Welcome to GOLF.com’s “Seen & Heard” video series, in which we give you an inside look at golf’s biggest events through the eyes and ears of our on-site crew. On deck this week: the 2024 8AM Invitational at Wynn Las Vegas in Nevada. Let’s go!
What do you get when you bring 32 golf-loving celebrities together for a weekend of fun, on-course competition in Las Vegas? GOLF’s Dylan Dethier and Claire Rogers were excited to find out.
The pair was part of GOLF’s boots-on-the-ground contingent at the 2024 8AM Invitational, hosted by 8AM Golf partner Justin Timberlake, and experienced the weekend’s festivities alongside the celebrity participants.
Everyone was pumped for the first round: the sun was shining, the Sphere was glimmering, and the scores were impressive. Rogers made sure to diligently apply sunscreen, which was handily available in each participants’ luxe swag bag.
10 takeaways from Justin Timberlake’s 8AM Golf Invitational
And on the 12th hole, the Dewar’s bar cart was ready to dole out some much-needed Lemon Wedge cocktails (which were a big hit) as well as a chance to win a bottle of Dewar’s 37.
Off the course, there were multiple activations for the participants to enjoy, from a MacLaren video test drive station to a Greyson pop-up shop and more cocktails, courtesy of Cabot Citrus Farms.
Subpar podcast co-host Drew Stoltz was on hand to emcee the event, including the World Wide Technology shoot-out — a tricky 63-yard-shot-over-water challenge. Luckily, Michelle Wie West stepped up and showed everyone how it’s done, only to be edged out by Archie Bradley, who stuffed it to five feet for the win.
All in all, it was a great first day. After the on-course party, it was time for the after-party: a night of blackjack at the Wynn, benefiting the American Skin Association. Jimmy Fallon made sure to keep the energy high.
The next morning, it was time for Round 2. As Fallon danced his way onto the first tee, Rogers prepared for a big day of interviews for her GOLF.com series The Scoop — complete with her own ice cream cart full of delicious offerings.
The vibe was relaxed, and Rogers got face time with everyone in the field, including Anthony Anderson, Jason Kennedy, Kathryn Newton, Chace Crawford, Brian Baumgartner and Michael Phelps, who gave a shout-out to his new driver, the TaylorMade Qi10 LS, which he described as a “fairway finder.”
As the round went on, things got decidedly goofy, complete with celebrity dogpiles and even more Fallon hijinks. Chandler Parsons and Blake Griffin emerged as tournament champs, and Griffin even showed off his comedic chops by thanking “Jimmy Kimmel” in his victory speech.
But just when you thought the action had wrapped, a post-tourney karaoke party beckoned at the Wynn’s Delilah’s. It was an epic weekend that will be hard to top. But hey, there’s always next year.
Catch up on all the highlights from the 2024 8AM Invitational by watching the full video above or below.
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