Ted Williams was once mocked for his unorthodox batting stance. Critics dismissed his scientific approach to hitting as overthinking. Yet his methodology revolutionized baseball forever. This pattern repeats throughout sports history. Similarly, early social media adopters in sports faced ridicule and resistance. Golf traditionalists scoffed at platforms like Instagram and Twitter. They viewed social engagement as a distraction from the “pure” game. Fast forward to today, and these once-dismissed voices now drive the sport’s future.

Paige Spiranac embodied this transformation perfectly. Once criticized as “just a social media personality” and dismissed by golf purists, she has emerged as one of the game’s most influential voices. Her journey from ridiculed influencer to respected golf commentator mirrors the broader acceptance of social media’s role in the sport. Now, she’s offering suggestions that could reshape the PGA Tour itself through subtle advice for Commissioner Jay Monahan. During an appearance on the Vanity Index Podcast, she outlined her vision for the Tour’s future while sharing her commissioner aspirations. “I’ve also wanted to be a commissioner of a tour. I just feel like that would be so much fun,” she explained. Her approach centers on something beyond prize purses and tournaments, focusing instead on genuine connection with fans.

Spiranac believes the Tour faces a critical image problem. “The misconceptions about the tour right now, it’s all about money, money, money, money,” she stated firmly. She sees a tour that appears disconnected from average fans. The solution, in her view, lies in highlighting personalities. Moreover, she suggests making social media engagement mandatory for players. “I think there needs to be more engagement on social media. I think that should be mandatory for players to participate in posting across all platforms,” Spiranac recommended.

If given the commissioner’s chair, Spiranac would bring a fresh perspective rooted in her branding expertise. “I have so many ideas and obviously branding expertise in marketing that I feel like I can really bring a new light to a league,” she emphasized. Beyond social media mandates, she envisions an approach that would make golf appear more accessible to different demographics and socioeconomic backgrounds. Her commissioner strategy would prioritize investment in media to tell compelling player stories, especially those of rookies who might become the next generation of stars. This approach would fundamentally shift the Tour’s image from money-focused headlines to human-centered narratives.

Her advice tackles a fundamental challenge unique to golf. Unlike team sports with hometown loyalties, golf lacks automatic fan connections. “With other sports, for example, I am a Steelers fan… I will always be a diehard Steelers fan because my parents are from Pittsburgh,” she explained. Golf doesn’t have that built-in advantage. Therefore, players must work harder to build personal connections with fans.

Spiranac’s philosophy isn’t merely hypothetical—it’s already proving successful through one of golf’s most talked-about media ventures.

How Netflix Full Swing Documentary Implements Spiranac’s Vision

The Netflix documentary series Full Swing has already begun implementing Spiranac’s philosophy. The show dives deep into players’ personalities and backgrounds, transforming golfers from distant figures into relatable individuals with compelling stories. Spiranac acknowledged this success directly: “I think Full Swing has done a really great job,” she noted.

Full Swing brought viewers into Tony Finau’s family life showed Joel Dahmen’s struggles with self-doubt, and revealed Jordan Spieth’s competitive friendship with Justin Thomas. These personal narratives created emotional connections impossible through traditional tournament broadcasts. Viewers discovered reasons to support players beyond simply appreciating their golf skills.

The Tour faces unprecedented challenges in today’s fragmented sports landscape. Traditional approaches no longer suffice. Spiranac’s blueprint offers a path forward centered on authentic personality-driven content. Perhaps her most valuable insight involves focusing on emerging talent. “Especially the rookies… we’re always looking for the next Tiger who’s going to be that next person. They could be out there, but we’re not telling those stories,” she emphasized.

Will the PGA Tour embrace this player-first, personality-driven approach? The success of Full Swing suggests audiences certainly would. What other changes do you think would help golf connect with new audiences? Let us know in the comments below!