Bryson DeChambeau plays golf with Donald Trump on YouTube: what is “Break 50″?

2024 US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau has teamed up with Donald Trump on YouTube, with the former - and perhaps future - President of the United States known to be a huge golf enthusiast.

On Monday, the LIV Golf star teased the latest video in his “Break 50″ series on his YouTube channel, showing a short clip of him and Trump posing with their arms folded, accompanied by the text: “The Next Break 50 episode dropping...”.

What is DeChambeau’s “Break 50″ series on YouTube?

For most amateur golfers, “break 50″ would be a reference to playing nine holes in less than 50 strokes, an average of between five and six shots per hole. Clearly, however, with Trump known to be a keen and very capable golfer, and DeChambeau one of the best players in the world, that’s not what was being referred to.

DeChambeau has amassed a big following on YouTube, where he posts regular videos of golf-related games and challenges with guests, which have included Phil Mickelson, Sergio García, Paige Spiranac and Chris Pratt. Last month, Kansas City Chiefs’ duo Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes were also invited to get involved.

“Break 50″ is one DeChambeau’s regular challenges, in which he and a partner attempt to complete 18 holes (yes, 18, not nine) in under 50 shots, which is 23-under par at the course he normally films at. Both players tee off, pick the best tee shot and play their next shot from there. They follow those rules for the full round, playing their next shot from where the best of their two previous shots finished.

If you’re thinking you’ve never seen a pro golfer go that low then you’d be right, but the twist is the challenge is normally done from the red tees, which are the ones closest to the hole. As DeChambeau himself puts it, you need to be “pretty much perfect” to have any chance of getting anywhere near 50.

Did DeChambeau and Trump break 50?

Spoiler alert...

DeChambeau uploaded the video of him and Trump playing to his official YouTube channel on Tuesday. If you don’t want to watch it yourself (it lasts almost an hour) but want to know how they got on, keep reading...

DeChambeau and Trump played 18 holes in 22-under par, with the latter contributing with an impressive solo eagle on the 12th. However, they scored exactly 50, rather than break it.

What is Donald Trump’s golf handicap?

Before Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, the subject of golf handicaps came up in a debate with Trump. USGA records show Trump is a 2.5 handicap golfer, making him supremely gifted on the course. Biden, meanwhile, is reported to have a handicap of 6.7, which is also very respectable (but which Trump, predictably, didn’t believe).

Trump owns 17 golf courses worldwide through the Trump Organization, including Turnberry in Scotland, which has hosted the Open Championship four times.

Is DeChambeau a Trump supporter?

In teasing the video, DeChambeau revealed he had reached out to both parties’ presidential campaigns, and that Trump was “down for the challenge”.

He went on to add: “It is an incredible honor to be able to enjoy a round of golf with any sitting or former president, and all have an open invitation to join me for a round of Break 50 anytime.”

The 30-year-old also said the pair would be donating $10,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project for every shot they score under par. “To be clear, this is about golf and giving back to our nation’s veterans, not politics”. Their 22-under score works out at $220,000.

DeChambeau has, though, previously admitted he is “very lucky to have a relationship” with Trump, with whom he has played in several pro-ams in the past. The Californian even stated in an interview with the former president’s own website he was “extremely honoured to represent Trump Golf and have the relationship with the Trump Organization that I have.”