There’s two things you can do after public ridicule. Lay low and hope the storm passes, or capitalize on the headline-grabbing deed to make a bigger spectacle of yourself. But the latter also comes with an innate challenge: The ability to foster unending confidence, which one trick-shot artist turned PGA Tour winner seems to have honed to the T. The rebellious streak that once made him complete a tournament round in just 89 minutes hasn’t been dampened by official discipline.

For Wesley Bryan, every downfall is an opportunity waiting to be explored. In April this year, the PGA Tour took a drastic step—they suspended Bryan indefinitely for participating in a LIV Golf-backed event two weeks prior. According to sources, the golfer was placed on probation a day after LIV Golf’s The Duels: Miami was announced in March. While all of the participants were informed of potential disciplinary action from the PGA, Bryan had to bear the brunt that came exactly a day after a video surfaced of his participation on YouTuber Grant Horvat’s channel. So what does Bryan do?

Well, he goes ahead and decides he’ll participate in four more playings of the very tournament that landed him in trouble. As per a tweet by Flushing It on May 22, “LIV Golf have announced there will be 4 more playings of “The Duels” this season in Virginia, Dallas, The UK and Chicago. Bryson DeChambeau will compete along with Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson and others. Grant Horvat, Luke Kwon, The Bryan Bros, Fat Perez and Rick Shiels are also confirmed from the creators.”

“The inaugural event in Miami, which aired on Grant’s channel, received nearly 1.5 million views in the first 24 hours. Proving once again, the ever increasing popularity of YouTube golf, especially with a younger audience,” the tweet also mentioned. Bryan’s prominent billing signals LIV Golf’s confidence in featuring a suspended PGA Tour player as a marquee attraction. What’s more?

On one hand, Wesley Bryan plans to appeal the suspension. On the other hand, the Bryan Brothers will also host the Virginia event on their YouTube channel (Bryan Bros Golf, flaunting a massive 557k subscriber count), directly benefiting from Wesley’s suspended status through increased visibility and subscriber growth. LIV Golf’s decision to lead with Bryan as the first host demonstrates how his rebellion has transformed from a liability into an asset. The format represents everything Monahan’s PGA Tour opposes—creator-driven content that bypasses traditional broadcast structures.

Furthermore, Horvat’s comments reveal the momentum behind this expansion. “The Duels in Miami was just an insanely positive response, we knew we needed to make more of these. With different hosts and different formats, we’re really looking to shake things up, and I think it’s going to continue to get really interesting,” he explained. This success validates Bryan’s decision to prioritize content creation over tour compliance.

The announcement also includes LIV Golf’s new documentary “New Grounds: The Making of The Duels,” providing behind-the-scenes footage of the Miami event that triggered Bryan’s suspension. But what exactly is The Duels?

The Duels Format: LIV Golf’s Digital Revolution

The Duels represent LIV Golf’s boldest experiment in golf entertainment, pairing six LIV professionals with leading YouTube creators in nine-hole scrambles designed for digital consumption. The format launched in 2025 at Trump National Doral, targeting younger audiences through creator-driven production and high-energy presentation that traditional golf broadcasts rarely achieve.

The Miami inaugural event proved the format’s revolutionary potential. Grant Horvat’s YouTube channel hosted the premiere, generating over one million views in 24 hours before surpassing 2 million total views. These numbers dwarf most traditional golf content and demonstrate the power of creator-driven distribution over network television.

More importantly, The Duels’ success exposes the limitations of traditional golf broadcasting. While LIV Golf’s highest-ever U.S. television audience reached 484,000 viewers for its Miami tournament, The Duels achieved nearly four times that engagement through YouTube alone. The format’s relaxed atmosphere, in-cart cameras, and creator commentary created entertainment value that resonated strongly with digital-native golf fans who typically ignore traditional broadcasts.

Wesley Bryan’s central role in The Duels’ expansion validates his decision to prioritize digital content over traditional tour compliance. As LIV Golf’s creator-focused format continues breaking viewership records, Bryan’s rebellion against Jay Monahan’s policies positions him at the forefront of golf’s digital revolution.

Will The Duels’ continued success inspire more players to choose creator partnerships over traditional tour structures? Share your thoughts on whether this format represents the future of golf entertainment.