TikTok, Trolls and Tour school: Is James Nicholas the busiest man in golf?
James Nicholas could earn playing rights in Europe and America this month while being an even busier figure off the course…
James Nicholas really wanted a tour card.
This globetrotting American doesn’t care if it’s Europe or the States, or both.
He ventured to the DP World Tour Q-school’s final stage two weeks after booking a spot in the second stage of the PGA Tour Q-school in Alabama.
Failure to pass Infinitum’s six-round test wouldn’t have been a disaster but would’ve piled pressure on his next date at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club on November 28.
“I haven’t seen my family or my girlfriend in five or six weeks,” Nicholas told NCG. “I’ve been going back and forth, spending a lot of money, but I’m racking up the airline miles, so that’s good.
“Hopefully I’ll get a little upgrade on the way back!
“I want to give myself all the opportunities possible to play golf at the highest level, and that means doing both Q-schools and tons of positives to come with it.
“But those negative side effects are being fatigued, I’ve had tons of back spasms earlier in the week.”
The tiresome travel came up trumps as Nicholas made the grade on 14-under-par along with 32 other delighted hopefuls in Tarragona.
The 26-year-old’s journey in golf started in his sophomore year at Yale. His youngest brother Brian and younger sisters Erin and Michaela played hockey to respectively high levels in the USA.
His grandfather, Dr James A. Nicholas was an orthopaedic surgeon and physician for the New York Jets and New York Knicks, while his dad is also an orthopaedic surgeon.
Sport runs in the blood of this relatively unearthed gem of a golfer, but Nicholas has worked tirelessly to boost his profile away from his on-course prowess.
You might have already heard of James Nicholas…
While he’s not on a plane in pursuit of his next challenge, Nicholas is building his vast presence on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
He has no less than 375,000 followers on TikTok where his content ranges from course vlogs at Pine Valley, tips on how to play a bunker shot and progress updates on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Nicholas has made 39 Korn Ferry Tour appearances in total and has also earned status on PGA Tour Americas next year.
His Instagram page, which has over 100,000 followers, is much of the same, whereas his YouTube channel shows cinematic and artistic content from trips to different nations.
“I’ve got a good little crew following me around which is great,” he added. “I loved film and photography when I was a kid. I’ve made GoPro videos of travels and hockey and football, and post them to my YouTube channel, and to my Instagram.
“Once I turned pro, I thought I should do this for golf and just posted some fun, random silly videos and it kind of took off and a lot of people started following me.
“It’s tough to be under that microscope and also play really well, so during tournament weeks, I’ve been shutting off my social media to escape from it, just trying to focus on myself and my abilities on the golf course.”
Not only does he work tirelessly on his game and online, but Nicholas has also become the first partner of a new app that allows you to follow your favourite athletes closer than ever before.
“I’m building this app called Grandstand which will give me the flexibility to let people who follow me who I want to follow, my real supporters, rather than people who are just on there to troll.
“It’s a brand new app that we just launched. We have a waiting list of a couple of hundred people just trying to get on the app – I’m really excited for that.
“It’s to help your big fans get closer to you. We have a chat room where I can interact with them, talk to them and share whatever content with them. Then Instagram and TikTok will be more for the masses.”
The app, led by Will Ventures, will allow fans to follow and financially support their favourite athletes.
Tour golfer, entrepreneur, social media sensation.
You lose count of the irons in his fire and Nicholas’ career is set to heat up in 2024.
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
