Nostalgia leads a lot of us to believe that sports were better when we were younger. It makes sense: those were the years that made us love sports. Whatever it was that attracted us feels more pure looking backwards. Regardless of nostalgia, however, it cannot be argued that sports were better without social media. Maybe for some of the players, but certainly not the fans.
Social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Vine, and Snapchat, bring fans closer to the game than ever. We get to learn more about who these athletes are, not just what they can do with a uniform on. It is truly a revolutionary development that has changed sports for the better.
As far as the PGA Tour goes, here is a countdown of players who are the best with social media:
10. Justin Thomas
Twitter: @JustinThomas34
Instagram: @justinthomas34
Snapchat: jlthomas34
Justin Thomas, the 23-year-old University of Alabama product, embodies much of what golf fans love about the current young generation of players. Thomas is an amicable and easygoing guy who loves to be social and have fun, but does not come off as immature in doing it. He is one of a surprisingly short list of young athletes who you could have an epic, Barney Stinson-like night out with, but you would also be OK with him dating your daughter, and not just because he’s rich. He was a central figure in two of this season’s most entertaining side stories: #sb2k16 and The Open Championship Frat House.
Thomas has been great this year letting the fans into his life, both on and off the course. Prior to The U.S. Open at Oakmont, Thomas generated buzz with this video, highlighting how unreal the deep rough at the Pittsburgh-area course is:
We were all envious of him when he went on vacation after The Masters. It wasn’t just any vacation, it was THE vacation: sb#2k16 with close friends, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, and Smylie Kaufman, which he gave us an up-close look at. In a way, it felt like a real life “Entourage”, except that in this example, all four are famous.
Later in the year, when Thomas was paired in a #sb2k16 group with Fowler and Kaufman at the Quicken Loans National, he was the one who broke the news:
Uh oh…. Spring break pairing this week? I think so! @RickieFowler @SmylieKaufman10 sorry @JordanSpieth #balldog pic.twitter.com/sPB5J6mbzW
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) June 21, 2016
Thomas is one of the brightest young stars in the game (he had his first career victory this season in Kuala Lumpur), and seems to be well-connected to the tour players. It is going to be a joy to follow along with his story. We are fortunate that he is not an especially private guy.
9. Ian Poulter
Twitter: @IanJamesPoulter
Instagram: @ianjamespoulter
Snapchat: ianjamespoulter
It should not be a surprise that Ian Pouter, the ostentatious Englishman, has a large social media presence. What primarily sets Pouter apart from other golfers though, is the way he has assimilated into the wealthy lifestyle. Poulter is big into style and luxury, and enjoys exhibiting the luxuries he has collected. His is especially passionate about high-end cars.
This is what the invitation box looks like for the La @ferrari Spider… Was a nice surprise a couple of months ago. pic.twitter.com/Fpwu5rRSMa
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) May 4, 2016
This is what the invitation box looks like for the La @ferrari Spider… Was a nice surprise a couple of months ago. pic.twitter.com/Fpwu5rRSMa
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) May 4, 2016
Poulter seems to attract more trolls to his media than other golfers, likely as a product of what is perceived to some as showboating. He doesn’t back down from them either.
I actually have 4 majors, they are Aimee, Luke, Lilly & Joshua. I'm very happy thanks. https://t.co/5uSZ8BR5QP
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) May 4, 2016
8. Andrew “Beef” Johnston
Twitter: @BeefGolf
Instagram: @Beefgolf
Snapchat: beefpic
Compared to many golfers, Johnston is a relative newcomer to the world of social media. He has gotten more exposure as of late, his popularity has skyrocketed. He is funny, charming, and extremely down-to-earth. People love to root for players who are relatable, and Beef fits that to a tee. His goofy demeanor has taken pro golf by storm. He has already developed a tremendous rapport with his fans, and will likely be a popular character for a long time.
He is more accessible than most athletes as he gives a lot of special attention to answering fan questions:
BBQ for sure https://t.co/ARxOEpYlJ5
— Andrew 'Beef' Johnston (@BeefGolf) July 19, 2016
Clean shave bout 2 years ago. Never again ? https://t.co/nd8JcNhedK
— Andrew 'Beef' Johnston (@BeefGolf) July 18, 2016
His love of meat has already become legendary:
7. Bubba Watson
Twitter: @bubbawatson
Instagram: @bubbawatson
Snapchat: thebubbawatson
In terms of quantity, Bubba Watson is the emperor of social media. His 44,500+ tweets lap the rest of the field. In terms of quality… Bubba is still one of the best.
Bubba generated some headlines recently when he posted pictures he took of The Greenbrier’s badly flooded courses. He is a member of The Greenbrier’s exclusive Sporting Club and owns property on site. News had gotten around that floods were wreaking havoc on the idyllic region, but the public did not see just how serious the flooding was until Bubba’s pics started to surface.
Bubba is one of the most polarizing golfers on tour, but credit has to be given to him; nobody seems to put more effort into connecting with fans.
He is a fun follow, mostly because the stuff you see on his page, you will not find anywhere else. Whether it’s a jetpack, a hovercart, the General Lee, etc, he has unique tastes, to say the least:
You know your feet feel good with these 2 legends walking around!! #StanceLife pic.twitter.com/cZcS4nnUBW
— bubba watson (@bubbawatson) February 28, 2016
6. Rory McIlroy
Twitter: @McIlroyRory
Instagram: @rorymcilroy
Rory is another fantastic example of how the youth of the PGA is allowing the sport to thrive in Tiger’s absence. McIlroy is fun, exciting, and one of the most articulate players in the game, three attributes that stand out clearly when looking at his social media accounts.
