Brad Dalke is shocking the golfing world on the DP World Tour.
He received a sponsor’s exemption to the BMW International Open to make his tour debut. There was significant interest in seeing if a YouTube golfer could make the cut at a professional event.
The American has exceeded all expectations. Through 36 holes, not only did Dalke make the cut, but he’s put himself in contention for the win. He’s two shots back of the lead going into the weekend at nine-under par.
So just how good is Dalke, and can we expect more of the same when he appears on the PGA Tour later this year?
Brad Dalke’s amateur career
Despite his current status as a YouTube golfer, Dalke was an immensely promising prospect as an amateur golfer.
In 2015, Dalke won the Junior PGA Championship and earned an exemption into the 2016 Valero Texas Open on the PGA Tour. He was 18 years old, and missed the cut.
The following year, Dalke finished runner-up to Curtis Luck at the 2016 U.S. Amateur. He earned invitations to the 2017 Masters and the US Open at Erin Hills, but missed the cut in both major championships.
But during that 2017 season, Dalke led the University of Oklahoma to the NCAA Championship, finishing his amateur career.
Why did Brad Dalke not turn professional?
Dalke is clearly talented enough to be a professional golfer, but he chose not to turn pro after his college career ended.
He doesn’t enjoy the daily grind of tour golf and prefers being a YouTube golfer with a looser schedule.
Speaking at the BMW International Open after making the cut, he said, ““I don’t need to grind through tours, that’s not what I want to do.”
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Dalke has also reportedly said he’s a better player now than he was when competing in major championships, so we shouldn’t have expected this level of performance if he had earned a place on the PGA Tour after his college career.
He suffered with the yips with his driver, and had serious concerns about his ball striking which may have prevented him from having a career in the pros.
Brad Dalke’s career wins
Just because Dalke hasn’t been competing on the PGA Tour doesn’t mean he hasn’t been winning important golf tournaments.
In May 2025, Dalke won the third Creator Classic alongside Josh Richards and Erik Anders Lang at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Dalke then went on to win the fourth Creator Classic, held at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
Later that year, Dalke won the inaugural Internet Invitational, hosted by Barstool Sports, at Big Cedar Lodge. The team of Dalke, Francis Ellis, and Cody Franke won the event, with Dalke as the driving force.
Dalke won a third of the $1 million prize, plus money he won in skins during the event.
Why Brad Dalke left Good Good Golf
Dalke was a member of the YouTube group Good Good Golf, which is sponsoring a PGA Tour event in the fall.
But he announced in late June that he was leaving the group due to a family health issue, involving his wife, Abbie.
In a YouTube video explaining his decision, Dalke said, “I just feel like I didn’t live up to par when it comes to being a husband for Abbie throughout this whole process, and that kills me inside.
“In this life in general, but also in this industry, you can get pulled in so many different directions. You have to film here, you have this obligation here, you got to go golf with someone here. You have to do all these things, and I just want to be centered with Abbie.
“I want to be centered with our future family. I just want to spend time with my wife and be present with my wife, because if there’s anything these last eight months have taught me, it’s that life can change in the blink of an eye, and I don’t want to let that pass because I was traveling.
“She’s my girl. She’s my everything. She’s my rock. I hate the fact that she has to go through all of this, and I hate the fact she has had to go through a lot of this a lot of the time without her husband. I don’t want that to happen again.”
Brad Dalke’s golf handicap
Dalke is among the very best YouTube golfers. He’s so good that former PGA Tour pro and YouTube golfer Wesley Bryan said he could beat Rory McIlroy, and would “run circles” around Collin Morikawa.
According to the YouTube handicap tracker, Dalke is a +6.8 handicap, making him the fifth-best golfer on the site. This list includes Bryson DeChambeau and Jason Day, making it an impressive feat.
According to the site, DeChambeau has a handicap of 3.1, 3.1 shots better than Dalke, and Day is 1.9 shots better than the YouTuber.
He’s really not that far off the best of the best!
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