TPC Sawgrass is one of golf’s most hallowed grounds. It is a championship course designed to challenge the world’s elite players with its strategic layout and the iconic island green 17th hole. The Pete Dye masterpiece has hosted the PLAYERS since 1982, earning its reputation as a venue where legends are made and pretenders are exposed. So what happened when, just days before the 2025 fifth major, TPC Sawgrass hosted a very different competition?

The PGA Tour’s Creator Classic’s second edition brought together ten social media personalities for an eight-hole showcase event designed to connect the traditional game with younger audiences. What unfolded was a sobering reminder of the vast gulf between social media popularity and actual golfing ability.

Barstool Sports personality Trent Ryan quickly became the center of attention for all the wrong reasons. The Fore Play Podcast co-host experienced a round that can only be described as catastrophic. NUCLR Golf posted video evidence of his opening drive, slicing dramatically right into the trees. This wild tee shot set the tone for what would become a deeply challenging day, as Ryan tripled the opening hole and doubled the next, quickly falling to five-over after just two holes.

The nadir of Ryan’s performance came at the iconic island-green 17th, where he needed five attempts to successfully land his ball on the putting surface. The result was an octuple-bogey 11 on the par-3, contributing to his final tally of 29-over par through just eight holes. Barstool Sports themselves added to the viral moment by posting video clips mockingly highlighting Ryan’s struggles. The contrast between Ryan’s social media persona and his performance was stark.

Over the past few years, he has meticulously documented his golf journey. Initially, he struggled to break 100 on the course. Eventually, though, he progressed to shooting a career-best 87. As a result, he successfully built his brand on being golf’s relatable everyman. However, the Creator Classic brutally exposed a different reality, demonstrating that social media following simply doesn’t translate to success on demanding golf courses. Interestingly, Ryan maintained good spirits throughout the ordeal and was even seen enthusiastically celebrating after finally hitting the green.

Nevertheless, this entire fiasco immediately set social media ablaze with reactions.

Golf fans express outrage at “disrespect” to TPC Sawgrass

Traditional golf fans expressed their dismay in particularly harsh terms. “For f**s sake. Get a real golfer out there. Horrible,” wrote one incensed fan. Similarly, another didn’t mince words: “Bunch of losers with followers playing golf. This is stupid.” One fan eloquently put what was on most minds at the time: “Wasted everyone’s time!” Fans usually love to see the golf influencers, and the content they put out for everyone to enjoy, but it seems the golf influencers trying to compete like real golfers is not fans’s idea of the game.

Beyond the criticism of poor play, many fans specifically targeted what they perceived as disrespect to golf’s sacred traditions. For instance, one observer fumed, “He was a disgrace on 17 taking so many attempts, and then signing autographs on his way to the hole to finish, all the while icing the foursomes behind him. Atrocious etiquette.” Consequently, the commentary highlighted a fundamental cultural clash. On one hand, traditional golf emphasizes decorum and respect. On the other hand, social media personalities prioritize entertainment value above all else.

This frustration primarily stems from TPC Sawgrass’s special place in golf history. After all, it’s a course meticulously designed to test the world’s best players. From the perspective of these passionate fans, watching content creators take multiple shots to clear hazards was deeply troubling. Professionals, in contrast, navigate these same challenges routinely with skill. Therefore, many viewers felt they were witnessing amateur actors performing on Broadway—a jarring mismatch that undermined the course’s storied legacy. As a result, comments like “Most of these guys are terrible. Embarrassing farce,” and “Find it hard to believe people enjoy watching this bad of golf,” dominated online discussions.

What do you think about content creators playing championship courses—entertaining connection to new fans or disrespectful to golf’s traditions? Let us know in the comments section below!