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 supply — not shocking; there’s no file of him taking part in 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. 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 confused 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 target 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 entire content material piece, it’s a content material creation piece, was about delivering some distinctive completely different content material on YouTube, and we wished to showcase the golf skills of any influential particular person, and he was positively up on a listing that I wished to showcase.

“We had been in a position to name out and ask him to play, and he stated ‘Yeah, completely.’ We requested the opposite aspect, as effectively, and anybody that wishes to play. They’re greater than prepared 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 reputation (or notoriety, relying in your standpoint) was one other.

“He’s clearly a determine that may pull lots of views, and we thought it could be nice to showcase his {golfing} skill, and he’s a reasonably good golfer,” DeChambeau stated. “It was lots of enjoyable to do, and it took a bit of bit, however we received it accredited 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 beneath par, taking pictures 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 confused, 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 prepared to play with them. I’ve no points in any respect. 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 method, I feel that’s the imaginative and prescient of the worldwide sport of golf,” he stated.

He acknowledged the radioactivity that comes with bringing a presidential candidate into this specific enviornment — “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 targeted on, making an attempt to take the politics all out of it and simply going, let’s create some superb enjoyable content material for individuals to see some cool, enjoyable, entertaining pictures.”

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

“Simply eager about it offers us chills,” stated Anirban Lahiri, sitting beside him.

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

DeChambeau isn’t any stranger to controversy; his leap 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 largest 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 an enormous summer time, in different phrases, for the large golfer.

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

“I assume he’s an enigma, actually, even to us,” he stated. “Even he doesn’t actually 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, no less than.

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

Seven million individuals 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 writer 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.