Jason Kelce outslugs Travis as new king of the long drive
Jason Kelce won the 2024 Korbel Celebrity Long Drive Competition
GOLF
The stars were out in Lake Tahoe for the Korbel Celebrity Long Drive Competition at the American Century Classic. The GOLF Team has been on-site for the last four, and this was the biggest and best one yet. GOLF’s SubPar podcast hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz were given free rein on the microphones to emcee the event as celebrities stepped up one by one to the Full Swing launch monitor (Save $500 by using golfdotcom at checkout) to show us what they’re made of.
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Last year’s winner Travis Kelce wasn’t able to defend his title — but his brother Jason Kelce put his hat in the ring for the first time. Big names such as Aaron Rodgers, Alex Rodriguez, Josh Allen, Charles Barkley, Blake Griffin, AJ Hawk, Miles Teller, and more walked through the Korbel Thunderdome Tent and onto the 16th tee box to entertain the masses.
From long drives to karaoke performances, these are the moments that had us making our Korbel glasses go “clink clink” all day long.
Jason Kelce Steals The Show
Full Disclosure: I hate Philadelphia’s sports teams.
Jason Kelce has gained worldwide popularity due to his All-Pro play for the Eagles, revealing documentary, and chart-topping podcast, New Heights, which he hosts with his brother Travis. Nonetheless, I kept my fan hat on entering the day and was skeptical about whether I could ever soften up to Jason.
But when he walked up to the tee box, all of my fan hatred quickly vanished. There’s a gentle-giant aura about Jason you sense from the moment he’s in your presence. You can see and hear him coming — Jason’s open shirt, boisterousness and infectious laugh are tough to miss — but his is a welcome presence. He’s the type of guy you want to have a beer, or bottle of Korbel Champagne, with. Hell, I was ready to have a drink with him by the end of his 15 minutes on the tee box.
While Jason certainly doesn’t play much golf, he possesses a brute strength that is hard to teach. His swing speed can’t match what Travis has in the bag, but he didn’t need to without him in the competition. Jason’s 322-yard drive was enough to take the title, and my (unneeded) respect, home to Philadelphia.
Now, I hate Kelce for making me like a Philadelphia athlete.
How about a Kelce Brother grudge match next year? Yes, please…
Roger Clemens has pipes
The Rocket brought the heat in a new way. Unprovoked, Roger grabbed the microphone and requested Toby Keith’s “Dream Walking” to honor the late country music star. It was the most unexpected moment of the day until I learned Clemens has a karaoke room in his house. Clemens is certainly making good use of that room.
Gary Sheffield has the best waggle in sports
If you’re a baseball fan like me who grew up in the 90s, there is still no batting stance more fun to imitate than Sheffield’s. His patent waggle was the most intimidating sight in a batter’s box in his heyday. To see Sheffield step up to the Long Drive and give us some of that waggle in his swing brought the biggest smile to my face.
An A-Bomb from A-Rod
Alex Rodriguez hit 696 home runs in his career. Nine of those were walk-off home runs.
Anyone in attendance got to witness the 10th walk-off of A-Rod’s career. He didn’t hesitate to start walking after his 300+ yard drive.
Charles Barkley is… good at golf?
Barkley finished in 58th place at the American Century Classic. If you don’t find that to be impressive, then you don’t know where Chuck’s game used to be just a few years ago. It is a relief for all to see Barkley enjoying himself on the course after agony that no golfer should ever have to suffer through.
He takes a few moments to talk to everyone in his presence and he’s as authentic as they come. What you see on TV is what you get. Barkley is friendly and unfiltered, and I love him for it.
Barkley is never going to win the Korbel Long Drive, but he’s always a fan favorite upon arrival.
AJ Hawk doesn’t get cheated
Nobody swings harder than Hawk. I don’t care what the swing-speed data says. I was in awe by the absolute laser Hawk hit no more than 20 feet in the air and looked like it was never going to touch the ground.
If nothing else, Hawk took home the prize for putting everything he’s got into his swing.
Ain’t no party like a Korbel Party
This was the 20th year that Korbel sponsored the American Century Classic, and it proved to be the biggest one yet. Korbel launched its new “Clink, Clink” campaign to redefine what a champagne occasion be. From weddings to brunches to birdie putts to solo cup tailgates, we’ll “clink, clink” to that.
It was hard to miss the loud and proud Korbel tent on the 16th tee box this year. Activations could be found throughout the course and most notably down the famed stretch by holes 16 and the par-3 17th that runs along Lake Tahoe. And if you’ve never been before, you’re missing out on a must-stop experience for golf fans and fans of a good time.
Cheers to many more!
The Miz is Electric
No one can introduce The Miz better than The Miz. Need proof? Watch the video below.
Took the words right out of Colt’s mouth.
Big Cat’s Power Stance
Dan “Big Cat” Katz took a celebrity shot, during a celebrity competition, while caddying for Blake Griffin. Big Cat stepped up to the tee and used his unique stance to show us where his power comes from. It’s a bit that doesn’t get old and left Colt and Drew wondering who the best golfer at Barstool Sports is…
Special Report: Bret Baier can rap
You probably know Baier best for his calm demeanor behind the news desk on Fox News. In a world of TV personalities insisting on being the loudest person in the room, Baier has a more traditional presence. That seems to change once he steps outside the studio. Baier, who is no stranger to having a microphone in his hands, delivered a special rendition of “Rapper’s Delight” to the crowd. Chalk that up to things I didn’t see coming.
Baier would go on to hook his ball off to the left. “You usually avoid the left,” said emcee Drew Stoltz. Well played…
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