Playoff Drama at Big Cedar Lodge
Team White and Team Green remain in contention at the 2026 Internet Invitational after a two-day opening stage at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri. The event saw Team White advance after a sudden-death playoff against Team Finch, while Team Green eliminated the defending champion squad led by Brad Dalke.
The tournament, filmed between August 10 and August 17, split the field into four teams captained by Wesley Bryan, Brad Dalke, Peter Finch, and Ryan Ruffels. On the first day at Ozarks National, teams competed in a series of nine-hole matches. While Team Green secured a 10.5–5.5 victory over Team Red, the matchup between Team Ruffels and Team Finch ended in an 8–8 tie, forcing a sudden-death playoff.
Melstrom’s Birdie Seals Elimination
The playoff format required two players a side each hole, prohibiting any player from competing on consecutive holes. After the first hole was halved, the contest moved to a second hole where John Melstrom II—known to his audience as “Big John“—secured a win for Team White by sinking a birdie putt with a backward-blade putter. This outcome eliminated Team Finch from the competition.
During the same session, the first “Gruden rule” protest occurred, under which the tournament committee could throw out a pairing it considered unfair and ask for a fair one. Despite this, Team Green maintained their momentum, with Wesley Bryan and Robby Berger defeating their opponents to close out the defending champions.
Team White Sets the Morning Pace
Advancing teams moved to Buffalo Ridge for the second day of competition. Team White established a 6–2 lead over Team Green following the morning scramble matches. Notable results included a 2 and 1 victory for the pair of Big John and Fat Perez over George Bryan and Chaz, while Marissa Wenzler and Bubbie Broders defeated Tisha Alyn and Evan Thompson 2 up. Team Green’s only morning point came from the captains’ match, where Wesley Bryan and Robby Berger edged out Ryan Ruffels and Sam “Riggs” Bozoian 1 up.
The tournament structure relies on a mix of professional and high-level amateur talent. Players like Ryan Ruffels, a former decorated junior amateur, and Marissa Wenzler, who claimed the 2021 Women’s Western Amateur title, anchor the competitive field.
The Final Singles Stretch
The outcome of the event rests on the afternoon singles matches, which carry 16 total points. Team White requires 6.5 points to reach a total of 12.5 and secure their advancement, while Team Green seeks a comeback to stay in the running. Episode 4, covering the Day 2 singles, premiered Thursday. The remaining episodes are scheduled for release on November 9 and November 12 on the Fore Play Golf, Bob Does Sports, and Internet Invitational YouTube channels.
Professionals and Amateurs Compete in Varied Formats
The competition features professional golfers, prominent content creators, and accomplished amateur players. While the format includes two-person scrambles and alternate-shot matches, it is unclear if the cumulative point structure will favor Team White’s current lead or allow for a final-day surge by Team Green.
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