“I’ve had no interest when someone asks for an interview mid-round or suggests trying something new. But I also know how much the fans love those moments – hearing our thought processes, conversations with our caddies, our reactions to shots, and understanding the ups and downs of competing at the highest level,” said Justin Thomas in a memo he sent out more than 2 weeks ago. Why did he say it? To encourage players to be more in line with broadcast needs, after all, it is all about enriching the fan experience now.

He has received a lot of thoughts about his memo in the meantime. Negative from the likes of Scottie Scheffler, and Dylan Wu. So, before the WM Phoenix Open at the TPC Scottsdale, he shed a little bit of light on how his fellow pros responded to his thoughts. His memo certainly ruffled some feathers in the right direction, said JT who seemed to have turned a blind eye to the criticism.

Justin Thomas feels the memo pushed things ahead

Thomas explained at the pre-tournament presser of the WM Phoenix Open that most of his golfing buddies have taken the memo positively, “It’s been good, at least I think. I’ve heard some good things from peers and others.” Thomas worked on a subcommittee along with the likes of Max Homa, Adam Schenk, and Mackenzie Hughes on fan engagement. He used the knowledge from his research, which showed that on-court personality generates the most interest amongst golfing fans between 18 and 34. “Yeah, I don’t know. I feel like it’s gone well, at least on my end, and hopefully it’ll kind of start — obviously this isn’t something that changes overnight and you see something completely different.”

The memo put a bit of responsibility on the players, asking the PGA Tour to instruct the golfers to be more accessible to broadcast partners. While the two-time major winner knows that it is not possible for a sudden reactive change, he believes that over time it could be a helpful tool for the PGA Tour. “It’s a big-picture, broad-scale, down-the-road type thing of what do we want to see golf look like in 5, 10, 15 years, and I think all of us hope it’s in the best place possible and thriving.” 

Golf is becoming all about improving the fan experience now. Take steps by the PGA Tour into consideration, for instance. There was Creator Classic last year. Or how the PGA Tour has invested in TGL. Thomas believes that the memo will find its place in due time and hopes that it will be a catalyst for change. “Who knows, maybe some of those things will do so.”

You see, the thing is not everyone feels the same way as Thomas does. As mentioned, his memo has received criticism from other PGA Tour pros, who feel that a push should come from a different direction.

Scottie Scheffler is not a fan of Justin Thomas’s memo

The #1 Scheffler was adamant that it is not broadcast accessibility, it is the inherent competitiveness that golf can provide that drives interest in the game and attracts viewers. “The reason why I always watched sports is to see the competition. When I think about the football games this weekend that I was so excited to watch, great competition, great teams going against each other. So when I think about something that would be good for the game of golf, I think the more we can get back in the competition of things, I think that’s what’s best.”

Scheffler further added that the ability of great players to play at the highest level is a huge selling point in sports. “People tune into Tiger because he’s a great player. Tiger, his golf clubs always did his talking for him. He wasn’t going out and trying to do anything extra or trying to put on a show. He was going out there to compete and play golf.”

Charley Hoffman also sent another memo to the PGA Tour post-Thomas’s. Hoffman’s memo called for more accountability and responsibility from the players, especially in attending and supporting PGA Tour events. The memo which was endorsed by PGA Tour pro Dylan Wu, echoed Scheffler’s sentiments on competitiveness. “We’re the best golfers in the world competing on the best Tour in the world. That should always be the focus- showcasing the thought, skill, passion, and competition that makes our game great.” 

Hoffman also publicly called out the players on the Tour for missing out on Tour events, but rather playing other additional events on the DPWT, and TGL. Yeah, this didn’t sit well with Rory McIlroy but Hoffman mentioned this. 

Whether Justin Thomas’s memo has the whole problem drawn out, it has catalyzed change in the golfing community. It has brought dialogue and added a bit of intrigue in terms of what steps the PGA Tour would take to address the issues brought to light. Either way, let’s hope that the golfing world adopts some of these suggestions for positive change!