Bryson DeChambeau tells story behind viral Trump golf video

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 taking part in within the final a number of years — Trump, who’s an everyday 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. A number of 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 pressured that the video was about golf and about content material and never meant as any form of political assertion. In these fractured occasions, 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, regardless of who it’s on any political aspect,” DeChambeau mentioned on Thursday. “Once more, this entire content material piece, it’s a content material creation piece, was about delivering some distinctive totally different content material on YouTube, and we wished to showcase the golf skills of any influential individual, and he was undoubtedly up on an inventory that I wished to showcase.

“We have been in a position to name out and ask him to play, and he mentioned ‘Yeah, completely.’ We requested the opposite aspect, as effectively, and anybody that desires 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 mentioned. Trump’s recognition (or notoriety, relying in your viewpoint) was one other.

“He’s clearly a determine that may pull a whole lot of views, and we thought it might be nice to showcase his {golfing} potential, and he’s a fairly good golfer,” DeChambeau mentioned. “It was a whole lot of enjoyable to do, and it took just a little bit, however we bought it authorised and it was enjoyable to shoot.”

[SPOILER ALERT]

The problem takes DeChambeau and a taking part in accomplice to the ahead tees and so they play a scramble from there, trying to interrupt 50. At Trump Bedminster’s par-72 structure, they shot 22 below par, taking pictures 50 on the quantity. Whereas web commenters have 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 pressured, 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 in anyway. That’s the factor about golf is that the extra we are able to make the most of golf to carry everybody collectively in a cool manner, I feel that’s the imaginative and prescient of the worldwide sport of golf,” he mentioned.

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

“That’s the place we have been primarily targeted 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 pictures.”

There would have been loads of consideration on a DeChambeau-Trump video regardless of the timeline, however there was further scrutiny given the try on his life on July thirteenth, per week after the match was filmed. As soon as commenters made be aware 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 have 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 mentioned 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 mentioned earlier than choosing up on the incredulous reactions of his LIV teammates and cracking a smile. “For me, most likely not. I don’t assume so. I’m going to golf and play golf for the remainder of my life,” he mentioned.

“Simply interested by it provides us chills,” mentioned Anirban Lahiri, sitting beside him.

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

DeChambeau isn’t any stranger to controversy; his bounce from the PGA Tour to LIV earned combined 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 sport’s greatest occasions, too, and within the strategy of contending on the Masters and PGA Championships after which successful on the U.S. Open DeChambeau endeared himself to golf followers as a decidedly totally different kind of showman and a breath of contemporary air in a sport that wants it. It’s been an enormous summer season, in different phrases, for the massive golfer.

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

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

A sure section 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 mentioned. “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 manner.”

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 School, the place he majored in English, and he’s the creator of 18 in America, which particulars the yr he spent as an 18-year-old dwelling from his automobile and taking part in a spherical of golf in each state.