Is this the biggest week in YouTube golf history? Some are saying it, and with good reason. This week, the first two episodes of the Internet Invitational—Barstool Sports’ influencer match play Masters—took over feeds from Bangkok to Boston. With seven figures on the line and entire YouTube-verse gathered in one room, it was quite the spectacle, but did the competition live up to the hype? Let’s stop burning daylight and find out
A Wake-Up Call?
After months of waiting, Barstool Sports’ big-money Internet Invitational arrived this week to plenty of fanfare. Unfortunately, despite the anticipation, the biggest event in YouTube golf history began on a somber note after the passing of Barstool’s beloved golf personality Cody “Beef” Franke last weekend. The way the industry reacted to the news—a mixture of shock and devastation—said it all: Beef was one of the rare, true good ones.
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Episode one, despite its corporate sponsors, $1-million purse and star-studded field, begins with a tribute to Franke, who played in the tournament when it was filmed earlier this year. Franke was a big part of what made events like the Internet Invitational possible—a genuine game grower in an industry of pretenders—and, with the blessing of his family who wanted the episodes to go ahead as planned, the Internet Invitational strives live up to his legacy.
Carrying all of that on its shoulders, episode one plunges forward, joining the 48-influencer field as they arrive at Big Cedar Lodge, wide-eyed and bewildered just like the rest of us. As it turns out, almost everyone was kept in the dark about the format and stakes of the competition, and to watch them learn in real time what they stand to win—a chunk of the hefty $1.7 million prize pool—and how they stand to win it is about as compelling as tournament format talk can get.
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Soon after, Robbie Berger (Bob Does Sports) and Riggs (Foreplay) are elected as captains for each 24-man team, followed by a spicy draft that includes some fun, made-for-TV YouTube betrayals. With the day-one matches finally set, heads hit the pillows and the first day of action—with half the field plus one superstar captain set to be eliminated on the first day—begins.
From there, it didn’t take long for the drama to unfold. During the morning four-ball session, former PGA Tour China winner and 2024 Creator Classic champ Luke Kwon pulled a Jean-Paul from ‘Seinfeld’ and missed his 9:30 a.m. tee time. That left PFT Commenter, the second-to-last golfer drafted the night before, to play the first four holes of his match solo. Kwon was allegedly also late to his practice round the previous day in a continuation of the punctuality problems that have plagued him throughout his career. Kwon offered an apology this week after his actions came under fire from the golf community, but no tweet in the world could make up for his gaffe, as he and PFT went on to lose their match 4&3 and Team Bob entered the afternoon in an 8-4 hole.
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With Bob’s Bergers needing a miracle to advance following the Kwon drama, episode two begins with a very awkward lunchtime standoff between Ryan Whitney (Spittin’ Chiclets) and Luke Kwon. Whitney’s temper steadily builds as he confronts Kwon at the buffet table. Kwon responds by going on the defensive instead of apologizing and the whole thing gets very ugly very quick. If you’ve ever been in a high school cafeteria when a fist fight is about to break out, you will recognize this energy. Thankfully Coach Jon Gruden rallies the troops with the best speech since “IT’S HALFTIME AMERICA,” putting the drama to bed … for a little while at least.
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We won’t spoil how the afternoon wave unfolds, but the tension—which is genuinely uncomfortable to watch—begs the question: Does injecting seven-figure purses into YouTube golf matches undermine everything we love about YouTube golf? Does it take low-stakes escapism and turn it into another Ryder Cup-level clusterf*ck?
Bubbie Broders (of Good Good Golf) offers perhaps the best defense of the event, saying, “At the end of the day, there’s a lot of money on the line, but a lot of people here are just competitors. They just wanna win in general.”
We’re not quite as convinced, though. The entertainment value through the first seven or so hours of the Internet Invitational remains solid, but if the vibes are already so tenuous that one guy in a 48-person field torpedoes them by sleeping through his alarm, were they really that good to begin with? Food for thought, but the good news is that day two promises new teams, new dynamics, fewer personalities fighting for screentime and, of course, the opportunity to start winning some real money. Check back next week, when we’ll unpack all of that and then some.
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Quick Hits
Bryson DeChambeau
Bryson takes an emotional trip to his childhood course to see if he can break his dad’s course-record 64. Expect darts and goosebumps in equal measure.
No Laying Up
Neil and Tron take a soothing road trip up Route 9, stopping to sample the incredible menu of golf courses upstate New York has to offer. As a grumpy old New Yorker, however, I will quibble with any definition of “upstate” that includes locations south of Albany. Sorry not sorry.
Grant Horvat
Playstheworldsfastest18holes.
Rick Shiels
With winter and its host of nasty friends (Rain, Wind, Sleet and Snow) on its way, Rick Shiels and co. reach for the dreaded yellow ball. There’s a little more to this challenge than just a highlighter-colored projectile, however, so make sure to give it a watch.
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Good Good Golf
The Good Good guys see what they can shoot at Omni Barton Creek’s Fazio Canyon Course. For those of you not in the know, the Canyon Course will be the site of the PGA Tour’s inaugural Good Good Championship next summer. Come for the camaraderie and stay for the #synergy.
Peter Finch
Ol’ Pete Finch challenges the head pro at Carlisle GC to a match … at his own course. That may seem a little presumptuous, but it sure makes for great content.
Foreplay Pod
As mentioned above, the Foreplay crew bid goodbye to their brother, Cody “Beef” Franke, this week. It’s a tough, raw watch, but for anyone with a heart, it’s essential viewing. Hit ‘em straight, Beef.
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