The PGA Tour is continuing to evolve its approach to growing the game, with its latest move focusing on expanding media access. This offseason, the tour quietly updated its media guidelines, granting select groups more rights to share content on social media.
These changes are primarily aimed at tournaments, title sponsors, host organizations, media partners, content creators, and key industry players. The goal? To increase visibility and engagement for tournaments by allowing more flexibility in sharing behind-the-scenes and practice round footage.
A major aspect of this shift is that it focuses on non-competitive rounds—specifically, practice rounds and pro-ams—rather than official tournament play. Content creators and media outlets are expected to have more freedom to post approved content, signaling a shift toward a more fan-friendly approach.
Recent examples of this change include No Laying Up producing an AT&T-sponsored segment with Jordan Spieth at Pebble Beach and Barstool’s Frankie Borrelli sharing all 18 holes from his pro-am round at the WM Phoenix Open. Just a few years ago, such content would have faced stricter restrictions, if not outright removal.
This policy change marks a notable departure from the tour’s historically rigid stance on media rights. In 2015, journalist Stephanie Wei had her credential revoked for posting practice round videos on Periscope, highlighting how tightly the tour once controlled its content.
The decision to relax these rules stems from the PGA Tour’s “Fan Forward” initiative, which launched last year. With over 50,000 fan responses guiding the process, the tour is making strides toward creating a more engaging and accessible product. Additionally, the tour has been in discussions with its newly formed “Creator Council” to refine its approach to digital media.
Another significant development is the tour’s evolving stance on fan-generated content. Historically, the PGA Tour has actively taken down social media clips featuring tournament play, citing the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Fans and media personalities alike have criticized this policy, arguing that it has limited the tour’s reach and engagement.
In a widely discussed incident, a video of Keith Mitchell’s tee shot at The Players Championship was removed by the PGA Tour, only for Mitchell himself to repost it. Golf fans have long compared the tour’s policies unfavorably to the NBA, where viral highlight accounts like @WorldWideWob routinely share game clips, driving immense fan engagement.
However, recent evidence suggests a possible shift. Videos from the Farmers Insurance Open and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am have remained online, hinting that the tour may be taking a more relaxed approach. While it’s unclear if this is a full policy change or just a temporary adjustment, even a slight easing of restrictions would be a welcome shift for fans and media.
With these media adjustments, the PGA Tour appears to be recognizing the power of digital content and the role it plays in growing the game. By allowing more social sharing of practice rounds and engaging pro-am content, the tour is creating new opportunities for fans to connect with the sport in ways that were previously restricted. Only time will tell if this trend continues, but for now, golf content creators and fans alike have reason to be optimistic.