Justin Thomas Urges PGA Tour Players to Boost Fan Engagement

ORLANDO, Fla. — PGA Tour star Justin Thomas is calling on fellow golfers to embrace new ways of connecting with fans during televised tournaments. In a memo sent to players Tuesday, the two-time major champion urged them to consider pre-round and mid-round interviews, wearing microphones, and sharing insights about their game strategies to make broadcasts more engaging.

“We’re incredibly lucky to have many passionate people tuning in to watch us every week, but let’s be honest — this game can feel a little distant at times,” Thomas wrote in the memo, a copy of which was obtained by GOLF.com. The 31-year-old golfer cited research showing that “on-course personality” is the top driver of interest for young fans aged 18-34.

Thomas, a member of the PGA Tour’s 16-player advisory council, emphasized the importance of appealing to younger audiences. “Getting the younger age group interested and watching our sport could be a huge difference in our popularity,” he wrote. The memo comes as the PGA Tour seeks to innovate its broadcasts and strengthen its fan base amid growing competition in professional golf.

The Kentucky native acknowledged his own initial reluctance to such changes, recalling how he once refused to wear a microphone during tournaments. “I’ve had no interest when someone asks for an interview mid-round or suggests trying something new,” Thomas admitted. However, he has since become a vocal advocate for increased player accessibility, participating in in-round interviews at recent events like the Sentry Tournament of Champions and Hero World Challenge.

CBS Sports, one of the PGA Tour’s broadcast partners, has already experimented with new formats, including a “walk-and-talk” segment featuring Thomas at Torrey Pines two years ago. Jim Nantz, CBS’s lead golf announcer, praised Thomas’s efforts. “We want their personalities to shine,” Nantz told The Associated Press.

Thomas’s push for greater fan engagement comes as the PGA Tour implements changes based on a survey of more than 50,000 fans. The Tour has pledged to focus on improving the viewer experience, with player accessibility being a key component. “The more we work with NBC/CBS/ESPN, the more they should be able to work with us,” Thomas wrote. “I’m sure many of us feel the telecasts can be better, so let’s help them do that.”

The memo also highlighted Thomas’s growing involvement in shaping the Tour’s future. As a member of the Player Advisory Council, he has worked on initiatives related to tournaments, fans, and sponsors. “At the end of the day, we’re all owners in this Tour,” Thomas wrote. “So, the bigger and better we make it not only benefits us financially, it benefits our fans and creates the ability for us to do bigger things down the road.”

Thomas’s call to action comes as he prepares to make his debut in the TGL, a new tech-infused golf league, where he will participate in mid-match interviews during Tuesday night’s event at the SoFi Center in Orlando.