Normally a random ad aired on Golf Channel during a weeknight LPGA Tour event wouldn’t be cause for virality. But most random ads aired on Golf Channel don’t feature the aesthetic (and production values) of the one starring Columbian amateur golfer Julio Bell, aka La Maquina.
Take a look:
Julio Bell, the man that shot 93-105 in a Web event last year on a sponsor’s exemption (which he basically bought), is back. Look at this commercial being played during the LPGA's Diamond Resorts tournament…#LaMaquina #TheMachine pic.twitter.com/R5YKyoSEUl
— By The Flagstick (@ByTheFlagstick) January 18, 2019
And that actually aired last night!
https://twitter.com/TronCarterNLU/status/1085971142861570048
What makes it even better: Julio Bell first rose to prominence last year when he essentially bought his way into a Web.com Tour event in his native Colombia, entering a real, actual golf tournament on one of the most competitive tours in the world and shooting +56 (95-103) to miss the cut. So, after that, Bell is now doing what most people who aren’t good at golf but have a lot of money do: buying slots in pro-am events, including the LPGA Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions.
What most amateurs don’t do: produce commercials announcing their presence, then buy ad time DURING that tournament to run your own commercial.
The ridiculousness of this has not been emphasized enough.
This guy essentially bought a sponsor’s exemption into the Web event in Colombia, shot 93-105, and has now PURCHASED A COMMERCIAL to publicize his appearance at the Diamond Resorts. https://t.co/BoRD4C8qUK
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) January 18, 2019
SB Nation’s Brendan Porath raised a great point as well:
also: please don't let the insanity of its existence also overshadow the insanity of the content therein
— Brendan Porath (@BrendanPorath) January 18, 2019
It’s one thing to be known for buying your way into a tournament you have no business being near, finishing DFL, then coming back to play in a pro-am. It’s another thing to produce a video promoting that appearance, and yet another level of crazy further to actually buy air time on Golf Channel.
But to have that video be black-and white, feature alligators, hard cuts, slow-motion CGI shots of a golf ball featuring your own ridiculous logo and nickname? The whole narrative arc is fascinating, as La Maquina hits one tee shot (with driver) into the sand, then another into an alligator-infested pond. Then, with his third effort, he holes out, again from that tee box, apparently acing a par 4. (No wonder he pumps his fist so jubilantly at the end.)
It’s so over the top it’s almost perfect.
About Jay Rigdon
Jay is a columnist at Awful Announcing. He is not a strong swimmer. He is probably talking to a dog in a silly voice at this very moment.