The 2024 Creator Classic was a pivotal moment for the PGA Tour, drawing a massive audience both online and via traditional broadcast channels. The unique event featured social media influencers showcasing their golfing prowess in a riveting eight-hole round, all leading up to the main Tour Championship. At its peak, the event boasted nearly 110,000 concurrent viewers on YouTube, along with additional audiences on ESPN+ and Peacock.
PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan was delighted with the event’s reception, praising the tremendous response from fans and content creators alike. The inaugural edition saw Luke Kwon conquer the field, including Wesley Byran, Sean Walsh, and Roger Steele, in a nail-biting sudden-death playoff. Paige Spiranac, Fat Perez from Bob Does Sports, Aimee Cho, Gabby Golf Girl and several other influencers also graced the event.
This year, however, Spiranac will return to the course, not as a player, but in a vastly different role. The charismatic golf influencer is set to join the tournament’s broadcast team, an opportunity she’s eagerly awaiting. She shared her excitement and a hint of nervousness on Dan Rapaport’s podcast ‘Dan on Golf.’
Spiranac’s decision to not participate in this year’s competition was fueled by vivid memories from the previous year, where she re-engaged with competitive play after an eight-year hiatus. Recalling her experience, Spiranac confessed that she was daunted by the prospect of competing again, but thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Spiranac’s professional career began on the Cactus Tour in May 2016, where she triumphed over top-ranked amateur Hannah O’Sullivan. Despite failing to secure a card in the LPGA Qualifying Tournament later that year, she earned nearly $8000 on the Cactus Tour. After that, she shifted her focus to social media content creation. Given her long break from professional play, her nervousness at the Creator Classic was understandable.
Her initial jitters at the event led to a rocky start, but Spiranac managed to recover impressively. She secured a commendable 9th place finish out of 16 participants, just four strokes behind leader Wesley Bryan and three short of playoff contention. Now that she’s stepping away from competitive play, fans can expect to hear more insights from her during the broadcasts.
As the 2025 Creator Classic approaches, the spotlight now shifts to the new and returning influencers set to compete. The lineup is packed with talent, with Roger Steele, George and Wesley Bryan, Gabby Golf Girl, and Fat Perez Sports reprising their roles. Newcomers include Grant Horvat, Kyle Berkshire, Tisha Alyn, Chris ‘Soly’ Solomon from No Laying Up, and a yet-to-be-determined representative from Barstool Sports.
The tournament will follow a straightforward format at TPC Sawgrass: eight holes of stroke play, beginning on the par-4 10th hole and culminating on the iconic island-green 17th hole. The top three finishers will compete in a sudden-death playoff on the 17th hole. The event will also be broadcast on the PGA Tour’s YouTube channel and other platforms.
With defending champion Luke Kwon not in contention this year, it remains to be seen who will claim the title in this unique golfing contest.