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With nearly 1.4 million subscribers on YouTube, Grant Horvat is one of the biggest stars in golf today despite not once playing on the PGA Tour. But given the opportunity to change that, Horvat appears to have rebuffed the Tour’s approach.
The 26-year-old was invited to participate in this week’s PGA Tour Barracuda Championship in California, an opposite-field event to the Open Championship at Royal Portrush. But after some consideration, Horvat opted to turn down the invite.
Unfortunately I will not be playing in a PGA Tour event. The rules and regulations around PGA Tour tournament play will not allow us to film. The only reason I was in the position to receive an invitation like this is because of YouTube and you all watching the videos, so if I’m…
— Grant Horvat (@GrantHorvatGolf) July 15, 2025
Grant Horvat Shoots Down Opportunity To Play PGA Tour Event Due To Restrictions
“Unfortunately, I will not be playing in a PGA Tour event. The rules and regulations around PGA Tour tournament play will not allow us to film,” Horvat posted on X. “The only reason I was in the position to receive an invitation like this is because of YouTube and you all watching the videos, so if I’m going to play, we want (to) film it.
“I am hopeful that this won’t always be the case. I would be honored to play in a PGA Tour event and bring you all along in the future. Huge thank you to the Barracuda for the invite and belief in YouTube golf.”
That announcement was met with significant backlash on social medal.
“This might actually be the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen on this app,” one person replied. “You’re declining the chance to tee it up in a PGA Tour event only because you can’t have your own film crew during tournament rounds? Youtube has COOKED people’s brains.”
“Grown man refuses to play in tournament he’d never qualify before because the 14 year olds won’t be able to watch it on his channel….” said another. “YouTube means more than playing in a pro tournament, just lame.”
But not everyone saw things the same way. Some fans believed Horvat was justified in his decision.
“Can’t disagree with this. Grant gets invite(d) because he is a YouTube star,” @MUFCW10 wrote on X. “Tour won’t let him be the reason they invited him in the first place. Another L from the PGA.”
Notably, Horvat also holds an equity stake in Phil Mickelson’s For Wellness company. Mickelson, more so than maybe anyone else, has been a harsh critic of the PGA Tour in recent years. So, something tells us Mickelson won’t be disappointed to see Horvat turning down the PGA Tour.