Justin Thomas asked his golfers to make themselves more accessible to the PGA Tour's media partners during television broadcasts, citing the need for the sport to “better connect with fans.”
Thomas wrote in a memo to other PGA Tour golfers: “We are very fortunate to have so many passionate people tune in to watch our tournament every week, but let's be honest, this tournament can be a little distant at times.”
The memo, obtained and published by The Athletic on Tuesday, lays out several suggestions from Thomas, who serves on the PGA Tour's 16-member player advisory committee. The two-time Grand Slam champion cited research showing that “'on-court personality' is the biggest driver of interest among younger fans (18-34 years old),” adding that “getting younger groups interested in and watching our sport may It’s the huge difference in our popularity.
Thomas pointed to telecasts in other sports that include live interviews with players and coaches. He listed “pregame interviews, in-game interviews, wearing a microphone, communicating any equipment/swing changes you're working on” as possible ideas for players to help media partners implement in golf telecasts.
“I know it's not always easy to step out of our comfort zones,” Thomas said. “Believe me, in the past, I’ve been the first to say ‘no’ before something was done. When someone asked for an interview midway through or suggested trying something new, I wasn’t interested.
“But I also know how much fans enjoy these moments — hearing our thought processes, conversations with our ball boys, our reactions to shots, and understanding the ups and downs of playing at the highest level… While we may (at least I know I We fans really don't think it's that important or interesting.
Thomas emphasized that he is “not asking anyone to be someone they are not or change anything in their daily lives,” but rather that he is simply asking golfers to “be open to possibility and change.”
“The more we work with NBC/CBS/ESPN, the more they can work with us,” he said. “I'm sure a lot of us feel that television broadcasting can do better, so let's help them do that.”
Two years ago, CBS pioneered a walk-and-talk with Max Homa at Torrey Pines. Last year, Thomas was a member of the PAC's subcommittee on events, fans and sponsors, serving alongside Homa, Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Schenck.
When contacted by The Associated Press, CBS chief golf producer Sellers Shy applauded Thomas for having more opportunities to engage with players. Chief announcer Jim Nantz, who is approaching his 40th year at CBS, suggests expanding the scope of walk-and-talk.
“We want their personalities to shine through,” Nantz told The Associated Press.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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