Scottie Scheffler arrived at a bustling practice green at East Lake Golf Club. To his right, Nick “Fat Perez” Stubbe from Bob Does Sports was fine-tuning his alignment, while Tyler Toney from Dude Perfect stood to Scheffler’s left, focusing on his putting speed.
For this particular afternoon, they all shared the limelight.
Scheffler found a quiet spot at the back of the green to work on his putting with his coach, Phil Kenyon, seeking some tranquility amid the chaos as he prepared for the TOUR Championship. Shortly after, Perez and Toney headed to their tee time, trailed by camera crews and a crowd of enthusiastic fans.
The Creator Classic, featuring 16 prominent YouTube golf stars, reached its peak during Wednesday’s event, drawing over 110,000 live viewers on YouTube. It was also broadcast on ESPN+ and Peacock. Luke Kwon triumphed in a sudden-death playoff on the par-5 18th, defeating Wesley Bryan, Sean Walsh, and Roger Steele to claim the inaugural title.
“The reaction from fans and content creators has been incredible,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan.
This event marked a significant moment for YouTube golf, which has increasingly connected with the professional scene. Earlier this year, YouTube creators and pro golfers participated in “The Q at Myrtle Beach,” an 18-hole qualifying event that offered a spot in the PGA TOUR’s Myrtle Beach Classic. Matt Atkins, a former TOUR player who has appeared on the Bryan brothers’ channel, took home the victory. TOUR pros frequently guest star for creators who have become friends. The Bryan brothers and Grant Horvat provided an alternative ESPN+ stream during the FedEx St. Jude Championship, with Horvat reporting live from TPC Southwind.
Wednesday’s event was particularly groundbreaking, as it was the first time creators played the newly renovated East Lake on television, just hours before the TOUR Championship commenced.
The event garnered attention from many professionals. Joel Dahmen provided commentary for the broadcast, while caddies Austin Kaiser and John Ellis observed Perez’s tee shot. Akshay Bhatia watched from his rental home adjacent to the course.
The event reflected the competitive yet playful spirit of the YouTube golf community. It kicked off with ceremonial tee shots from Barstool’s Fore Play members Riggs, Trent, and Frankie. Canadian trick-shot artist Mac Boucher made an impressive 285-yard opening tee shot, while Mason Nutt from BustaJack Golf hit a driver off the deck. Garrett Clark of Good Good had a quintuple bogey on the par-4 12th. Steele, host of Callaway’s Range Talk, launched an impressive 346-yard drive on the 10th, reaching a ball speed of 195 mph. Throughout the day, cameras from TV, Netflix, and YouTube captured every moment. Several hundred fans remained to watch until play concluded just before 8 p.m. ET.
After the eight holes of stroke play, the top four finishers advanced to a sudden-death playoff. Bryan finished at 2-under, while Steele, Walsh, and Kwon ended at 1-under. Kwon secured the victory with a birdie on the 18th, sinking a 15-foot putt.