’s words ring familiar, as PGA Tour fans have made similar criticisms. Many feel that the tour is lacking in certain areas.
For example, one of the most prominent problems is the decline in television viewership. Despite Scottie Scheffler’s historic performance at the Masters, his ratings plummeted.
LIV Golf may not be the answer, but its terrible reviews speak for themselves. But it shows golf fans something different. Allowing Bryson DeChambeau to film and post on his YouTube widens the audience.
See what happened when the Myrtle Beach Classic and YouTube Golf collaborated. At The Q in Myrtle Beach, he created a video showcasing eight of his content creators playing against professional golfers. The video drew thousands of viewers, and the Myrtle Beach crowd was large for the event on the opposing field.
If there’s anyone who knows the PGA Tour’s strictness about content, it’s Ryan French, who runs the Monday Q Info account at X. He has been following Monday’s qualifying and has had multiple videos and photos flagged over the years.
There’s no arguing that the PGA Tour took advantage of its monopoly, as it wasn’t perfect before (especially media rights). But now it’s pretty broken. The commentators hit unnecessary shots at the player, and the player called him a cat. I hope it gets fixed quickly and accurately. https://t.co/MFmtlBXht1
— Monday Q information (@acaseofthegolf1) May 12, 2024
The Frenchman’s concerns likely resonate with golf fans. It’s sad to see golf so broken.
Mickelson’s suggestion that golf is being fixed seems far-fetched. Almost a year has passed since the PGA Tour and Saudi PIF announced the deal, but no significant moves have been made.
Savannah Lee Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.If you want to know more information about golf, please follow us. @_PlayingThrough On all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirls and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
