Hanju LeeThe Tour’s partnering with Good Good for a new event—is this genius or desperation?
The PGA Tour just dropped news that would’ve been unthinkable five years ago: they’re launching the Good Good Championship, a co-sanctioned event with the YouTube golf empire that’s built a following bigger than most Tour pros combined. It’s official—the guys who made their names filming trick shots and casual rounds are getting a seat at the big-boy table. The reactions? Predictably all over the map.
Why the Tour Needs This More Than You Think
Let’s be honest: the PGA Tour has a relevance problem. Golf’s average TV viewer is pushing 70, and outside of major championships, ratings are circling the drain. Meanwhile, Good Good’s YouTube channel pulls millions of views per video from exactly the demographic the Tour desperately needs—people under 35 who actually buy things. The Tour isn’t doing this out of kindness; they’re doing it because they finally realized the kids aren’t watching CBS on Sunday afternoons.
The Good Good Formula That Works
Here’s what the Tour is really buying into: accessibility. Good Good made golf feel like hanging with your buddies instead of watching a corporate boardroom in cleats. No stuffiness, no pretense, just genuine love for the game wrapped in entertainment. They’ve proven you can respect golf’s traditions while also making it fun—something the Tour has struggled with for decades. Six guys with cameras have created more youth engagement than a billion-dollar organization could manage.
The Resistance Is Real (And Loud)
But not everyone’s popping champagne. Traditional golf purists are having a full meltdown, calling this the death of professional golf’s integrity. Some Tour pros are quietly grumbling about YouTubers getting a platform they spent decades earning. The criticism isn’t totally unfair—there’s a legitimate question about whether social media success should translate to professional tour status. It’s messy, uncomfortable, and exactly the conversation golf needs to have about its future.
The Smart Money Says Yes
Here’s the reality check: this is probably the smartest move the Tour has made in years. Golf can’t survive on tradition alone when nobody under 40 is watching. Good Good brings built-in audience, authentic connection with younger fans, and a fresh energy that could actually move the needle. Will some old-school fans hate it? Absolutely. But the Tour isn’t trying to win them back—they already have them. This is about survival in a world where relevance is earned on screens, not just courses.
The Bottom Line
The PGA Tour partnering with Good Good isn’t about selling out—it’s about finally understanding where the eyeballs are. Golf’s future depends on making the next generation actually care, and like it or not, YouTube stars have cracked that code better than anyone in professional golf. This tournament will either be remembered as the moment the Tour got ahead of the curve, or as a desperate Hail Mary that fell flat. Either way, it’s the boldest move they’ve made to stay relevant, and that alone makes it worth watching.