Rick Shiels on becoming the world’s biggest golf YouTuber & joining LIV Golf as a global ambassador!

This week, we’ve flown to Southern Spain and Real Club Valderrama to meet the biggest golf YouTuber on the planet – Rick Shiels! He tells guest host Gabbie Partington how he first got into golf in Manchester, before his career trajectory changed dramatically when he set up a YouTube channel – initially to encourage golfers to book lessons with him! Rick also gives an honest assessment of his decision to become a LIV ambassador, despite initial reservations about the tour, and shares what it was like having backlash from his followers after the news was announced. Then we look ahead to the future – could shorter format competitions of only 12 holes a round become the norm? And what is being done to encourage golfers who have taken up the sport, but not reached an elite level, to continue? Rick’s become one of the most influential voices in the modern game – find out how in this episode! Find more Why Golf content on Instagram, and find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer 📲 https://www.thisiswhygolf.com The Why Golf podcast is presented by @skyscanner 00:00 - Introduction and Rick Shiels's Ambassadorship with Liv Golf 01:11 - Rick's Travels and Golf Experiences in 2025 03:59 - Rick's Start in Golf and Leaving Football 06:27 - Early Golf Career and Reality Check at Golf College 08:41 - Transition to Coaching and Working at Mere Golf Club 12:12 - The Shift to YouTube and Initial Challenges 19:08 - Using YouTube to get more lessons booked in - then the channel took off! 20:40 - The USP of Rick's YouTube Channel 30:17 - Rick is super competitive - in YouTube! Plus golf has become 'cool' 35:59 - How Rick became a LIV ambassador & the negative reaction he got from some fans 46:21 - What Rick thinks the future of golf looks like 50:01 - Will rounds of golf ever not be 18 holes at professional events? 52:08 - Rick's charity work 53:51 - Clubhouse Curveballs 57:39 - Rick's "Why Golf" 59:42 - Gabbie's "Why Golf" 1:00:19 - Conclusion #golf #rickshiels #golfpodcast #livgolf #jonrahm #dustinjohnson #sergiogarcia #brysondechambeau #philmickelson #tyrrellhatton #ianpoulter #henrikstenson #leewestwood #brookskoepka #cameronsmith #pgaprofessional