Latest news with #BryanBros
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Wesley Bryan to appeal suspension from PGA Tour
Wesley Bryan to appeal suspension from PGA Tour Wesley Bryan said he plans to appeal his indefinite suspension on the PGA Tour. Bryan, who is a member of the Tour and former winner of the RBC Heritage in 2017, participated in a YouTube match with Grant Horvath and major champions such as Phil Mickelson. The match was associated with LIV Golf and shot during the Miami LIV event ahead of the Masters. The Tour deemed it an unauthorized event requiring a release, which was neither sought nor granted. 'We had to jump at that opportunity,' said Wesley, who teams with his brother George. The brothers have become one of the most popular golfers on YouTube. 'All we've ever wanted to do from the Bryan Bros. is merge professional golf and YouTube and this was one of those opportunities that we've been dreaming of since we got into YouTube golf.' Wesley noted that when he and his brother started their YouTube channel more than a decade ago, all they wanted to do was use it to fund their mini tour golf career in hopes of one day playing on the PGA Tour. But YouTube golf has exploded and as their followers have taken off, it has taken a larger priority in his life. 'It's been a very difficult road to navigate trying to balance playing competitively and creating content on YouTube,' Wesley said. 'We've been able to be part of something special in growing the YouTube community and I'm going to continue to do that,' he said in a video released on the Bryan Bros. various channels under the headline "I was suspended from the PGA Tour." 'Nothing but gratitude for the PGA Tour even amidst the little disagreement we have right now. I wanted to make sure the proper thank yous because again they've given us so much,' Wesley said. Nevertheless, Wesley, who played in the Tour's Creator Classic at TPC Sawgrass ahead of the Players Championship, said he plans to appeal his suspension, arguing that there's ambiguity in the rules as they were written. 'I don't think when the rule was written it was meant to cover content creation on YouTube," Wesley said. "I think it was meant to cover organized, professional, high-end golf events.'
USA Today
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
YouTuber Grant Horvat invited to play PGA Tour event, asks fans for help making decision
YouTuber Grant Horvat invited to play PGA Tour event, asks fans for help making decision Grant Horvat has a decision to make. The famous YouTuber has received a sponsor invite to play in this summer's Barracuda Championship, an opposite-field event to the Open Championship at Old Greenwood in Truckee, California. Horvat, who won the Creator Classic at TPC Sawgrass last month, turned to his fans to help make his decision, asking whether he should play. Thousands of fans replied, including PGA Tour player Michael Kim, saying, "If you want to play, you should play. It's a sponsors invite and any person or maybe even tour pro that wants to tell you that you're taking a spot or you should 'earn it' is total BS." Horvat revealed his invite on The Smylie Show. "I don't know where I'm at right now on it," he said. "I truly believe in my game and I think I'm not going to shoot some crazy high score. When you play with the pros, you just realize how much better they are. They're so good at golf. "I'll hit a lot of high-quality golf shots ... but it's truly a whole 'nother level." It's the timing of the invite that's causing waves, however. Horvat was one of six creators who played two weeks at The Duels: Miami, LIV Golf's spinoff of the Creator Classic. Six creators played with LIV players ahead of LIV Golf Miami at Trump Doral, and the video posted in its entirety on Horvat's YouTube page after the event. It has more than 2 million views. The Bryan Bros, George and Wesley, were also participants. And on Wednesday, news dropped that Wesley was suspended by the PGA Tour for his participation in the event. Numerous creators, including Horvat, tweeted "#FreeWesley" in response to the news. An important distinction to make is that Wesley is a PGA Tour member, in addition to being a content creator. He has three starts this year, including a T-25 finish at the Farmers Insurance Open. A length of his suspension from the Tour wasn't announced, but previous suspensions for competing in LIV Golf events have been a year from the date last played. Although the field hasn't been announced, Wesley was likely going to play in the third version of the Creator Classic next month at the Truist Championship. He had played in the first two events, but with his suspension, it's unlikely he'll play at Philadelphia Cricket Club. This has been frustrating for fans, especially considering the timing of Horvat's announcement. Horvat revealed his invite only hours before Wesley's suspension was announced, confusing fans why Horvat would be allowed to play in a Tour event when he also played in The Duels: Miami event. Tournaments can use their invites on any player they want. In Horvat's case, he's not a member of the PGA Tour, meaning he doesn't have to follow the Tour's guidelines when it comes to what events he can and can't play in. The debate on whether Wesley's suspension was warranted in playing a made-for-YouTube competition is fair criticism, but he also has different guidelines to follow than Horvat does. Will his suspension last, or will there be potential backlash from fellow creators because of it? Only time will tell. Here's to hoping Horvat plays the Barracuda. The content would be can't miss, and it would be a great opportunity for him to experience life inside the ropes of a PGA Tour event.
