Why we crowned Bryson DeChambeau the leading golfer in our top 10 most watchable tour pros right now.
A few months ago, I was watching the highly anticipated film, “A Complete Unknown” starring Timothée Chalamet. Despite the lacklustre title, it’s a very entertaining biopic of Bob Dylan and the four-year span (1961-1965) during which he moved to New York and penned iconic songs such as “Blowin’ in the Wind”, “The Times They Are a-Changin’” and “Like a Rolling Stone”. Surprisingly, “A Complete Unknown” did not win any of the eight Academy Awards it was nominated for, but it was a gripping flick.
I really should have switched off from golf and appreciated the film, but sometimes you can’t help relating the real or artistic worlds to the game we all love. I thought about what qualifies as ‘watchable’ or ‘entertainment’ these days. It’s been a theme for several years in professional golf as the game tries to reconcile the conflicting urges to offer traditional golf to lifelong fans with the harsh reality that modern sport is entertainment.
Chalamet, as Dylan, pontificates in the film that anyone who commands attention on a stage has to be “a freak” of sorts. He adds, “You can be beautiful, or you can be ugly, but you can’t be plain. You gotta be something people can’t stop looking at, like a train wreck or a car crash.”
Whether you watch golf as a purist or a drama-seeker, it’s interesting to ask ourselves who we are drawn to in golf and why? Is it OK to be drawn to a tour or a player or a course that is polarising? Of course it is. A high-school friend who became a successful music talent manager once told me that he respects bands that he loves and hates because they make him feel something.
In golf, there isn’t a player who is both perfect and a fan-favourite. But there are plenty who make us feel something. In his prime, Tiger Woods had his detractors, and in the modern game the two players with undeniable X factor, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau, have legions of fans as well as plenty of critics. And that’s cool.
If compiling the 10 most watchable golfers right now in a list was a golf tournament, it would have ended in a sudden-death playoff between DeChambeau and McIlroy, with the American coming out on top. At their core, playoffs are two or more equals thrown into a somewhat unfair scenario of having the outcome decided by one moment instead of being rewarded for consistency over 72 (or however many) holes. That said, we have anointed DeChambeau as the most watchable golfer right now given that – for better or worse – he thinks about being watchable all the time. In fact, he has made content his mission. McIlroy is the superior golfer with a résumé DeChambeau would yearn for, but DeChambeau is arguably more popular from ages 10 to 50 for his ability to connect with the common fan – even those outside golf – via his wildly successful YouTube channel.
Disagree with us? That’s fine. But if there’s one benefit of YouTube, it’s that the platform has irrefutable numbers. And the viewer numbers are telling us that defending and two-time US Open champion DeChambeau is box office – across a wide span of ages and demographics. His channel has taken off in various forms, with series such as “Break 50” where he takes a playing partner and tries to shoot an 18-hole score better than 50 (typically about 22 or 23-under-par) or his Course Record series, where he rolls into a golf club (often publicly accessible courses) and attempts to break its lowest official score without having played it before. He also buys budget-friendly sets of sticks from major department stores and tries to shoot an under-par round using them. And that’s not to mention the tens of millions around the world who tuned in when he created a daily challenge of attempting to make a hole-in-one over his house to his backyard putting green during the Christmas period.
Look at his most recent and most popular uploads to the video search engine. “Can I Break 50 With [popular US podcaster] Bob Does Sports”? It’s at 3.7 million views. “Can I Break a Course Record in One Try?” The video filmed at Hackberry Creek garnered 3.4 million pairs of eyes. DeChambeau, with a fraction of the on-site resources and production crew of a major network, is attracting as many and occasionally more eyeballs than the final rounds at a lot of the world’s biggest tournaments other than the majors. “Oh, I know that,” he laughed when talking to Australian Golf Digest.
The 2025 Masters, where McIlroy’s playoff win over Justin Rose earned him the sixth completion of the career Grand Slam in golf’s history, amassed an average audience of 12.71 million viewers and peaked at 19.54 million. The fact DeChambeau’s regular uploads are getting about a third of one of the most momentous majors of the past 30 years needs at least recognition for being a cultural force unto itself.
The Californian who is now based in Dallas credits the inspiration for starting a YouTube channel to the wildly popular Mr Beast creator, who produces quirky challenges on YouTube. “I’ve always been kind of an innovator; I’ve been someone that’s trying to look ahead and see what’s next,” DeChambeau says. “I saw Mr Beast doing his stuff back in 2018, 2019, and getting tens of millions of views, and I’m like, He’s just a [regular] guy from North Carolina. I’m a professional athlete. Why can’t I garner that type of audience? I saw potential but I didn’t know how big it would get.
“This year, we’ve stockpiled a couple of other videos, fun little challenges, and we’re doing some more short-form this year,” DeChambeau adds. “We want to get to a live event at some point. We don’t know when that’s going to happen. That would be a fun goal to achieve. We’re really here just trying to provide as much cool entertainment as we can. If it’s part of the ecosystem and it grows the ecosystem, fantastic. That’s all I care about. I’m not worried about if it’s bigger [than others], it’s not the point. The point is to be a part of the ecosystem, helping the game.”