He is a guy who knows how to have fun:
This is Rory getting in a group selfie shot:
Had a great time visiting the Autograph Zone at #TheOpen today! #KidsGoFree pic.twitter.com/v7zLMBi9Fa
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) July 12, 2016
If I’m Rory, I am kicking myself more for missing this than I am for missing the cut at Oakmont:
After seeing all these snapchats over the last few days… Maybe I should have taken @RickieFowler up on the invite! pic.twitter.com/6vWoFV9LlU
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) April 22, 2016
5. Thomas Bjorn
Twitter: @thomasbjorngolf
Instagram: @mrtbjorn
Among the older guys on tour, Bjorn is one of the most active on social media. The Dane has a great sense of humor. He is clever and outspoken.
This is Bjorn saying something that we were all thinking:
Come on @BKoepka
62 and we don't have to listen to Johnny Miller anymore!!!@johnhuggan— Thomas Bjorn (@thomasbjorngolf) June 19, 2016
Enjoying a fight:
Bjorn seems to have at least one enemy:
I hope the girl at check in meant gate D/E
???? pic.twitter.com/oC61tvGVnT— Thomas Bjorn (@thomasbjorngolf) July 20, 2016
4. Ben Crane
Twitter: @bencranegolf
Instagram: @bencranegolf
Ben Crane is one of the most unusual characters in all of sports, and that trait is well on display on his social media accounts.
Here he is showing off his photoshop abilities:
Taking a quick spin around the course at the @Zurich_Classic pic.twitter.com/jIG88TaYci
— Ben Crane (@bencranegolf) May 1, 2016
Crane with an acting/golf legend:
Got a picture with Carl Spackler today. So I got that going for me, which is nice. pic.twitter.com/W2SDZolZRp
— Ben Crane (@bencranegolf) May 25, 2016
Modeling some new facial hair looks:
Crane had a good line after the Farmer’s Insurance Open:
100's of insurance agents at the course today so filing a claim should be breezy. pic.twitter.com/FTDn2RBdjM
— Ben Crane (@bencranegolf) February 1, 2016
3. Shane Lowry
Twitter: @ShaneLowryGolf
Instagram: @ShaneLowryGolf
Shane Lowry might be the wittiest guy on tour. The twitter page of the 29-year-old Irishman is full of his quick, laconic wisecracks.
Lowry poked some fun at himself after a poor first round at The Open Championship:
That was big for me there. I would have never been able to come back from 16 behind. #phil
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) July 14, 2016
He has interesting quips about other sports as well:
There won't be a cow milked in Leicester for weeks.
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) May 2, 2016
One of the ultimate nice guys, Lowry enjoys sharing majestic backdrops:
2. Rickie Fowler
Twitter: @RickieFowler
Instagram: @rickiefowler
Snapchat: RickieFowler15
Among the younger generation, Rickie Fowler is undoubtedly the king of social media. He is an engaging, fun-loving guy, and seems to always be posting something that has people thinking, “I wish I was him”. He is very well-connected on tour; it is funny how often he shows up in the pictures of other golfers. He also has the most active snapchat account of anyone on tour. His chronicle of sb2k16 was maybe the best golf-related anything that has been shared this year.
Here he is engaging his fans:
Caption this! @JustinThomas34 pic.twitter.com/uXXCwvLFaP
— Rickie Fowler (@RickieFowler) April 5, 2016
This is the kind of video that is frequently seen on his instagram.
No one on tour makes the fans feel closer to the action, and closer to what is behind-the-scenes than Fowler.
1. John Daly
Twitter: @PGA_JohnDaly
Instagram: @pga_johndaly
Snapchat: pga_johndaly
“The greatest ______ on tour is:_________” John Daly is the answer to more of these kind of questions than anyone. Even at 50 years old, Daly absolutely kills it on social media. He is one of the most popular players of all time for good reasons, not all which have to do with golf, and those reasons are showcased in a spectacular way on his social media pages.
John Daly is the only guy on tour who could get away with this:
I'm going to give myself a 2 John Daly cocktail penalty for just watching this tournament! ?#USOpen @GIASIbeverages pic.twitter.com/v9dHUsUCqe
— John Daly (@PGA_JohnDaly) June 19, 2016
If it were Jordan Spieth, we would all be lamenting in how far he fallen and what his life had come to. Since it’s John Daly, it’s awesome.
Same thing here:
Island beach babes & me….it's good to be me in #bacardi #coconuts @PuertoRicoOpen ?#yesmygirlistakingthispicture pic.twitter.com/Me1fi9XNXZ
— John Daly (@PGA_JohnDaly) March 22, 2016
Again: awesome.
Luvin' my ride! @LoudmouthGolf @harleydavidson @CudaChamp @JDsACE #Hog #workinghard pic.twitter.com/KISsYfVajy
— John Daly (@PGA_JohnDaly) August 5, 2015
Showing off a poignant wit on this one:
They want to follow me now but can't follow my golf clubs #SOS #wheresmysticks pic.twitter.com/dtQJlDsSzk
— John Daly (@PGA_JohnDaly) January 25, 2016
The only thing that is not awesome about John Daly’s social media presence is knowing that twitter, instagram, etc weren’t around during the period of his life when his debachery would have been the most on display.
Honorable Mention: Billy Horschel, Trevor Immelmann, Bernd Wiesberger, Tommy Fleetwood, Paul Goydos, Pat Perez, D.A. Points, Chris Wood, Roberto Castro, Lee Westwood