In 2016, Brad Dalke stood in the final of the U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills as a teenage prodigy who had already shared fairways with future major champions. He looked destined for stardom but had to take a break from professional golf in 2023 to focus on Good Good Golf and support his wife, Abbie, through a severe health crisis. He returned this year at the Rocket Classic via a sponsor’s exemption, but what was supposed to be an explosive comeback turned into a disastrous performance leading to a missed cut at the $10 million event. The YouTube star was heartbroken by the loss and made it clear in an Instagram post.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t extremely disappointed with the outcome of this week at the Rocket Classic. Knowing how well I can play and what I’m capable of, and getting dead last on the biggest stage, just honestly s**ks a lot.”

Dalke didn’t spiral over the outcome. He added he knows what he’s capable of and needs to learn how to be better on weeks when his best stuff doesn’t show up. He called the tournament valuable for “much-needed reps under the gun” and said that it gave him a long layoff. Furthermore, Dalke thanked girlfriend Abbie, caddie Shayler, agent Simone Kang, and his parents for helping him reach the tournament.

This is Dalke’s first PGA Tour start since 2023, an official break to focus on content creation. Reasonably, his expectations for the performance were high. But the leaderboard clearly summed up his mood in the statement. He started his weekend with a disastrous 11-over 81, carding four bogeys on the front nine and three bogeys, a double bogey, and a triple bogey on the back, with only two birdies to show for it.

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Dalke’s second round couldn’t save his first. Despite 2 birdies on the front nine and one on the back nine, 4 bogeys and 2 double bogeys dwindled all hopes of salvation. He finished his second round at 5-over 75, missing the cut by a wide margin.

Dalke finished his shot at the Rocket Classic 26 shots off the second-round leaders Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay, and Patrick Fishburn.

Dalke’s last professional start before this season was the Korn Ferry Tour’s Evans Scholar Invitational in 2020, where he missed the cut.

Judged against the rest of his 2026 season, this week was more brutal for Dalke than his start on the European Tour. Just weeks earlier, he teed up at the BMW International Open, where it looked like he would snatch the trophy but ended up tied for 30th. Still, it was proof that his game had come a long way from the version that once couldn’t find the fairway under the stress of professional golf.

Although Dalke’s performances this season haven’t been up to the mark, he’s taken a big step to rebuild his career and confidence.

Dalke isn’t short of chances this season, just yet. He will tee off at the Good Good Championship in November as part of a sponsor’s exemption.