You've probably seen the highlights. A bunch of guys with microphones clipped to their polos, sweating over a four-footer while a camera crew circles them like vultures. It’s easy to dismiss it as just another "influencer event." But honestly, The Q at Myrtle Beach has turned into something way more intense than a standard YouTube collab. It’s basically the ultimate high-stakes job interview, and the prize isn't a trophy or a brand deal—it’s a literal spot in a PGA Tour event.
What is The Q at Myrtle Beach?
Let's cut through the noise. The Q at Myrtle Beach is an 18-hole, stroke-play competition held at TPC Myrtle Beach. It’s not a week-long grind like the old-school Q-School; it's a one-day, winner-take-all shootout. The field is split right down the middle: eight "content creators" (the guys you watch on YouTube while you should be working) and eight "aspiring pros" (the guys grinding on the mini-tours who can absolutely flush it).
The stakes? A sponsor exemption into the Myrtle Beach Classic, a dual-field PGA Tour event.
Think about that for a second. In the world of professional golf, a sponsor exemption is like a golden ticket. Usually, these go to local legends, retiring icons, or hotshot college kids with big-name agents. Giving one to the winner of a YouTube tournament? That was a massive gamble by the folks at Visit Myrtle Beach and Golf Tourism Solutions.
Why the 2024 Event Broke the Internet
When the inaugural event dropped in April 2024, it racked up over a million views almost instantly. People weren't just watching for the golf; they were watching for the collapse.
Matt Atkins, a seasoned pro who had been out of the spotlight for a bit, eventually took it down. But the real story—the one everyone still talks about at the 19th hole—was George Bryan. George, one half of the Bryan Bros YouTube channel, had the lead. He was right there. Then came the 18th hole at TPC Myrtle Beach.
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If you've played TPC, you know 18 is a beast. Water everywhere. George flared a shot, tried a hero pitch, and watched his ball agonizingly trickle into the drink. It was brutal to watch. Atkins forced a playoff with a clutch birdie and then slammed the door shut on the first playoff hole.
Atkins didn't just take the spot and disappear, either. He went to the actual Myrtle Beach Classic, made the cut, and finished T38. That gave the whole "creator tournament" concept instant legitimacy. It proved that the winner of The Q at Myrtle Beach wasn't just a gimmick—they belonged on the big stage.
The 2025 Roster and the Nathan Franks Victory
By the time 2025 rolled around, the hype was even bigger. The roster was a "who's who" of the golf internet. You had:
- Fat Perez from Bob Does Video (the man, the myth, the legend).
- Kyle Berkshire, the long-drive king who treats golf balls like they owe him money.
- Luke Kwon and Peter Finch, bringing that international flavor.
- Roger Steele, the coolest man in golf.
But it was a college kid who ended up stealing the show. Nathan Franks, a standout from the University of South Carolina, managed to hold off the field. He held a two-shot lead going into the final hole and, unlike the drama of the year before, he kept his cool.
This win highlighted a different side of the tournament. While the 2024 story was about a pro finding his way back, 2025 was about a young gun proving he’s ready for the next level. Franks earned his spot in the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic and showed that the path to the PGA Tour is getting wider and a lot more interesting.
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Why "Traditionalists" Hate It (And Why They're Wrong)
You’ll always find the "get off my lawn" crowd complaining that these spots should go to the grinders on the Korn Ferry Tour. And look, I get it. Pro golf is hard. It’s a meritocracy.
But here’s the reality: golf needs eyeballs.
The Q at Myrtle Beach isn't just about the 16 players in the field. It’s about the 26,000 people who watched the live stream and the millions who watched the documentary-style edit later. It’s about making the PGA Tour feel accessible. When you see a guy like Dan Rapaport or Micah Morris trying to navigate a TPC layout under pressure, you relate to it more than a nameless pro shooting 65 in total silence.
The event was so successful that the PGA Tour even launched its own version, the Creator Classic, which debuted at East Lake during the Tour Championship. But even that doesn't have the same "life-changing" weight as The Q. Winning the Creator Classic gets you a trophy; winning The Q gets you a tee time with the best players on the planet.
TPC Myrtle Beach: The Silent Villain
We have to talk about the course. TPC Myrtle Beach is a Tom Fazio design, and it’s no joke. It was built to host the Senior PGA Tour Championship back in 2000, so it’s got championship bones.
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The greens are often described as "lightning fast" and "reminiscent of glass." If you miss on the wrong side of the hole, you’re looking at a 40-foot par putt coming back. This is why the scores aren't typically 10-under par. In a 16-man shootout, par is actually a very good friend.
The layout forces these creators out of their comfort zone. On YouTube, you can edit out the bad drives. At The Q at Myrtle Beach, the cameras are always rolling, the rough is thick, and there’s nowhere to hide.
What to Expect for the 2026 Season
The PGA Tour has already confirmed that the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic is returning to the Dunes Golf and Beach Club from May 7–10, 2026. While the official field for the 2026 "Q" hasn't been blasted across social media yet, the pattern is clear.
We can expect a mix of returning favorites and new faces from the amateur and mini-tour ranks. The event usually films in early March to allow for a high-production YouTube release just before the actual Tour event in May.
If you're looking to follow the 2026 cycle:
- Watch the Qualifiers: Local pros often have their own mini-qualifier (like Patrick O'Brien did) to even get into the 16-man field.
- Follow "Play Golf Myrtle Beach": Their YouTube channel is the ground zero for the full documentary release.
- Check the Socials: Guys like George Bryan and Peter Finch usually drop "behind the scenes" vlogs weeks before the official edit comes out.
Actionable Steps for the Golf Fan
If you're planning a trip to the Grand Strand or just want to get more out of the next "Q" release, here is what you actually need to do:
- Play TPC Myrtle Beach yourself. Seriously. If you want to understand why George Bryan hit it in the water or why Nathan Franks looked so stressed, play the course from the back tees. It will give you a whole new level of respect for what these guys are doing under the gun.
- Pay attention to the "Aspiring Pros" side. Everyone watches for the YouTubers, but the real "feel good" stories are the guys like Sean Walsh or Joe Hooks. These are world-class players who just need one break.
- Book your Myrtle Beach Classic tickets early. The event at the Dunes Club is one of the more fan-friendly stops on the tour. It’s less crowded than a Major but has all the atmosphere of a top-tier tournament.
- Follow the "First Tee of the Carolinas." A lot of the charitable components of these events flow through local organizations. Supporting them is a great way to give back to the community that hosts this chaos every year.
The Q at Myrtle Beach isn't a flash in the pan. It's the blueprint for how golf content and professional competition will coexist in the future. It’s raw, it’s stressful, and it’s exactly what the game needs right now.