As a part of the PGA Tour’s first significant funding in YouTube golf, the Creator Basic happened on Wednesday night at renovated East Lake Golf Membership.
The occasion, which was streamed on YouTube and ESPN+, featured 16 YouTube golf creators taking part in eight holes of stroke play on East Lake’s again 9. The highest 4 finishers earned their method right into a one-hole playoff on the course’s par-5 18th gap. Any ties would have resulted in a chipping contest to find out the winner—that wasn’t obligatory, nevertheless, as former College of Oklahoma golfer Luke Kwon received with a birdie whereas the opposite three opponents settled for par.
My total impression of the occasion was overwhelmingly constructive. I’d be surprised if the Tour doesn’t revive this idea for subsequent yr’s Tour Championship. Higher but, I feel there may very well be extra YouTube golf concerned forward of marquee occasions just like the Gamers Championship.
It wasn’t all excellent—the streaming product wants a whole lot of work—however the Creator Basic has stable bones.
Listed below are 5 takeaways from the inaugural version of the occasion.
1. There’s a respectable viewers for such a golf
When Kwon was placing for the victory, greater than 118,000 viewers have been watching stay on YouTube.
That’s simply the stay quantity, although. As I’m scripting this, the on-demand model of the stream has been seen by multiple million folks.
We additionally should issue within the ESPN+ viewership, which needs to be a large chunk. There seemingly received’t be launched information on that aspect, however estimates have it exceeding the stay YouTube viewers.
This undoubtedly crushes any LIV viewers we’ve had thus far—even when it’s the ultimate spherical and two of the sport’s greatest gamers are going head-to-head.
The Creator Basic eclipses 118k stay viewers on YouTube plus the ESPN+ viewers plus everybody who will watch the occasion on-demand. LIV Greenbrier had 168k viewers for a duel between Rahm and Koepka. YouTube golfers drawing a much bigger viewers than main champs
— Sean Fairholm (@SeanFairholmMGS) August 29, 2024
It’s not on the extent of a Tour viewers (by conventional metrics), however the viewers numbers are spectacular.
The social media dialog was enthusiastic as effectively. It felt like folks cared—or not less than they have been being entertained. YouTube golf undoubtedly has a considerable following.
2. YouTube golfers are higher than anticipated
I got here into this occasion a bit of leery of the YouTubers getting embarrassed by a championship golf course and the intense lights of competitors.
Lots of people assumed that even-par could be the low rating after eight holes. I personally thought 1 or 2 over-par may make it into the playoff. East Lake’s new greens are agency and the tough could be very penal.
I used to be confirmed mistaken in a reasonably resounding method. All 4 gamers that reached the playoff shot under-par for the eight holes, and one other three gamers completed at even-par only one shot out of the playoff. Roger Steele opened the day with a 195 mph ball velocity tee shot that carried 331 yards. The three ladies within the discipline (Paige Spiranac, Gabby Golfgirl and Aimee Cho) contended for a lot of the afternoon.
If that wasn’t sufficient, Mac Boucher turned a right-handed driver the other way up and swung lefty—on the primary tee—and hit it higher than most of us do taking part in the right route.
There was some phenomenal golf being performed. Granted, the outlet places have been beneficiant and the course wasn’t taking part in overly troublesome. I’m nonetheless very impressed.
Right here was the ultimate leaderboard:
Luke Kwon -1 (winner after playoff)
Wesley Bryan -2
Roger Steele -2
Sean Walsh -1
Brad Dalke E
Micah Morris E
Peter Finch E
George Bryan IV +1
Paige Spiranac +2
Gabby Golfgirl +3
Mason Nutt +4
Aimee Cho +4
Fats Perez +5
Garrett Clark +6
Mac Boucher +7
Tyler Toney +10
3. The streaming product wants some TLC
One of many guarantees of this occasion was that it might take YouTube golf and provide Tour-level manufacturing.
We acquired that in some areas. There was Trackman, leaderboard bugs, extra stats, participant interviews {and professional} commentary from the likes of teacher Mark Immelman. That was an improve upon what we noticed throughout the Q at Myrtle Seashore, a Tour qualifier involving YouTube golfers earlier this yr.
Whereas the streaming effort acquired the job carried out for this primary model, it should enhance dramatically to maintain the momentum going into the longer term.
Commentators have been consistently speaking over one another; the stream consistently misplaced monitor of gamers even with simply 16 balls in play; the Trackman malfunctioned a number of occasions; and there have been extra commercials than I used to be anticipating.
It was a powerful thought to have Joel Dahmen concerned as an on-course reporter, however I swear there was an hour-long part of time the place we didn’t hear from him as soon as.
Additionally, I do know there are a whole lot of Barstool followers who experience laborious for Jake Marsh, however I simply can’t take heed to him. He seems like somebody doing an impression of a play-by-play announcer.
All of that is completely comprehensible for the primary try. This group has by no means labored with one another. I’m certain the subsequent version shall be higher.
Provided that it’s YouTube golf as the primary focus, I don’t suppose it must be polished as much as the requirements of a Tour occasion. Having mentioned that, extra cohesion would assist.
4. The format is a grand slam
Whoever got here up with this format deserves a increase.
Initially, it’s nice promotion for the Tour Championship and new-look East Lake. I assure there shall be some YouTube golf followers turning into Tour golf this weekend due to this.
Secondly, the format assured drama. No person may run away and win by a number of strokes as a result of the scores all reset for the playoff. Additionally, having 4 gamers advance gave a lot of the discipline a hope of creating it into the playoff.
I believed the timing labored out effectively. It didn’t really feel rushed however it didn’t linger too lengthy. It’s the correct quantity of golf to play for one thing like this. And I feel including too many gamers would make it inconceivable for the stream to seize all of it—they have been already misplaced even with simply 16 gamers.
No notes. The format is ideal.
5. Future variations don’t all the time should be stay
Whereas I used to be watching, I couldn’t assist however suppose that an edited model of the event may very well be much more highly effective than the stay model.
Sure, a stay occasion has its perks because the golf world rallies round it on the similar time. I don’t suppose it’s obligatory for each considered one of these, although.
Possibly you’re taking an occasion just like the Genesis Invitational and do the identical idea there, solely the video comes out every week later. It may be edited down right into a a lot tighter window with faster transitions whereas nonetheless ensuring the entire applicable pictures are proven.
That’s already the traditional format for YouTube golf—so why not use a number of the Tour’s assets to make a quick-hitting event video that has Trackman, commentators and every little thing else?
These are my takeaways. What did you consider the Creator Basic?
Let me know beneath within the feedback.
Additionally, if you’re keen on following a number of the prime creators on YouTube, right here is our listing of the highest 20 channels you ought to be following.
Prime Picture Caption: Joel Dahmen interviews Fats Perez throughout the Creator Basic. (GETTY IMAGES/Keyur Khamar)
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