Justin Thomas sends memo to PGA Tour members, stresses accessibility in TV broadcasts

On Tuesday, Gabby Herzig of The Athletic obtained a memo sent by Justin Thomas to PGA Tour members in which he stresses the importance of being accessible during tournament broadcasts in an effort to better connect with fans and viewership.

"We're incredibly lucky to have many passionate people tuning in to watch us every week, but let's be honest—this game can feel a little distant at times," Thomas wrote. "The more I think about it, the more I feel us giving more access and insight can make a WORLD of difference. Things such as pre-round interviews, mid-round interviews, wearing a mic, communication of any equipment/swing changes you're working on with the broadcasters, etc."

While Thomas admits that stepping out of "our comfort zones" isn't easy, Fan Forward research shows that "on-course personality" is the biggest driver for young fans' (18-34) interest in the game.

"Getting the younger age group interested and watching our sport could be a huge difference in our popularity," Thomas continued. "They love the opportunity to be able to have that connection to us as fans, and it humanizes us."

One of the ideas Thomas lays out is something similar to a pre-game interview with an NFL coach: "ONE question (one that he knows is coming before asked), gives 5-10 second answer, and I'm always so tuned in to how they explain their gameplan and layout their approach ," Thomas said. "Imagine that happens on the first tee before the final few groups, or even after the first tee shot walking off the tee. Something we know will be a harmless question, but really makes the fans feel in our head and there with us."

It's refreshing to see one of the Tour's biggest stars genuinely attempting to create a deeper relationship with the circuit's fans.

We'll see if anything comes from this, but a continuous conversation about improving the TV product — which has been fairly criticized over the years for a multitude of reasons — is a good start.

Read the memo in its entirety below:

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Justin Thomas stresses accessibility on TV in memo to PGA Tour players