Former PGA Tour Canada champion secures first Creator Classic title

 ATLANTA — While it wasn’t a showcase of classic golf or bursting with creativity, the inaugural Creator Classic at East Lake Golf Club on Wednesday proved to be a worthy competition.

The event, held on the eve of the Tour Championship, aimed to present golf in a new light. However, the 16 participants, top golf content creators from around the world, came more to compete than to entertain. Despite their serious approach, they delivered impressive golf, although their focus somewhat overshadowed the playful spirit the event intended to highlight.

After all, the serious golf action is slated to begin on Thursday with the PGA Tour’s season-ending $100 million Tour Championship.

Nevertheless, the event was a success because good golf is always appreciated.

Luke Kwon, a former PGA Tour China winner, emerged as the champion after birdieing the final hole to clinch victory in the four-man shootout. At 31, Kwon sank a 10-foot putt on the par-five 18th hole to defeat Wesley Bryan, Sean Walsh, and long-hitting Roger Steele. Kwon took home a prestigious cup and a 36-inch griddle from event sponsor Blackstone.

The competitive format featured eight holes of stroke play, with the top four advancing to a one-hole shootout. Bryan, a former PGA Tour winner, finished as the medalist at two under par, while the other three players ended one under par. Despite Bryan’s earlier declaration that he might quit golf if he didn’t win, he is expected to return to the tour soon.

Kwon’s day started with a double bogey on the 10th hole, and he needed a nine-foot par-saving putt on the 17th to secure his spot in the final four, avoiding a playoff with three others who finished at even par. “Winning this first event is really special, especially because these are some of the biggest creators out there,” said Kwon, a former University of Oklahoma standout turned solo influencer.

The PGA Tour organized the Creator Classic to acknowledge the role of content creators in golf, providing a top-notch experience with coverage on its YouTube channel. At its peak, over 105,000 people tuned in on YouTube, with additional coverage on NBC’s Peacock and ESPN+. Around 2,000 fans attended the event on a scorching afternoon.

Sanctioned by the PGA Tour, the event featured rules officials and broadcast enhancements like Shot Tracer and ShotLink data.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan had earlier praised the organization’s efforts to embrace new voices and storytellers in golf, leading to the creation of the Creator Classic. The content creators were grateful for the opportunity.

“There’s really no place for our followers to watch us in person, so having this chance to compete together where they can see all of us at the same time is something we never expected,” said Paige Spiranac, the most popular golf influencer with nearly 10 million Instagram followers. “It’s special for us and for them. It’s been an amazing experience.”

Stone echoed the sentiment: “Everything about this was great. Is there going to be a next time? By making it to the top four, I hope I’ve secured my spot for the next event!”