Rick Shiels, the world's biggest golf YouTuber with 2.9 million subscribers, recently joined LIV Golf as an official ambassador and content creator. In a conversation with Golf Monthly at LIV Golf Singapore, Shiels shared insights about his transition and how he handled the associated challenges.

The move has provided Shiels with unprecedented access to top players, including Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Joaquin Niemann, and Sergio Garcia, all within the first three months of his new role.

To prepare for potential backlash, Shiels took a unique approach: he spent an afternoon writing down every possible negative comment he could imagine. This exercise helped him mentally prepare for the actual reaction to his announcement.

Shiels acknowledged being surprised that many viewed him as strongly anti-LIV, clarifying that while he doesn't consider it a perfect product yet, he sees continuous improvement in each event.

To maintain his mental well-being, Shiels:

• Deleted social media from his phone
• Works with sports psychologist Tom Young
• Stopped drinking eight months ago
• Increased focus on exercise
• Maintains perspective on the relative importance of social media criticism

The relationship between Shiels and LIV Golf dates back to the circuit's inception. Initially, LIV approached him about hosting their first event broadcast on his YouTube channel, which he declined. Formal discussions about his current role began in February 2024, focusing on creating content and increasing player exposure.

Shiels believes LIV Golf can improve by:

• Unlocking player personalities
• Bridging the gap between fans and teams
• Enhancing overall fan engagement

This partnership represents a strategic move for both parties, combining Shiels' content expertise with LIV Golf's resources and player access to create compelling golf content for viewers worldwide.

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