Good Good Golf has decided to step away as title sponsor of an upcoming PGA Tour event in Austin after a video ad sparked public outcry. The video showed a man shoving a woman to the ground while she reached for his golf club. The ad featured Garrett Clark shoving Alexis Miestowski during a video ad. Good Good Golf said it had carefully reviewed the situation and decided to withdraw from the tournament. In a statement, the company acknowledged that it needed to reflect on its culture and values.
The PGA Tour confirmed that the event will go ahead as scheduled from November 12-15 in Austin, according to ESPN. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said the organization was disappointed by the response to the ad, according to a report from local10.com. He added that the tour agreed with Good Good’s decision to focus on internal reflection.
The video was removed shortly after it was posted online on August 20th. Good Good Golf issued an apology the following day and admitted that its content did not align with its values, Sky Sports reported. Callaway Golf also responded to the controversy, acknowledging its role in the ad’s release. The statement from Callaway said that the actions in the video caused harm and could not be excused.
The ad was part of a co-branded campaign for a new driver with Callaway Golf. In response to the backlash, Golf Channel postponed the debut of its reality show ‘Big Break x Good Good’. One sponsor, Golf Galaxy, reportedly asked for its branding to be removed from the show.
Dick’s Sporting Goods also took down apparel featuring Good Good’s branding from its stores. Good Good Golf was launched in 2020 as a YouTube channel and has since grown into a major content creator in golf. The company’s team includes eight men and four women competing in various golf challenges.
The PGA Tour said it appreciated its partnership with Good Good Golf over the years. Despite the controversy, the tournament will proceed without the title sponsorship from Good Good Golf. The company emphasized that it is committed to learning and improving its organizational culture.
IMAGE: Good Good Golf Withdraws as Title Sponsor After Ad Backlash DNR Art Department