Internet Invitational 2026 Final Puts $4M on Big John vs. FP
The final round of the 2026 Internet Invitational premiered at 1 p.m. ET on the Bob Does Sports YouTube channel. Team Big John faced Team FP over 18 holes for a $4 million purse, after five episodes drew 40 million views.
The final round of the 2026 Internet Invitational, the YouTube creator golf tournament run by Barstool Sports and Bob Does Sports, premiered at 1 p.m. ET on the Bob Does Sports channel. Fans asking who won the Internet Invitational 2026 were looking at an 18-hole alternate-shot match between Team Big John and Team FP for a $4 million purse.
Each member of the winning team takes home $1.33 million. Team Big John is made up of Big John, Salim the Dream and former NHL player Ryan Whitney. Team FP's members are Fat Perez, Riggs and Bobby Ray.
The final was filmed in August in Missouri, under strict nondisclosure agreements. The tournament itself is pre-taped, not live.
40 million views in 17 days
The tournament began on October 26 with 64 YouTube golf personalities. The first five of six episodes, released on a staggered Monday and Thursday schedule, have drawn a combined 40 million views over 17 days.
A YouTube view counts after 30 seconds and includes duplicate views, so it is not comparable to television ratings. Nielsen reported that this year's Masters averaged 7 million viewers per round. The U.S. Open averaged 3.9 million, the PGA Championship 3.2 million and the British Open 2.5 million.
Dave Portnoy, the Barstool Sports founder, came up with the event and put up the money. Robby Berger of Bob Does Sports calls it a full 50-50 partnership. Berger said Portnoy "was the voice that helped really get this thing together."
The Duke and the 2027 invite list
Episode 5's semifinal at Payne's Valley ended the run of The Duke's team. He played with Ryan Ruffels and Marissa Wenzler, and the trio finished last at seven over par.
Portnoy said in a video that if The Duke had won $1.3 million, "he'd probably be dead." Fans have called for The Duke to be banned from the 2027 event. Portnoy said no decision has been made and that he does not control the invitations.
"I do not make the list. I don't invite people. I don't disinvite people," Portnoy said. He said Berger and the Fore Play podcast crew would weigh in.
The Duke apologized to Ruffels and Wenzler on Instagram, writing that he felt he owed them $1.3 million. Ruffels defended his teammate on X and urged fans to ease up.
