On Friday at The Honda Classic, Wesley Bryan’s tee ball landed on the edge of the water that runs along the entire left side of the par-4 6th hole.
Despite already sitting at 5 over on his round, and 9 over for the tournament, Bryan was given a two options:
- Take a drop, and try to get up and down for par – but still miss the cut by a mile. Then head home empty handed, and unnoticed with a fourth missed-cut to a seven-start season.
- Or, strip down to your boxer shorts, and watch your shot (and brand) go viral on social media, while being replayed over and over on ESPN, FOX Sports, NBC Sports, Golf Channel, and PGA Tour.com, among others.
I mean the choice was a no-brainer for the former trick shot artist, who basically got his shot at the Tour by producing viral videos – and who still makes a living as an online influencer (sponsored by Dude Perfect).
This clip was brand bank for Bryan.
Anyhow, back to the shot… Bryan’s shot from the water went about 25 feet and remained in the muddy stuff. And for good measure, or in film, a second take, Bryan swung a second time in his underwear. This shot crossed the fairway, and landed in the rough in front of a greenside bunker. With his pants back on, Bryan hacked around a few more times before making a double bogey 6.
He’d follow that with two more bogeys before a final-hole birdie gave him 8-over par 78, and a 13-over par total, good for third to dead last in a 144 player field.
Despite the poor score, and missed-cut, Wesley Bryan was one of the most talked about names on Friday afternoon.
And that was the whole idea.