“It raised a quarter of a million dollars” - Bryson DeChambeau applauds Rory McIlroy for playing golf with Donald Trump
Bryson DeChambeau's YouTube channel recently surpassed 1.4 million subscribers, gaining nearly half a million followers in the past four weeks. This growth is arguably one of the most visible effects of his YouTube collaboration with former President Donald Trump.
DeChambeau and Trump made a video together for the "Break 50" series, which has more than 11 million views so far. Not surprisingly, the topic came up in the two-time major champion's latest interview for Golf.com.
During the interview, DeChambeau was asked if he was concerned about facing criticism for playing with Donald Trump, similar to the backlash Rory McIlroy received a few years ago. This was part of DeChambeau's answer:
"It’s sad some people feel that way. First of all, that video was great golf content, and secondly, it raised a quarter of a million dollars for a veteran’s charity [through Wounded Warrior Project]."
He added:
"That was the main focus of the video. Of course, Trump is a figure and a character, and we need some of those [colorful] moments. John Daly is a character as well. That’s what makes good videos."
Rory McIlroy played a round of golf with Donald Trump in 2017, when he was serving as president of the United States. At the time, McIlroy received a lot of criticism, even calling him a "fascist" and a "bigot", according to Golf Digest.
Following this criticism, McIlroy issued a statement saying that his decision to play with Donald Trump was not an "endorsement" or "political statement".
Three years later, McIlroy stated that he would not play golf with Trump again, while criticizing his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic (via CBC):
"There's some stuff that just is terrible. It's not the way a leader should act."
The video of Bryson DeChambeau and Donald Trump raised $220,000 thanks to the score (22 under, $10,000 per stroke under par). In addition, more than $33,400 was donated by fans.
DeChambeau and Trump could not overcome the challenge of breaking 50, but they came very close as their score was 22 under 50.
What else did Bryson DeChambeau talk about in his interview?
Bryson DeChambeau touched on a number of hot topics in world golf during his interview, including the controversy between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. In fact, DeChambeau asserted that if he were LIV Golf's commissioner for a day, his first move would be to call the PGA Tour commissioner to settle the differences once and for all.
The 30-year-old also stated that all LIV Golf players feel it is very important to play in the major championships, which he defined as a "huge priority." He expressed optimism that the current challenges facing men's professional golf would be fully resolved, albeit in time.
The reigning U.S. Open champion revealed that his team has made formal contact with former President William Clinton's team to produce a video similar to the one produced with Donald Trump. Clinton is one of the most respected golfers among former U.S. presidents.
Bryson DeChambeau also said that what surprised him the most about Trump's game was his iron game. He also praised the 78-year-old's driver swing, which he described as "repeatable."
"His driver swing is the most repeatable thing I have ever seen," DeChambeau said. "I wish mine was that repeatable."
Bryson DeChambeau declined to reveal the identity of his next guest on the "Break 50" series. However, he mentioned that his team is currently developing a completely new series.