Asked what he’s most pleased about adding to golf’s content offering, DeChambeau feels the answer is an easy one. “The entertainment option,” he says. “Professional golf [tournaments are] great. It’ll always be there. But we want to give back to the fans. They want to be entertained and I think that’s what YouTube golf provides.”
Perhaps it was the perfect storm for DeChambeau: he has been in the best form of his career, winning last year’s US Open at Pinehurst No.2, shooting 58 on LIV Golf at a former PGA Tour host course, and creating a channel well before YouTube golf began to explode. That was before he finished T-5 at the 2025 Masters playing in the final group with McIlroy.
“[My YouTube viewership], a lot of it has to do with the LIV and PGA Tour stuff, [fans] not really knowing where to go, and were kind of tired of [hearing about the divide] in the nicest way possible. I know we can turn that into negative connotation, but [we ask ourselves], ‘How can we provide better experiences for the fans?’”
He’s doing that, and the numbers don’t lie: by volume and drama, DeChambeau is golf’s most watchable tour pro.
2. Rory McIlroy
Whether you love the Northern Irishman or have grown fatigued of his outspoken stance on LIV Golf during the past few years, there’s no denying McIlroy is the heir to the throne vacated by Tiger Woods as golf’s biggest star and ‘winningest’ player across the four majors. The drama with which he closes out wins or falls short in golf’s biggest tournaments – the 2024 US Open loss to DeChambeau, or the Irish Open and BMW PGA runner-up results that year – makes him appointment viewing. The Ulsterman is a character in victory or defeat that most fans can’t look away from. He says what’s on his mind, and wears his heart on his sleeve, and even if you vehemently disagree with his stances, he creates headlines, storylines and conversation. On top of that, McIlroy in peak form is breathtaking to watch. If you need a reminder, just re-watch the helter-skelter 2025 Masters final round in which he coughed up on himself down the stretch, only to win the green jacket in a playoff and complete the career Grand Slam, or when he hit his driver over the corner of the par-5 14th hole during his Pebble Beach Pro-Am victory earlier this year. He’s one PGA Tour victory away from more rarefied air – the 30-plus wins club. And at 36, he’s only becoming more watchable.
3. Min Woo Lee
Where do you begin with The Chef? It’s difficult to gauge how much he is breathing down the necks of DeChambeau and McIlroy in the most-watchable stakes, but it’s close. Put simply, he’s become the wacky and goofy personality golf needed and a household name. He’s won over a legion of fans with his creative shot-making, charisma and flair for the dramatic. After a back-and-forth about pace of play with a playing partner in the final round of his breakthrough PGA Tour win at the recent Houston Open, Lee pretended to AimPoint-read a three-inch putt for the victory. You just can’t take your eyes
off him.
On the course, Lee’s talent is undeniable. He held off world No.1 Scottie Scheffler in Houston to add to his impressive résumé, which includes three DP World Tour titles and a win on the Asian Tour. It’s no wonder Canadian activewear giant Lululemon made Lee their first ever PGA Tour ambassador.
Online, though, is where Lee truly shines. He’s known by nicknames like “Dr Chipinski” for his exceptional short game (see his chip-in for eagle during his 2023 Australian PGA Championship win) and “The Chef”, which stems from his “Let him cook” catchphrase. Lee brings a unique and younger crowd to golf evident in his popularity on social media; with 842,000 Instagram followers and 375,000 on TikTok. His fashion sense – mock necks, mullets, and a moustache – sets him apart. He’s cooking.
4. Jason Day
The former world No.1 and 2015 PGA Championship winner is one of the most engaging golfers in the game. Now ranked world No.32, Day is still in the upper echelon of elite tour pros, but he is now known for a bold fashion sense to go with his honest and candid approach to media interviews. At 37, the Queenslander continues to mix it at the highest level – finishing T-8 at the 2025 Masters. His short game remains elite and his ball-striking is still a force. Off the course, Day has become somewhat of a disruptor in golf fashion. As the first PGA Tour ambassador for Malbon Golf, Day introduced chic, streetwear-inspired looks to the traditionally conservative world of golf apparel. His viral “Malbon Golf Championship” jumper at the 2024 Masters, when he was paired with Woods, sparked both controversy and admiration. His outfits are constantly discussed online and on TV in a marketing masterstroke for Malbon. Day’s willingness to challenge the norms – whether through his fashion choices or his openness about career struggles – makes him an engaging figure.
