Bryson DeChambeau and Donald Trump released a viral golf video. How did that happen?!

DeChambeau teased his plans in real time, suggesting a match between Trump and Biden. While Biden did not accept the offer – not surprisingly; there is no record of his performance in the last few years – Trump, who is familiar with several of his clubs, was accepted in a few days. The debate was on June 27. They filmed the “Break 50” challenge on July 6. A few weeks later it was released on DeChambeau’s YouTube page and pushed him over the milestone they were chasing: one million subscribers.

On Thursday DeChambeau emphasized that the video was about golf and was about content and was not intended as any kind of political statement. In these broken times, it’s impossible — but throughout the video DeChambeau keeps the focus away from the votes. (Trump, too, throws in Biden early but sticks to questions from golfers like why so many pros cut driver or what the angle of attack is on DeChambeau’s putts.)

“First of all, it’s an honor to play with anybody who has that kind of influence, no matter who you are on any political side,” DeChambeau said Thursday. “Also, all of this content, the content creation piece, was about bringing unique content to YouTube, and we wanted to showcase the golf skills of any influencer, and he was on the list that I wanted to promote. .

“We were able to shout and ask him to play, and he said ‘Yes, of course.’ We asked the other side, too, and anyone who wants to play. They are very willing to do something to help the needy.”

Part of the video served as a fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior Project. That was one motivation, DeChambeau said. Trump’s popularity (or notoriety, depending on your point of view) was something else.

“Obviously he’s a draw, and we thought it would be good to showcase his golf skills, and he’s a great golfer,” DeChambeau said. “It was a lot of fun to make, and it took a while, but we got it approved and it was fun to shoot.”

The challenge takes DeChambeau and his playing partner to the forwards and play a scramble from there, trying to break 50. At Trump Bedminster’s par-72 course, they shot 22 under par, shooting 50 on par. While Internet pundits were quick to grill Trump’s unusual stroke, he showed consistency on the ball and made 2 eagles on the 210-par-4 course.

DeChambeau reiterated that he would welcome a colleague from the political left.

“Whether it’s Obama or someone from abroad, I’m very willing to play with them. I have no problems. “That’s what happens with golf is if we can use golf to bring everyone together in a cool way, I think that’s the idea of ​​a global golf game,” he said.

He acknowledged that radioactivity comes with bringing a presidential candidate to this stage – “Politicians are definitely divisive people and I respect and understand that,” he said – but DeChambeau dismissed any seriousness, again citing charities and content.

“That’s where we really focused, trying to take the politics out of it and just go, let’s create amazing fun content for people to see cool, fun, fun pictures.”

There would have been a lot of attention on the DeChambeau-Trump video regardless of the timeline, but there was more scrutiny given the attempt on his life on July 13, a week after the game was filmed. When commentators noted that Trump’s ear appeared to be unharmed, DeChambeau issued an explanation: the video was recorded “before I went overseas and before the incident in Butler, PA.”

But it was all smiles in the video and at a media availability Thursday, where, things turned sour when DeChambeau was asked if he had any future political aspirations.

“I mean, look, DJT obviously said he wasn’t going to do it, and obviously he’s doing it now. You never know where things stand, and they might change along the way,” DeChambeau said before getting a surprised reaction from his LIV teammates and chuckling. “For me, maybe not. I do not think so. “I will play golf for the rest of my life,” he said.

“Just thinking about it gives us chills,” said Anirban Lahiri, sitting next to him.

“He’s struggling to manage a team right now, let alone anything else,” added Paul Casey, shaking his head.

DeChambeau is no stranger to controversy; his jump from the PGA Tour to LIV has received mixed reviews at best. But in recent months he’s found a new audience, growing his legions of loyal YouTube subscribers. He has played in the game’s major events, and when he competed in the Masters and PGA Championships and then won the US Open DeChambeau endeared himself to golf fans as a different player and a breath of fresh air in the area. sports that need it. It’s been a big summer, in other words, for a great golfer.

Lahiri was honest in his assessment of his team captain, who he described as one of a kind.

“I think he’s an enigma, honestly, even to us,” he said. “Even he still doesn’t understand who he is.”

A certain segment of the golfing population knows exactly what DeChambeau is: must-see TV. You should see YouTube, at least.

“Bryson obviously — he’s the bomb,” Lahiri said. “He is the explosion that can explode at any time. You make what you want of that statement, but it’s true in every way.”

Seven million people would agree. And counting.

You can watch the Trump-Bryson video here, or our Warming Up interview with DeChambeau below.

Dylan Dethier

Golf.com Editor

Dylan Dethier is a senior writer for GOLF Magazine/GOLF.com. The young man originally from Williamstown, Mass. joined GOLF in 2017 after two years struggling on the small tour. Dethier is a graduate of Williams College, where he majored in English, and is the author of 18 in Americadescribing the year he spent at age 18 living in his car and golfing in every state.