Bryson DeChambeau and Donald Trump launched a viral golf video. How’d that occur?!

DeChambeau teased at his plans in actual time, suggesting a match between Trump and Biden. Whereas Biden didn’t settle for the provide — not shocking; there’s no report of him enjoying within the final a number of years — Trump, who’s a daily at a number of of his personal golf equipment, accepted inside days. The talk was June twenty seventh. They filmed the “Break 50” problem on July sixth. Just a few weeks later it was launched on DeChambeau’s YouTube web page and pushed him over a milestone he’s been chasing: a million subscribers.

On Thursday DeChambeau harassed that the video was about golf and about content material and never supposed as any kind of political assertion. In these fractured instances, that’s an impossibility — however all through the video DeChambeau retains the main focus away from the polls. (Trump largely does, too, tossing a dig at Biden early on however largely sticking to golf-guy questions like why so many professionals hit cuts with driver or what the angle of assault is on DeChambeau’s putts.)

“First off, it’s an honor to play with anyone of that kind of affect, irrespective of who it’s on any political aspect,” DeChambeau stated on Thursday. “Once more, this complete content material piece, it’s a content material creation piece, was about delivering some distinctive completely different content material on YouTube, and we needed to showcase the golf talents of any influential individual, and he was undoubtedly up on a listing that I needed to showcase.

“We had been capable of name out and ask him to play, and he stated ‘Yeah, completely.’ We requested the opposite aspect, as properly, and anybody that wishes to play. They’re greater than keen to do one thing for charity.”

A part of the video served as a fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior Venture. That was one motivation, DeChambeau stated. Trump’s recognition (or notoriety, relying in your standpoint) was one other.

“He’s clearly a determine that may pull plenty of views, and we thought it will be nice to showcase his {golfing} skill, and he’s a fairly good golfer,” DeChambeau stated. “It was plenty of enjoyable to do, and it took somewhat bit, however we acquired it authorised and it was enjoyable to shoot.”

[SPOILER ALERT]

The problem takes DeChambeau and a enjoying accomplice to the ahead tees and so they play a scramble from there, making an attempt to interrupt 50. At Trump Bedminster’s par-72 format, they shot 22 underneath par, capturing 50 on the quantity. Whereas web commenters had been fast to roast Trump’s unorthodox placing stroke, he showcased some ball-striking consistency and even made eagle 2 on a 210-yard par-4.

DeChambeau harassed, once more, that he would welcome a counterpart from the political left.

“Whether or not it’s Obama or anybody else on that aspect, I’m greater than keen to play with them. I’ve no points by any means. That’s the factor about golf is that the extra we are able to make the most of golf to convey everybody collectively in a cool method, I feel that’s the imaginative and prescient of the worldwide recreation of golf,” he stated.

He acknowledged the radioactivity that comes with bringing a presidential candidate into this specific area — “Politicians are divisive figures for certain and I respect and perceive that,” he stated — however DeChambeau shrugged off any deeper implications, once more citing charity and content material.

“That’s the place we had been primarily centered on, attempting to take the politics all out of it and simply going, let’s create some superb enjoyable content material for folks to see some cool, enjoyable, entertaining photographs.”

There would have been loads of consideration on a DeChambeau-Trump video irrespective of the timeline, however there was additional scrutiny given the try on his life on July thirteenth, per week after the match was filmed. As soon as commenters made observe of the truth that Trump’s ear appeared undamaged, DeChambeau issued his clarification: the video was filmed “earlier than I traveled abroad and previous to the incident that occurred in Butler, PA.”

However issues had been all smiles within the video and in Thursday’s press availability, the place, issues actually went off the rails when DeChambeau was requested if he had any future political ambitions of his personal.

“I imply, look, DJT clearly stated he’d by no means do it, and he’s clearly doing it now. You by no means know the positions of issues, and so they might change down the highway,” DeChambeau stated earlier than selecting up on the incredulous reactions of his LIV teammates and cracking a smile. “For me, in all probability not. I don’t suppose so. I’m going to golf and play golf for the remainder of my life,” he stated.

“Simply fascinated about it provides us chills,” stated Anirban Lahiri, sitting beside him.

“He’s struggling to run a staff proper now, not to mention the rest,” Paul Casey added, shaking his head.

DeChambeau is not any stranger to controversy; his bounce from the PGA Tour to LIV earned blended opinions at greatest. However in latest months he has tapped into a brand new viewers, rising a legion of loyal YouTube subscribers. He’s carried out on the recreation’s greatest occasions, too, and within the means of contending on the Masters and PGA Championships after which profitable on the U.S. Open DeChambeau endeared himself to golf followers as a decidedly completely different kind of showman and a breath of recent air in a sport that wants it. It’s been a giant summer time, in different phrases, for the massive golfer.

Lahiri was trustworthy in his appraisal of his staff captain, who he described as one in all a sort.

“I suppose he’s an enigma, truthfully, even to us,” he stated. “Even he doesn’t really perceive who he’s but.”

A sure phase of {the golfing} populace is aware of precisely what DeChambeau is: must-see TV. Should-see YouTube, at the very least.

“Bryson is clearly — he’s the bomb,” Lahiri stated. “He’s the explosion that may go off at any cut-off date. You make what you need of that assertion, but it surely’s true in each which method.”

Seven million folks would agree. And counting.

You possibly can watch the Trump-Bryson video right here, or our personal Warming Up interview with DeChambeau under.

Dylan Dethier

Golf.com Editor

Dylan Dethier is a senior author for GOLF Journal/GOLF.com. The Williamstown, Mass. native joined GOLF in 2017 after two years scuffling on the mini-tours. Dethier is a graduate of Williams Faculty, the place he majored in English, and he’s the creator of 18 in America, which particulars the 12 months he spent as an 18-year-old dwelling from his automotive and enjoying a spherical of golf in each state.