Nick Voke said he was ‘very fortunate’ to be part of a ‘very interesting time’ for golf, after the pro-golfer turned YouTuber and influencer manager claimed a top 10 finish for the second consecutive week, at International Series Thailand.

The New Zealander, who has three wins on the PGATour China, as well as experience on the Korn Ferry Tour and the Asian Tour, carded a superb six-under 64 at Thai Country Club to finish T7 on 16 under, five shots behind surprise winner Lee Chieh-po.

Voke finished in the same position last weekend at the Black Mountain Championship in Hua Hin, just four off the champion MJ Maguire.

On that occasion, he played the first two rounds alongside the influencers he manages: Luke Kwon and Tae-Wook Ko, better known as Taco Golf, after the trio had received invites thanks to an innovative move by The International Series and Asian Tour to expand their audience.

Voke admitted the locker room had an ‘80/20 split’ over the intersect between the pro golf world and the YouTube world which took place over the past fortnight on The International Series, with Mac Boucher also playing this week in Bangkok.

Luke Kwon. Picture by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Asian Tour.

He said: “It is a very interesting time for golf. I think the locker room is probably 80% for it, 20% against. But I think if you look on its merits, Kwon’s first video from Black Mountain had 300,000 views, and the second one has 295,000. They both have an average view time of 20 minutes. So, if you want to get eyeballs onto the game of golf, that’s a fantastic avenue.”

While Voke finished top 10 in consecutive weeks, Kwon also stated the case for the world of YouTubers and golfing influencers by making the cut last weekend.

“I think there will be some opportunities. I think what really helped the guys was that Kwong is a good golfer in his own right, he’s a former professional who has won on the PGATour China. He is a golfer first and so I do not think it is out of the ordinary to have him here.

“I think the traction has been phenomenal in terms of comments and social media engagement. So, I can see more of it going forward.”

Voke, 29, is more relaxed now because of the ‘very fortunate’ position he occupies at the intersect between the YouTube world and the pro game. Talking about playing in a field stacked with talented LIV Golf League stars and the cream of the Asian Tour, he said: “To be honest with you, a few years ago, I may have been rattled.

“I may have looked around a bit more, but I am at that point now where I’m half a YouTube golfer. I show up and I am much more relaxed, more comfortable with the game, and some really good scores are starting to show. I think there is some gold in there somewhere, and I will be keen to dissect it in the coming weeks.

“I have to say kudos to the Asian Tour and The International Series. Huge ups to them, to have the initiative to try this. Hopefully there will be a few more opportunities with them, and maybe with other tours sooner.”