After a successful stint as a member of the Player Advisory Council (PAC), Justin Thomas returned to the role in 2025. As a valuable member, the American golfer always raises his voice to help improve the tour, not just for golfers but also for fans. In August, he flagged the PAC over a jam-packed PGA Tour schedule. Earlier in January 2025, he said that fans might have to choose between faster play and harder golf courses because the two don’t go together. And when a golfer on the Player Advisory Council says something, golfers on the tour react.

When he became a member of the PAC again, Justin Thomas encouraged PGA Tour golfers to do more walk-and-talk interviews. He wrote a memo to fellow golfers to be more open and accessible to the PGA Tour’s media partners, citing “better connect with fans.” As the LPGA Tour enters its season-finale week, 23x LPGA winner Lydia Ko was asked about doing more walk-and-talk interviews on the course.

“Yeah, obviously kind of depends on what routine a certain player wants. I think it’s sometimes hard, honestly, to do it because you don’t know what, how you’re going to play that hole. They might say you’re going to do it on 12, and I might have hit it on the water on 12, and the last thing you want to do is talk about what’s been going on with your round,” Lydia Ko told the media during a press conference at the CME Group Tour Championship.

Fans have seen many golfers erupt in anger after a bad play. Many things can get a golfer angry. For instance, a putt left on the lip, slow play, foot in the mouth syndrome, and much more can make an athlete angry. And there are many examples of this. Henrik Stenson famously snapped a 7-iron in two at the 2011 U.S. Open. He even injured himself with the broken club shaft. Scottie Scheffler was heard expressing frustration vocally (“Gosh dang it!”) on the 2025 US Open.

The same goes for LPGA stars, too. Lydia Ko herself once admitted to using “cuss words” at another golfer at a major championship. Without revealing much, she said, “And there were some curse words that followed.” In 2018, Lee-Anne Pace got disqualified for an angry reaction at the Women’s PGA Championship.

When in such situations, a golfer may not want to talk to the media. In fact, this is the very reason why Collin Morikawa has a strained relationship with golf media. Morikawa was on the verge of winning the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational. However, he finished T2 because of poor play. So, he didn’t address the media right after the event, but took a couple of days’ break. The feud started after that. He even admitted that in such scenarios, “The things I would say, I know I’d be fined, right?”

So it makes sense why Lydia Ko says that it would depend on a case-by-case basis whether walk-and-talk interviews are good for them or not. However, she acknowledged that it would be great from the fans’ perspective. “Yeah, I think it’s cool from the perspective of fans to hear what the players are really thinking. Even though the mic is there, you don’t catch all the conversations with the caddie and the interactions. It’s kind of like an inside-the-ropes experience. I think it’s definitely a valuable part,” Lydia Ko said.

Fans are always eager to know what’s going on in their favorite golfers’ minds. This is seen across many popular sports. From the NFL to the NBA, many sports have athletes attend mid-round interviews, walk-and-talks, and wear mics during play. The same can happen in golf, too. However, even fans need to understand that a golfer may not always want to wear a mic and answer questions, especially during a bad day.

Although challenging, golfers are trying to find ways to do such interviews to increase fan engagement.

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Increasing fan engagement is important for the LPGA

The LPGA is investing heavily in digital content and social media to reach broader and younger audiences. Automated creation and distribution of highlight clips, player reactions, and behind-the-scenes footage enable the tour and golfers to connect with fans on their preferred platforms. This expands the sport’s visibility and attracts new fans.

By redesigning digital platforms, including LPGA.com and mobile apps, the tour is providing fans with richer, more personalized experiences. This includes real-time scores, detailed player stats, and interactive content. Increased fan engagement is also essential for better sponsorships and revenue.

The LPGA is doing so much to better engage with fans. Walk-and-talk interviews and mid-round interviews can significantly boost the results of their efforts. It allows for a direct connection between fans and the LPGA stars. But as Lydia Ko highlighted, golf analysts and the LPGA need to carefully select whom to interview, what questions to ask, and when to avoid asking questions.