The Internet Invitational is over, but believe or not, little old YouTube continues to soldier on without it. In fact, the platform's golf creators were churning out content the entire time, even if you were too busy forensically analyzing every video frame of Malosi Togisala fiddling with his rangefinder to notice. So please, stick with us with us this week as we return to our regularly scheduled programming with the potential birth of [drum roll please] …
The YouTube.com Tour
Do you have hankering for more Luke Kwon content in your life? Do you love watching awkward, uncomfortable silences on camera? Then tune in to the Bryan Bros. inaugural YouTube Golf Pro Major—which pits six YouTube golf creators with professional experience against each other in an 18-hole stroke play event—and see if he wakes up for his tee time!
OK, OK, OK. We jest. The Internet has taken their pound of flesh off Luke Kwon since golf influencer overslept at the Internet Invitational, a moment George Bryan, who was at Big Cedar Lodge when it all went down, addressed this week.
“Kwon has been through the ringer here of late, and I’m just going to go ahead and say it: They knew what they were doing. They wanted to make him a villain and they did a great job of that,” Bryan says early in the video. “I want to support Kwon, and not affirm his actions, but say hey, you know what, we’re here for you. Don’t do that again, but we’re still going to be your friend. We’re not going to throw you under the bus for one mistake”
“I can tell you Kwon is one of the most loyal, caring, selfless people,” Luke Toomey, AKA Tooms Golf, chimes in. “Our little weird crew wouldn’t be doing any of this without him. He pretty much carried all of us on his back the first like 12 months when all of we’re starting out. He’s a generous person, he made a mistake, and he does not deserve the grilling he’s gotten.”
“I agree,” Bryan replies. “It actually frustrated me. I know it’s good for business and everyone loves drama … but I just wanted to say we’re Team Kwon.”
RELATED: The Internet Invitational was a story about fathers — good, bad and toxic
The impassioned response from two of Kwon’s close friends adds plenty fascinating subtext to the discourse. First, Bryan implies that some of what fans saw on YouTube was dramatized, which, while unsurprising, raises questions about what else might have been, including the cheating allegations surrounding Paige Spiranac and Mo Togisala on the tournament’s final day. Second, and more importantly, people don’t publicly vouch for others often, and they certainly don’t do it for a$$holes. Kwon’s friends and fellow competitors going to bat for him like this suggests he’s a decent human being who made an honest mistake. For the sitcklers among us, that probably won’t matter, but we’ll let you in on a dirty little secret:
There are far more important things in life than what happens on the golf course. Shocking, we know.
Hopefully that settles the Kwon date once and for all, because the rest of what’s here is awesome and represents, perhaps, the ideal blend YouTube and professional golf. With experience on over 11 different worldwide tours between the six players—Wesley and George Bryan, Luke Kwon, Luke Tooms, Taewook Koh (Taco Golf) and Sam Heung Min—viewers get to watch these developmental tour sticks play in the laid back, relatable setting that YouTube affords. That setup offers fans an intimate look at the psychology and skill of elite players that traditional golf broadcasts simply don't provide. In many ways, it's the best of both worlds.
For the pros themselves, the life of YouTube content creator also seems preferable to grinding away on feeder tours with tight financial margins in remote corners of the globe. Surely, players like the Bryan Brothers, Kwon and eventual winner Sam Heung Min grew up dreaming of being tour pros and winning majors, not playing golf on YouTube, but thanks to videos like this, perhaps the next generation might grow up dreaming of being them.
Quick Hits
Good Good Golf
Newly minted Internet Invitational champ Brad Dalke takes on the entire Good Good squad armed with nothing more than a 7-iron. This dude was practically automatic at Big Cedar Lodge, so we’re riding with Dalke on this one.
Callaway Golf
Speaking of Dalke, Callaway Golf has a “What’s in the Bag?” with the Good Good bomber this week. Check it out.
Bob Does Sports
Apparently, it’s major season in the world of YouTube golf. In addition to the Bryn Bros., BDS staged their own humdinger this week as the gang headed to Wolf Creek for another biggun'. We started this column by dragging Fat Perez’s name through the mud, but from the looks of the thumbnail, it’s Joey Cold Cuts’ turn this week.
St. Andre Golf
Remember the Jersey Jerry hole-in-one challenge that broke the Internet a few years (days? weeks? decades?) ago? That format makes a triumphant return this week thanks to St. Andre Golf, who lock themselves in a room until they make a hole-in-one on a simulator version of TPC Sawgrass’ iconic 17th hole. Have fun, kids. Try not to kill each other!
Skratch
Skratch goes behind the scenes with the Stanford golf program, notable for producing a few journeymen like Tom Watson and Tiger Woods. Perhaps you’ve heard of them? In addition, Chad Mumm also told an all-time John Daly story on the Vanity Index Podcast. JD stories are closest thing golf has to Aesop’s Fables at this point, so don’t miss it.