5. Ludvig Aberg
The boy from Eslov, a small town in Sweden, captivated the golf world with a swing seemingly designed in a chic department of Ikea’s head office – eye-catching, efficient and built for quick assembly. He played his way onto the 2023 European Ryder Cup side before he’d even played in a major, which had never been done in his team’s history. Aberg’s swing is arguably the best in the game for how on-plane, balanced and effortlessly powerful it is. There’s no secret why he already has two PGA Tour victories, a DP World Tour title and a runner-up at the Masters to his name so early in his career. But on the PGA Tour, a circuit plagued by a glacial pace of play among many of its members, the speed at which 25-year-old Aberg steps up and hits the ball after receiving his caddie Joe Skovron’s shot advice should be the benchmark all pros, amateurs and weekend hackers aspire to.
6. Lydia Ko
The New Zealander remains one of the most compelling figures in golf thanks to a rare blend of greatness and imperfection on the course, in addition to being an engaging and vulnerable character. Ko added to her legendary résumé with a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, while three official LPGA Tour wins last year included one that sent her into the Hall of Fame. Perhaps her crowning moment, though, was a career-defining Women’s Open victory in horrendous conditions at the Old Course at St Andrews. Even when she’s not winning, Ko’s smooth, technically brilliant swing is a joy to watch.
7. Nelly Korda
Owner of arguably the most graceful, effortless swing in professional golf, Korda has become a consistent and highly marketable face of the women’s game. Fans have become accustomed to seeing her name on top of leaderboards – she won seven times in 2024 including another major at the Chevron Championship, while she also finished runner-up at the Women’s Open and was named LPGA Player of the Year – as well as the Rolex Women’s Ranking where she’s a very recognisable world No.1. She even rubbed shoulders with many of the world’s biggest celebrities at the 2024 Met Gala. Every sports fan loves a family story and Korda’s name is as synonymous with tennis as it is golf; her father, Petr, won the 1998 Australian Open in tennis while her younger brother, Sebastian, won the 2018 Australian Open junior boys. In golf, Nelly’s older sister, Jessica, won the Women’s Australian Open in 2012.
Beyond aesthetics, style and current form, Korda’s game is built on consistency: her career has yielded 15 LPGA Tour wins, including two majors and an Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021. Off the course, her ice-cool demeanour and focused intensity are part of her charm. Korda has redefined what it means to be a superstar in golf, and that makes her a must-watch athlete.
8. Minjee Lee
Fans around the world can’t help but get emotionally invested in a feel-good story like two siblings playing golf at the Olympics. Minjee was a fan favourite well before younger brother Min Woo burst onto the scene, but now the sum of their starpower is greater than the individual parts. The two became the first siblings to play golf at the Olympics when both represented Australia’s two-person men’s and women’s teams in Paris last year. Minjee, meanwhile, has built an army of supporters for a résumé featuring 10 LPGA Tour wins and an elegant golf swing that produces otherworldly ball-striking. A two-time major winner, with titles at the 2021 Evian Championship and 2022 US Women’s Open, Lee has also been on every Australian Olympic golf team since the sport’s return in 2016. Off the course, her unique bond with PGA Tour winner Min Woo drew the attention of the popular ABC Series “Australian Story”, where the duo were featured in only the second ever episode on golf in the program’s 27-year history. Their sibling rivalry is built on admiration and support, and sports fans can’t get enough of it.
9. Viktor Hovland
Potentially the most naturally funny and authentic elite player in pro golf. Just search Google or YouTube for “Viktor Hovland lay off the weed-duh!” for a genuine laugh. Hovland also has an Australian caddie in Sydneysider Shay Knight. We love watching the Norwegian because he openly pokes fun at his curiosity about the world, the cosmos and his adulation for heavy metal music and specifically the sub-genre “metalcore”. Recently, he has been candid detailing his search for a golf swing he feels got lost in analysis for 18 months after winning the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship in August 2023. In that span, he changed coaches several times and admitted he has “an ability that you can almost sometimes take for granted”. “You just wake up every day and you stand over the ball, and you just expect the ball to end up somewhere close to the hole. When it starts to not do that, it’s pretty frustrating. You start thinking things you’ve never thought before.” He shared that insight after the second round at the Valspar event, and two days later he claimed his first PGA Tour victory since that 2023 Tour Championship. And that’s why he’s easy to cheer for.
10. Shane Lowry
The Irishman has become a more interesting, engaging and frankly a more complete player since breaking through the major-championship barrier when he triumphed at the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. Since then, he’s won the DP World Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA at Wentworth, and Lowry seems to have a season ticket for the leaderboard on the PGA Tour. He’s compiled four top-six results at the majors since Portrush. As a character, he’s the type of heart-on-your-sleeve personality we all like to watch. When he won the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a teams event, with McIlroy, the pair partied into the night with karaoke blaring. At this year’s Masters, Lowry teed off at the idea of having to speak with reporters immediately after a frustrating finish to his third round at Augusta National. “I probably already have said something stupid because I’m pissed off right now; I’m just going to leave, OK?” he said before walking off the podium. A day later, he was crying and hugging his pal McIlroy as the new Masters champion. What you see is what you get, and fans love it.
