USGA Rule 5.3a: “You must start at (and not before or after) your starting time.
Penalty for Breach: Disqualification”

Fortunately for golf influencer Luke Kwon, Barstool Sports’ Internet Invitational was not part of the USGA. The YouTuber paired with PMT from Barstool to face Frankie Borrelli and Bubbie in a scramble during the internet personalities-studded event. The only problem? He never showed up for his 9:30 AM tee time.

“Just woke up what’d I miss,” Kwon sarcastically wrote on his Instagram story later before adding an apology. “Obviously nobody sleeps through their alarm wanting to sleep through their alarm. S— happened and I am genuinely sorry honest mistake. I’ve already apologized to portnoy, bob and the boys off camera at the event. Good for content tho 🙃.”

Although Luke Kwon apologized, Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports and the host of the $1 million prize pool event, gave him a penalty of 4 holes. He was allowed to join from the 5th hole of nine total.

However, as the reactions reveal, he wasn’t nonchalant about his controversial actions.

According to his partner, PMT, “We’re down four holes when he showed up. I was trying to be a good teammate. I didn’t think that arguing with him at the moment while we’re trying to compete was productive. But he was kind of being a d— to me. He was like, ‘You’re not gonna make this shot,’ as my teammate, which is wild to say.”

He also drew attention from other golf personalities and athletes. Hailey Rae Ostrom, who was missing from the field for the Internet Invitational, wrote, “I mean any other golf tournament if you’re late for your tee time you’re DQ’d.” Golf legend Bubba Watson gave it a humorous touch by saying, “Who is @luke.kwon 😂.”

In professional golf, missing a tee time by more than five minutes typically leads to disqualification.

For instance, David Lipsky received a two-stroke penalty at the 2019 PGA Championship for arriving late but within the five-minute grace period. Similarly, Dustin Johnson narrowly avoided disqualification at the 2011 Northern Trust Open after sprinting to the tee with only seconds to spare, receiving a two-shot penalty instead.

Jim Furyk was famously disqualified at the 2010 Barclays Pro-Am. He overslept and missed his tee time. The same happened with Grant Waite at the 2000 Canadian Open, who was disqualified after showing up six minutes late for his scheduled tee time.

The tournament, held at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri, brought together influencers, athletes, and golf personalities. Luke Kwon was one of the internet personalities playing the event, alongside Wesley Bryan, Paige Spiranac, Garrett Clark, Robby Berger, Riggs, Rick Shiels, JR Smith, Andrew Santino, and many others.

While Luke Kwon grabbed the spotlight with his first-day controversy, he wasn’t the only one making headlines at the event.

Field for the Internet Invite

The Internet Invite brought together 48 YouTube golfers and creators, blending competition with online charisma. Among the biggest draws was Paige Spiranac. The former pro turned golf influencer continues to command one of the sport’s largest followings. She has over 4 million fans on Instagram, 1.1 million on X, and more than 462,000 on YouTube. Known for her push to grow women’s golf and create more opportunities for female players worldwide, Spiranac’s presence adds both star power and purpose to the Barstool Sports event. Besides Spiranac, another professional golfer on the field is Wesley Bryan.

The PGA Tour suspended Bryan in April 2025 after he participated in a LIV Golf event alongside his brother in a creator capacity. Although he didn’t join in a regular LIV event, the PGA Tour suspended him. Bryan appealed the decision, but to no avail. Currently, he remains suspended from the PGA Tour, and was mocked about it at the Internet Invitational.

Garrett Clark from GF Golf is also another popular name on the field. He is a co-founder of the popular golf content group Good Good Golf, with over 1 million YouTube subscribers. Golf fans know Clark for his trick shots, challenges, and tutorials. His content helped him build a major following and create a golf apparel brand. Additionally, former NFL head coach Jon Gruden is also on the field. He stepped down in 2021 under controversy but has since joined Barstool Sports as an analyst. Though primarily a football figure, his presence brought crossover appeal to the event.

Despite the backlash, Kwon’s lighthearted apology shows he’s ready to move on, and maybe set a louder alarm next time. Still, if the Barstool Sports event proved anything, it’s that golf’s new wave of creators know exactly how to keep fans talking.