The inaugural Internet Invitational was a rousing success for just about all involved. Year 2 is shaping up to be even bigger — especially for the winner, with a massive purse up for grabs.
Barstool Sports and Bob Does Sports teamed up to host the made-for-YouTube golf tournament highlighting the sport’s top creators last summer. The winners last summer — including GoodGood’s Brad Dalke — split a $1 million purse.
Internet Invitational Purse: Winners to See Share of $4 Million
Barstool founder Dave Portnoy announced on May 30 that the purse for this year’s event is going to be even bigger. According to Portnoy, the field will be playing for a $4 million prize later this summer.
That very much puts it in line with a lot of professional golf tournaments across the world.
“With a prize pool of $4 million for this year’s Barstool Sports Internet Invitation, it has a larger purse than the majority of DP World Tour events, all Asian Tour events except one, and the same as opposite field PGA Tour events,” the golf account Flushing It on X noted over the weekend.
“YouTube golf continues to go from strength to strength. It’s truly mind blowing how big it’s become.”
Internet Invitational Leads Way on Golf’s YouTube Explosion
The first Internet Invitational took place at Big Cedar Lodge and instantly became a YouTube golf monster. The series has racked up nearly 30 million views across its six episodes with the bulk of those coming shortly after release.
“It’s just crazy how much money is in YouTube golf now,” Dale said on the Good Good podcast last summer after winning. “Now all these events are having huge purses like this, and I think it’s going to get even bigger and bigger. It’s wild to see. It’s cool to see. I mean, I think the audience loves it. The audience is shifting to YouTube, and I think that’s where the money is headed to.”
The 2026 version of the tournament also figures to come with some emotion. Dalke split the prize last season with Barstool Sports personalities Francis Ellis and Cody “Beef” Franke. In between filming and the airing of the tournament, Franke died unexpectedly. The tournament broadcast was dedicated to him, and Barstool quickly decided to rename the trophy to the Cody “Beef” Franke Memorial Trophy.
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