If you’ve been on social media over the past few days, you’ve probably seen the name Luke Kwon trending, and not for reasons he’d like. The professional golfer and YouTube creator found himself at the center of backlash after missing his tee time at Barstool Sports’ new golf event, the Internet Invitational.
Who Is Luke Kwon?
Luke Kwon is a professional golfer and content creator known for his YouTube channel, Luke Kwon Golf, where he documents his life on and off the course. A former standout at the University of Oklahoma, Kwon played for the Sooners and earned multiple top-10 finishes during his college career. He has since competed internationally, including on the Asian Tour, and built a strong social following through his laid-back videos and creative approach to golf.
Born in South Korea and raised in the United States, Kwon has blended professional golf with influencer culture, part athlete, part entertainer. His mix of humor, talent, and production quality has helped him carve out a unique space in the online golf community.
Luke Kwon’s Pro Golf Career
Kwon has a handful of notable results on traditional pro tours. His best finish is a T3 at the Macau Championship on PGA Tour China. On the Asian Tour, he made the weekend at International Series Macau and finished T40. He also made the cut in his Asian Tour debut at the Black Mountain Championship, though he placed outside the top 50. Starts on the Korn Ferry Tour, including the Pinnacle Bank Championship, have not produced a weekend finish yet. In short, his strongest pro-tour result on record is that PGA Tour China finish in Macau, with additional made cuts on the Asian Tour.
What Is The Barstool Invitational Golf Tournament?
The Internet Invitational is a Barstool Sports-organized tournament that brings together popular golf content creators, influencers, and semi-pro players for a mix of competition and entertainment. The 2025 event featured around 48 participants and a reported $1 million prize pool. It’s designed to be lighthearted, but professionalism still matters, which is why Kwon’s actions quickly became a flashpoint.
What Happened With Luke Kwon At The Barstool Golf Tournament?
@yougolfclips After the Missed tee time for a million dollar golf tournament! @Barstool Sports #lukekwon #bobdoessports #barstoolsports #golf #golftiktok
Kwon was scheduled to tee off at 9:30 a.m. for his group but didn’t show up. Hours later, he posted a tongue-in-cheek Instagram story that read, “Just woke up what’d I miss.” Event officials gave him a four-hole penalty, meaning he joined play on the fifth hole of a nine-hole match, a massive handicap that immediately drew attention online.
Fans and fellow golfers criticized Kwon’s casual attitude, arguing that missing a tee time, even in a creator-style tournament, shows disrespect to his playing partners and the event. Others pointed out that this wasn’t an isolated mistake, referencing Reddit discussions claiming he had missed tee times before.
Luke Kwon Backlash and Apology
@lukekwongolf
The backlash spread quickly across golf Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit. Many called Kwon unprofessional, while some defended him as simply being human and making a mistake. After the reaction spiraled, Kwon issued an apology, calling it an “honest mistake” and saying he had personally reached out to Barstool’s organizers to apologize.
He continued the event after serving the penalty, but by then the internet had already turned the story into a viral talking point. Memes, reaction clips, and commentary from Barstool fans flooded social media, cementing the incident as one of the more bizarre influencer-golf moments of the year.
Why It Blew Up
The outrage was more about perception than missing a tee time. Kwon’s sarcastic response rubbed people the wrong way, especially given his professional background. The situation snowballed because Kwon’s brand is built on authenticity and professionalism, two things many felt he undermined.
What’s Next for Luke Kwon?
Kwon remains active on YouTube and social media, and the incident likely won’t derail his career. In fact, if the online golf space works like most influencer arenas, it might do the opposite, attention tends to bring clicks. Still, the episode shows the thin line between casual entertainment and professional accountability in creator-driven sports events.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Luke Kwon’s name has never been more widely known, even if it came from an alarm clock that never went off.
