Despite the storm of controversy swirling around Brian Campbell’s surprise victory at the 2025 Mexico Championship, the PGA Tour has been noticeably lackluster in its promotion of the golfer’s breakthrough. The 31-year-old golfer had been honing his skills for nearly a decade before clinching his first title, a feat that could have been spun into a compelling narrative to bolster the sport’s television ratings. However, the PGA Tour’s PR team appears to have missed the opportunity, leaving many to question their strategy.
The Fore Play podcast, in a recent episode on Spotify, dove into the issue, with host Frankie Borrelli noting that Campbell’s story had all the makings of a “superstar story.” Yet, the PGA Tour seemed to overlook it entirely, focusing instead on promoting Joel Dahmen, who was lagging on the leaderboard. This, Borrelli opined, was a significant misstep, as Campbell’s win was a “life-changing event” that should have been given due attention.
The podcast team suggested that the PGA Tour could have better leveraged social media to highlight Campbell’s journey. Sam Riggs Bozoian, another host, lamented the lack of excitement at the 2025 Mexico Championship, attributing it to the absence of big-name stars. The promotion strategy, it seems, was flawed.
Adding to the conversation, professional golfer and Fore Play host Kevin Kisner criticized the PGA Tour’s “closed shop” approach. He was referring to the organisation’s controversial 2026 field policy, which could restrict players from climbing the ranks via Q-Schools and the Korn Ferry Tour. The policy, Kisner argued, runs counter to the need to “create new stars.”
The challenge of fostering new talent, however, is not to be underestimated. Bozoian noted the importance of a balanced mix of top players and rising stars, while another host, Trent, emphasized the need for a young, influential content creator who is also a formidable competitor on the golf course. As an example, Bryson DeChambeau was mentioned, although he is now considered an older player.
Trent predicted the emergence of a young golfer with a strong YouTube presence, asserting that this would significantly boost golf viewership and attract a younger demographic.
Social media has indeed revolutionized golf, with players and fans enjoying unprecedented levels of interaction. Players are consistently creating engaging off-course content, with Bryson DeChambeau leading the charge. However, DeChambeau’s rise to fame preceded his successful YouTube career, suggesting that successful content creation alone is not enough to change the demographics of golf fans.
For this shift to occur, a well-known golf YouTuber will need to achieve significant success in the sport. This could potentially be achieved by young golfers such as Caleb Surratt, Aldrich Potgieter, and Blades Brown, who are already making strides in the content creation space.
In conclusion, while winning championships is always the primary goal, the PGA Tour might need to start promoting its professional golfers as content creators as well. The question is, are there any young golfers out there who can rise to this dual challenge? Only time will tell.
