Just as the fallout from the first two episodes of the Internet Invitational seemed to be winding down … Episodes 3 and 4 dropped like an Acme anvil on Wile E. Coyote’s head. Will they live up to the drama of missed tee times and Jon Gruden speeches? Can the Internet Invitational continue its stranglehold on YouTube golf despite the absence of massive names like Grant Horvat, Robby Berger and everybody’s favorite narcoleptic, Luke Kwon? Let’s lock in and find out.
A Star is Born
On Thursday morning, in response to Ryan Whitney’s response to the (somehow still ongoing) Luke Kwon tee-time fiasco, I wrote the following:
“What we can say, is that despite the millions of impressions the ‘Desperate Housewives Clubhouse Guys’ drama has generated, the Internet Invitational will be a failure if that’s all it’s remembered for.
The event was supposed to be a feel-good gathering of creators who have reshaped the way we watch and think about golf over the past several years. It was supposed to be the medium’s mainstream moment, a chance to show all the agnostics and hold-outs what they’ve been missing while wasting their Saturdays watching the Sanderson Farms Championship. Instead, we’ve been served the same petty in-fighting we see in pro golf on a weekly basis.”
At that time, I had yet to watch Episodes 3 and 4 of the Barstool Sport’s big money Internet Invitational. Now, a few hours of YouTube bingeing later, I’m happy to report I was wrong.
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Episode three picks up at the end of day one. Whitney and Kwon are both headed to the big baggage check in the sky and the remaining 24 players are redrafted into two teams led Riggs and Frankie Borrelli. It’s been a long day. Voices are gone and wits are a bit frazzled. Honestly, if you’re in a rush, you can skip right through all of this. It’s mostly a rehash of what we saw in Episode 1 anyway.
Once the golf begins on day two, the Internet Invitational leaves the bad vibes behind and settles into the same rhythm that has made YouTube golf resonate with such a wide range of viewers. It’s non-stop great shots, team camaraderie and light trash talk, now with the added juice of $4,000 Skins on every hole. From this, emerges the early breakout star of the double I:
All 4’ 4” of Chaz Bowker.
The 28-year-old, who has 80,000 followers on Instagram and is the top-ranked short-stature golfer on the Adaptive Tour, puts on an absolute clinic, sinking a whopping $24,000 worth of putts enroute to a win over Borelli and Good Good’s Bubbie Broders. Regardless of his stature, it’s one of the most white-hot scramble performances you’ll ever see. Settle in with a beer and some popcorn and prepare to have your mind blown.
Episode 4 picks up with the afternoon matches, with Team Pink (Captain Riggs) leading 4-2 and $104,000 to $64,000 in skins. Everyone is still reeling from George Bryan and The Jet’s decision to turn down Portnoy’s offer of $100,000 if they replay the final hole of their match and win, but if they lose, they sacrifice the point they had just put on the board for their team. Dave is the devil lurking on everyone’s shoulder throughout the afternoon as Team Orange stages a comeback to put Sunday’s U.S. Ryder Cup performance to shame.
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Keep that in the back of your head as you watch. We won’t spoil too much, but the afternoon matches come down to the final hole and Portnoy has a proposition that makes $100,000 look like chump change. Ultimately, it doesn’t result in the sort of drama the headline—”The Decision of a Lifetime”—promises, but overall these are two solid episodes featuring wall-to-wall golf, and we can’t ask for much more than that.
Quick Hits
Grant Horvat
Grant Horvat takes on Rickie Fowler as continues his series trying to beat tour pros while starting at five-under par. Nice to see you on YouTube, Rick.
Peter Finch
Nobody loves an away day quite like Peter Finch. The English influencer challenges the head pro at Crail GC to a match at, you guessed it, Crail GC.
Bryan Bros.
The Bryan Bros. return to pro golf as they attempt to make the cut at the International Series Philippines. The money might not be quite as good as the Internet Invitational, but you can’t beat those flyer miles.
Gabby Golf Girl
Ever wonder how a 10-year-old golfer would compete against a 90-year-old golfer? If that sounds like your type of crazy, Gabby Golf Girl has what you need this week.
Good Good Golf
Good Good go off the beaten cart path … like wayyyyy off. This is mostly just a commercial for GMC’s new EVs, but if you like experiential golf experiences and big skies, don’t miss it.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
