Phil Mickelson Falls Behind as Bryson DeChambeau Surges in Latest Clash with NBA Legend: “I Feel Good”

Bryson DeChambeau is back with his series of Break 50 episodes, where he teams up with celebrities in a quest to shoot 23-under par — the ultimate goal that still hasn’t been reached. But what happens when a two-time U.S. Open champion teams up with one of the greatest point guards in NBA history? Turns out, they can post a better score than Phil Mickelson.

In the latest episode of Break 50, which dropped a month after DeChambeau’s round with Adam Sandler, he teamed up with NBA Hall of Famer and Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd. The duo, playing at the Trinity Forest Country Club in Dallas, displayed good chemistry, but that was not all. Despite DeChambeau missing the final putt for eagle on the 18th hole, the duo still managed to post an impressive 19-under par. “Had a great time. Sorry, that was a break…?” Kidd asks, unsure just how well they played. Then came the moment of realization, and the little shade at Mickelson.

“Are you kidding me? That was 19 under par. That’s 54… 53. 53! That’s better than uh Paige Spiranac,” DeChambeau exclaims.  “Better than Phil Mickelson,” someone corrects DeChambeau from the background. And he quickly realised. “Yeah. That’s right. Better than Phil Mickelson. We beat Phil Mickelson. I feel good,” DeChambeau declared, clearly enjoying the subtle flex. While their 19-under par score wasn’t enough to break the elusive 23-under par barrier, it surpassed the 15-under par round with Phil Mickelson. “I’ll sleep well tonight. Thank you,” Kidd chimed in with a satisfied grin.

For longtime Break 50 fans, that statistic hits hard. Mickelson, who partnered with DeChambeau nearly 10 months ago during Season 1, shot an impressive 15-under — the lowest score DeChambeau recorded in that inaugural season. Despite the impressive number, it still left the elusive 50 mark tantalizingly out of reach. Since then, other guests have come close, like Paige Spiranac, who posted a solid 20-under, and Bob Does Sports, who nearly broke the barrier with an incredible 22-under round in September last year. Yet, that perfect 23-under score remains the holy grail of the series.

As the series continues, fans eagerly await to see who will finally break 23-under and claim the ultimate bragging rights — especially now that Season 2 has already featured four other high-profile guests, including Matthew Stafford and Grant Horvat. But why is the Break 50 so popular, and how has this unique format struck a chord with both celebrities and golf fans alike?

Bryson DeChambeau’s Break 50 is taking over YouTube

Bryson DeChambeau’s Break 50 series has taken YouTube by storm, and it’s safe to assume that a large part of his 2.38 million subscribers has to do with the series since its debut in August 2023. The concept is simple yet captivating—DeChambeau teams up with a celebrity in a two-person scramble to try to shoot under 50 strokes across 18 holes—a staggering 23-under par on the courses they play. While the challenge is, to say the least, daunting, this concept has garnered immense attention since its inception.

In 2024, the last five episodes until October gathered 26 million views, with the series averaging more than five million viewers per episode. There have been more than 68,000 comments (averaging nearly 14,000 comments per video) just on those past five episodes. And the trend only improved with Season 2. Break 50’s episode with Adam Sandler gathered 8 million views, and the latest episode with Jason Kidd, which was aired 3 days ago, already has over 1.1 million views!

It’s evident, to say the least, that the series is working extremely well for DeChambeau. Part of the series’ success comes from the entertaining guest lineup, which balances DeChambeau’s style with personalities who bring humor and spontaneity to the game. The videos are fast-paced, tightly edited, and clock in at just under an hour, making them easy to watch while packing plenty of tension and excitement as the pair chase the elusive 23-under score. Whether it’s golf legends like John Daly or charismatic entertainers like Tony Romo, the chemistry keeps viewers hooked. Add to that the thrill of watching Bryson DeChambeau effortlessly conquer courses designed for average golfers, and it’s no wonder Break 50 is redefining golf entertainment on YouTube.