The PGA Tour is preparing to implement significant changes to its player social media and content-creation policies following renewed criticism from Bryson DeChambeau regarding restrictions on YouTube and tournament-week filming.
According to Front Office Sports’ David Rumsey, the updated policy was shared this week during a Player Advisory Council fans subcommittee meeting at the Truist Championship in Charlotte. The changes are expected to be formally introduced to PGA Tour members later this month.
The timing comes only days after DeChambeau publicly questioned whether current PGA Tour media rules would prevent him from returning to the circuit once his LIV Golf contract expires after the 2026 season. The two-time U.S. Open champion said his growing YouTube business remains a major factor in any future decision.
“So, if I were to film a video during the week of one of their events with a content creator or somebody, a celebrity or whatnot, that would be in violation,” DeChambeau told Garrett Johnston at LIV Golf Virginia. “Me being able to create content on that golf course that week for that event should only accelerate the value.”
Bryson DeChambeau Comments Come Before PGA Tour Policy Changes
GettyBryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau has built one of golf’s largest independent media platforms with close to 2.7 million YouTube subscribers through his “Break 50” series and celebrity collaborations.
His channel has featured videos with Steph Curry, Donald Trump, and other athletes and entertainers. Several episodes have surpassed 2 million views, including a Curry collaboration that reached 16 million.
Earlier this week, DeChambeau questioned whether PGA Tour rules surrounding tournament-week filming and sponsored content would limit his ability to continue expanding the platform if he returned.
“If I was to film a video during the week of one of their events with a content creator or a celebrity, that would be in violation, to my knowledge,” DeChambeau said. “It’s their policy, they didn’t let me do it when I was on there.”
According to Front Office Sports, the PGA Tour spent the past year revising its social media policy to expand player content rights during both tournament and non-tournament days.
The updated rules include several major changes:
- Players can now post broadcast footage of 6 shots per round, up from 1 previously.
- YouTube archive footage limits will increase from 60 total minutes to 120 minutes.
- Players can distribute 3 minutes of on-site competition-day content, up from 2.
- Players can receive ad revenue from practice-round and pro-am content.
- Players no longer need to transfer ownership of their YouTube channels to the PGA Tour in order to use archive footage.
“The PGA Tour strives to provide the most athlete-friendly social media guidelines in professional sports,” a PGA Tour spokesperson told Front Office Sports.
The changes were presented at a Player Advisory Council subcommittee meeting that included Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, Max Homa, Harris English, Camilo Villegas, and Korn Ferry Tour member James Nicholas.
PGA Tour Still Maintains Restrictions on Tournament Commercialization
GettyGeneral View of the PGA flag
Despite expanded content rights, some restrictions remain that could still impact creators like DeChambeau.
According to Front Office Sports, players still cannot commercialize content filmed on-site during official PGA Tour events or monetize tournament broadcast highlights directly through sponsorship integrations.
That limitation remains significant for DeChambeau, whose videos regularly include sponsors such as Buckled Up and SWAG Golf.
Players also remain prohibited from collaborating with or tagging non-PGA Tour commercial partners in tournament-week content.
Front Office Sports noted that the Tour’s off-site content policy remains less restrictive, though certain productions still require approval if they involve multiple PGA Tour players, prize money, live streaming, or distribution through platforms such as Netflix or ESPN.
The conversation around creator content has intensified over the past year.
Grant Horvat previously declined an invitation to play in the Barracuda Championship, explaining that he would not be allowed to film tournament content for YouTube.
“The reason I will not be playing in a PGA Tour event is due to the rules and regulations around media rights and filming during tournament play,” Horvat said earlier this year.
At the same time, the PGA Tour has increased its own creator-focused initiatives, including the launch of a Creator Council and multiple Creator Classic events streamed live on YouTube.
Whether the updated policy will satisfy DeChambeau remains unclear.
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