Daniel Negreanu is preparing for the 2026 WSOP... on the golf course?

Most high-stakes regulars are busy at the PokerGO studio in Las Vegas for the U.S. Poker Open. But Daniel Negreanu is an exception; in the final weeks leading up to the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP), he's playing golf (and filming a vlog for it).

This GGPoker ambassador has been honing his golf skills and taking on some $5,000 challenges on YouTube, a departure from his approach to preparing for the WSOP in recent years. Negreanu, who always commits fully to the entire WSOP schedule, typically participates in numerous live tournaments before the summer poker extravaganza.

Last year, ahead of the 2025 WSOP, he accumulated 14 tournament winnings, primarily in PGT events. However, his record this year so far is only one – a fourth-place finish in the PGT tournament in mid-January, earning $80,000. This lack of winnings isn't due to a downswing or poor form. He simply hasn't played much poker since the WSOP Paradise Series last December. He has, however, played a fair amount of golf.

Is Negreanu a skilled golfer?

Negreanu stated that he does have a tournament planned before the WSOP begins in a month. However, his current focus seems to be more on golf, and of course, the Vegas Golden Knights, who are currently participating in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The seven-time gold bracelet winner recently uploaded several vlogs showcasing his golf skills. In each video, he accepts a $5,000 challenge. If he achieves the goal, he wins; if not, he has to pay.

The first challenge was at the South Shore Country Club in the Las Vegas area, starting from the women's tee, to shoot an 80 on 18 holes. Negreanu's short game seemed quite good, and he had an unconventional putting style reminiscent of former MLB star Andres Galarraga.

Negreanu shot a 4-over-par 75 to win the first challenge, hitting 6 of the 13 fairways. The Poker Hall of Famer returned to the same course for a second $5,000 challenge against Eric Wasserson, this time attempting a 100 from the furthest tee. Perhaps bluffing, he seemed less confident about his chances of success.

"You might think that if you can score under 80, this should be easy. No, I assure you, on that 80 bet, I was the favorite, okay? This time, we're the absolute underdogs," Negreanu told his audience before the first tee shot.

This challenge was less about skill and more about course management. As he put it, when trying to shoot 100, "bogeys are just as good as par." Negreanu was either bluffing, underestimating his abilities—or perhaps he was simply playing exceptionally well—because he shot a 44 (+8) on the front nine, almost guaranteeing an easy under 100. He then shot a 41 on the back nine, winning the bet with a 15-stroke lead.

Negreanu hinted at the end of the video that the stakes would increase in the upcoming installments. No, he has no intention of leaving poker to become the next Tiger Woods. He will be competing in the WSOP all summer and is expected to play in 40 bracelet events.

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