This Is The Best Content The PGA Tour Has Ever Produced

Last week, the PGA Tour released what I consider to be the best non-tournament content they have ever produced.

I realize that is a lofty statement—but that is how much I loved it.

The video in question? A 58-minute documentary called Chasing Sunday that followed four players (Rickie Fowler, Si Woo Kim, Chris Gotterup and Akshay Bhatia) and their caddies during last week’s Players Championship.

If you haven’t watched it, I highly recommend doing so.

Here is why.

This is exactly what golf sickos want to see

This documentary was produced by NFL Films and follows the same type of format we have seen with the highly successful “Sounds of the Game” pieces and “Hard Knocks” series they have been putting together for many years.

Golf fans have long been clamoring for this exact type of content. We finally got it and the reviews have been overwhelmingly positive across the board (add me to that list of supporters).

The key to this type of video is the minimalism.

Whereas Netflix’s Full Swing is laced with talking heads and over-narration, this video cut out all of that in favor of letting the players do the talking.

There is nothing overly crazy in the video, just a large heap of little moments where you say, “Oh, that was interesting.”

The video doesn’t have a ton of views as of this writing, but this level of quality is how you put your fans first.

We’re talking player-caddie conversations as they navigate tricky shots. Honest reactions to how their rounds are unfolding. Whether they want to get a hot dog and Diet Coke at the turn.

For most of its existence, the Tour has done a terrible job of marketing its talent. Fans have to decide who they like purely based on a player’s mannerisms shown on TV.

But something like “Chasing Sunday” colors in so much personality for these four players. You get a chance to really know who they are.

I knew virtually nothing about Kim other than his on-course accomplishments. It turns out he is hilarious and was cracking a bunch of jokes with Scottie Scheffler. I had no idea!

And, in general, there are just a ton of relatable moments within this documentary.

Bhatia loses his yardage book and then finds it as he steps onto the first tee. Gotterup (who just won twice and is a fantastic player) has some of the most negative self-talk you’ll ever hear. Fowler chats with Jordan Spieth about gear as they walk down the fairway.

These are normal dudes who happen to be incredibly talented.

And they are regularly flummoxed by this game just like the rest of us.

The Tour should look to do more of these

Tip of the cap to Tour CEO Brian Rolapp who comes from the NFL and probably brought this idea over. Rolapp hasn’t missed since taking over for the embattled Jay Monahan.

This was likely expensive to produce, especially given the tight turnaround time. The video was available less than 48 hours after the tournament ended, which is remarkable.

I’m not saying we need one of these for every tournament but the Tour should absolutely invest in these types of productions in the future.

What about one for the FedEx Cup playoffs or at least the Tour Championship?

I would be the first in line to watch. In many ways, I find these more compelling than actual golf tournaments.

What did you think of “Chasing Sunday”? Let me know below in the comments.