YouTubers Dalke and Ruffels a longshot to contend at Rocket Classic

The lines between the YouTube golf world and golf on the PGA Tour have never been more connected with two prominent ‘content creators’ teeing it up this week at the Rocket Classic.

And in a world where YouTube golf is being watched by millions of people, a conversation around a pathway from YouTube to the PGA Tour could exist one day and this event could be a big reason why.

While golf on YouTube has always had a crowd, it’s undeniable the impact COVID-19 had on a viewership and the boom from that period of time has played a massive factor in how Brad Dalke and Ryan Ruffels have ended up with tee times for this tournament.

But Dalke and Ruffels aren’t your average YouTube golfers.

While guys like Garrett Clark and Bubbie Golf were building their audiences on social media with entertaining golf content and trick shots, Dalke and Ruffels were trying to make a name for themselves in a more traditional path.

At the U.S. Amateur in August of 2016, Dalke beat Will Zalatoris in the first round of match play and rode that win all the way to the finals before falling short to Curtis Luck but still earning a spot in the 2017 Masters and U.S. Open.

Dalke missed both cuts and would be out of pro golf within four years after battling the driver yips his entire pro career.

He then joined Clark and GoodGood on YouTube, leaving the competitive game beyond him and entering the world of YouTube golf.

This will be Dalke’s first PGA Tour event start since his only other one at the 2016 Valero Texas Open.

Last month he tied for 30th at the International Open in the first start on the DPWT.

Here is a look at some betting markets on him this week.

As for Ruffels, his path to this event has some similarities to Dalke’s along with some differences.

Ruffels, like Dalke, was a successful amateur, winning the Australian Boys’ Amateur twice, an event won by the likes of Adam Scott, Cameron Smith and Jason Day.

In 2015, Ruffels set a record that still stands, winning the event by 15 shots.

Ruffels made 19 starts on the PGA Tour after turning pro from 2016 to 2019, with one top 20 finish.

And after giving the Korn Ferry Tour a try from 2020 to 2022, Ruffels would start a YouTube channel July 2023 as he was documenting his experiences on the Challenge Tour.

Since then, Ruffels’ brand has exploded with over 150,000 followers on Instagram and another 97,000 on YouTube.

Here is a look at some betting markets for him this week.