Wesley Bryan is one of the most popular golfers on the planet, but it’s not due to how he’s playing on the PGA Tour.
Bryan became one of the top faces of the surging YouTube golf ecosystem alongside his brother George. The two travel the country, taking on challenges and facing off with other players to see who is best on the day.
In a space full of big trash talkers and expletive-driven content, Wesley is regarded as one of the more positive, brand-safe faces in the scene.
Yet Bryan sits among the few indefinitely banned players on the PGA Tour, where he earned $5.36 million in total career earnings.
Why?
He played in one of LIV Golf’s creator-driven events, prompting a swift suspension from future PGA tournaments.
Although Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed have been welcomed back into the PGA after more substantial, longer stints with LIV Golf, it has not changed their stance on Bryan.
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“Appreciate all the support recently!” he sent out on his social media. “Unfortunately, Brooks Koepka coming back to the tour has no bearing on my situation. I have reached out and asked for a conversation to potentially uplift my suspension, and I have been told that no such conversation will be given.”
The PGA Tour’s decision has rallied fans of Bryan and golf in general to combat this decision, wondering why the rules are different for higher-end golfers than for someone who merely participated in a single influencer event with LIV.
A Change.org petition has even been started in the fight to get Bryan reinstated.
“Wesley Bryan played in a YouTube LIV promotional event for which he received an indefinite suspension,” is written at the top of the petition online document. “While Wesley understood the consequences of proceeding to play in the event, the punishment does seems over the top for not even playing in an actual team LIV golf event, especially considering they are allowing a path back to the PGA for actual LIV defectors.”
There has yet to be an official response from the PGA regarding the upholding of Bryan’s suspension or the uproar online.