The Duke has issued a public apology to Ryan Ruffels and Marissa Wenzler following Episode 5 of the 2026 Internet Invitational. In a lengthy Instagram post, he took the blame for Team Ruffels’ elimination and the $1.3 million each player missed out on.
“Episode 5 has arrived and Judgement Day has come for Duketown,” The Duke wrote.
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The Duke played alongside Ruffels and Wenzler in the knockout stage, with $1.3 million per player from the $4 million purse on the line. He opened his post by thanking the people behind the show. “First, thank you to Bob and Dave and the entire Barstool production team. Truly grateful. So Awesome,” he wrote.
Then he turned to his captain. “Ryan, You are a true Professional and a great team leader. And in my opinion you were the best golfer there. I wish I had played better on our round and I cost us the match,” he wrote.
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The Duke pointed back to Day 1. “When you won us all $5k each that first day I felt like you were destined to be the champ this year,” he wrote. “And it seemed to me that although the money is great it was more about the honor of winning the tournament for you. The mind of a true Champion Golfer.”
He didn’t hold back on how the loss felt. “Seeing you as a role model and wanting to make you proud and to be a part of that and then breaking your heart literally broke mine,” he wrote. “The physical feeling you get when losing someone.”
The Duke compared it to a broken heirloom. “I feel like I knocked over the irreplaceable vase in the china shop. Wish I could take it back. I wish you the best,” he wrote.
Wenzler got her own apology. “And yes sorry Marissa; I owe you 1.3 million as well. You were the best Ladies Golfer there this year. Hats off to you. Lo Siento,” The Duke wrote. Wenzler is an Epson Tour pro and a founding member of Good Good Girls.
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Ruffels responded on X Monday night and asked fans to go easy on his teammate. “Love you all it was a wild ride @Internetinvite and I did everything I could. Unfortunately it just wasn’t our year,” he wrote.
“Take it easy on @planetduketown, dude tried his heart out with everything he had. We’ll get em next year. The support has been amazing. Ruff out,” Ruffels added.
He followed with an Instagram post featuring a photo of himself with Wenzler and The Duke. “Close but no cigar @internetinvite,” Ruffels wrote. “Proud of these two for giving it their all with me. I loved all of it. The good, the bad, the twists, the turns.”
Ruffels called the run “a rollercoaster of emotions” that “made some of the best content YouTube golf has ever seen.” He also thanked fans for “the overwhelming support the last 3 weeks,” adding, “I’m blown away by the love.”
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He closed with a nod to the organizers. “Massive shoutout to @stoolpresidente @barstoolsports @bobdoessports for the opportunity that you gave all 64 of us to play for an absurd amount of money. We’ll be back next year, but for now, Ruff out,” he wrote.
Riggs, who played for Team Ruffels earlier in the event, replied in the comments: “An honor and a privilege, captain.” The 2026 Internet Invitational finale airs Thursday, Nov. 12 on YouTube.
