More than 188,000 live viewers! More than 1.8 million streams on YouTube! What do these figures imply? Well, these are but some of the impressive numbers that the 2024 Creator Classic raked in. Surely a radical move by the PGA Tour to bring the sport’s best content creators together for a round of golf. That is all right, but a certain LIV Golf Pro agrees otherwise. In an exclusive chat with Aravind S. Menon for EssentiallySports, Anirban Lahiri pointed out how the Jay Monahan-led circuit was influenced by the Saudi-backed league.

“100%, there is no doubt,” declared Lahiri, in the EssentiallySports Exclusive, as he mentioned how the inaugural Creator Classic was all thanks to LIV Golf’s influence on the PGA Tour. He also brought in the various signature events (a total of eight) and the change in the structuring of the Tour’s schedule to further prove his point.

“You look at the change in how you know now they have these elevated events,” continued the 37-year-old as he broke it down, “It looks exactly like a LIV event with a few more players than what we have, and no team competition, but everything else is exactly the same.” If you think he was finished, then think again! He also recounted the numerous criticisms that the PIF-funded circuit received for having a different, anti-traditionalist format before comparing it with the 8 signature tournaments.

“So all the things that we got, you know, criticized for no-cut, limited players,” pointed out Anirban Lahiri in the EssentiallySports Exclusive interview with Aravind S. Menon, “You’re doing exactly the same thing, albeit you have different sort of criteria to qualify.” The designated events that he highlighted boast a limited field. And these golfers get eligibility by finishing inside the top 50 of the previous FedEx Cup standings, Aon Next 10, Aon Swing 5, the OWGR (top 30), or by winning in a PGA Tour event.

LIV Golf, on the other hand, has a total of 14 events, in which the field of 54 athletes has already been determined. Regardless of the same, Lahiri was understanding of the difference as he remarked, “I get it. You are an established or you’ve been around for so many years that it’s easier for you to do that,” all the while alluding to the PGA Tour and its new innovations including the Creator Classic.

The Creator Classic that was influenced by LIV Golf, per Anirban Lahiri

A total of 16 influencers took part in the recently ended Creator Classic which saw Luke Kwon emerge victorious. The nine-hole strokeplay competition at the East Lake Golf Club’s newly restored back-nine saw the likes of Wesley Bryan, Luke Kwon, Sean Walsh, and Roger Steele qualify for the playoff after the par-4, 17th.

Bryan, after the 17th hole, registered scores of a 2-under while the rest put up figures of 1-under overall following the same. However, the playoff hole at the par-5, 18th witnessed Kwon, dish out a birdie on the same and clinch the title of champion at the inaugural Creator Classic. The exciting display of golf sure did turn many heads. It being a PGA Tour event also added to the popularity.

This is exactly what Anirban Lahiri hinted at as he shone a light on the PGA Tour as an established institution. Even so, he didn’t lose hope, for the golfer said, “I see LIV reaching that point, you know, over a 5-10 year period!”