USA Today
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
PGA Tour announces field, format for Creator Classic at TPC Sawgrass
PGA Tour announces field, format for Creator Classic at TPC Sawgrass Show Caption Hide Caption Tiger Woods, Jupiter Links talk about 'embarrassing' TGL wedge shot "That was one of the most embarrassing things to ever happen. I can't believe that just happened." The nine-hole tournament takes place the day before the Players Championship and will be streamed on multiple platforms. Some of the top content creators in the golf world will get to take on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass the day before the Players Championship begins. The Creator Classic at TPC Sawgrass, the first of three in the season-long creator series announced in January, will be broadcast on the PGA Tour's YouTube channel and other media platforms. The competition will be nine holes and begin the afternoon of March 12 before the PGA Tour's flagship event. The field features returning participants from the inaugural 2024 event – the Bryan Bros, Fat Perez from Bob Does Sports, Gabby Golf Girl and Roger Steele – plus new participants Grant Horvat, Kyle Berkshire, Tisha Alyn, Chris Solomon from No Laying Up and a Barstool personality who will be determined via qualifier. The tournament will be eight holes of stroke play, beginning on the par-4 10th hole, and conclude on TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course's iconic island-green 17th, with the top-three finishers advancing to a one-hole sudden death playoff, again on the 17th. Pairings and tee times will be announced the day before the event. 'There is arguably no better place to kick off our season-long creator series than on The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, where the iconic 17th hole represents the culmination of this first competition,' Chris Wandell, the PGA Tour's Senior Vice President of Media, said in a release. 'The PGA Tour is intently focused on delivering unique, premium content and experiences like this to our diverse and growing fanbase, all while amplifying the voices of our participating creators.' Similar to the event in 2024 ahead of the Tour Championship, the competition will be streamed live via the PGA Tour's YouTube channel as well as GolfChannel, ESPN+ and other streaming platforms. The inaugural Creator Classic at East Lake Golf Club generated more than 2.7 million views on YouTube and was YouTube's No. 2 trending video after the competition, which engaged nearly 60 million golf fans across all social media platforms during a four-week period. The Creator Classic at TPC Sawgrass will feature live ShotLink powered by CDW scoring/data, Trackman shot tracing – including tracing via drones – and on-screen graphics. The broadcast team will consist of golf media personalities Shane Bacon and Doug Smith, Skratch's Dan Rapaport and golf content creator and influencer Paige Spiranac. Pro Shop Studios, the production company behind the Netflix hit series 'Full Swing' and 'Happy Gilmore 2,' will partner with PGA Tour Studios to run on-ground and broadcast production. 'As the strongest field in golf prepares to compete at the Players Championship, it's surreal to know that a number of golf's most recognizable content creators will walk the same fairways of TPC Sawgrass just one day prior,' Pro Shop co-founder Chad Mumm said in a release. 'We appreciate the collaboration with the PGA Tour in bringing this creator series to life at one of golf's iconic courses to entertain and inspire our fans.' Fans should buy a Wednesday Stadium Pass if they want to attend The Creator Classic at TPC Sawgrass. The field and competition format for the final two events in the creator series, which will be contested at the Truist Championship on the Wissahickon Course at The Philadelphia Cricket Club and the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, will be announced at a later date.
