Why do you watch golf?
I watch golf because I’m obsessed with the game, I don’t need superstars to be able to enjoy golf but if it’s unknown players I’m watching on TV? I need a little drama. Turns out LIV is bringing both golf superstars and drama these days. Brooks Koepka had a lot to say about his teammate Matthew Wolff and it wasn’t great…
“You don’t work hard. It’s very tough. It’s very tough to have even like a team dynamic when you’ve got one guy that won’t work, one guy is not going to give any effort, he’s going to quit on the course, break clubs, gets down, bad body language, it’s very tough. I’ve basically given up on him—a lot of talent, but I mean the talent’s wasted.” From SI.com
I haven’t been up to date on all the details on the Smash team and the inner workings of LIV drama but there has been something stewing. Some social media profile updates that didn’t include Matthew Wolff or something? I’m old but that seems more in-line with Real Housewives drama than it does golf. Continuing with the drama it turns out Matthew Wolff had to step away from the game a few years ago for mental health reasons. Some of his quotes were dated back to the US Open in 2021 and I found the press conference is below.
Matthew Wolff – US Open 2021
Wow. Not sure if you took the time to watch this but this clip clearly shows a young man struggling with his mental health. This was after round 1 at the US Open and Wolff was 1-under on the day and said it gave him some confidence. I think that confidence allowed him to speak freely about his struggles but it’s clear that he is not ok. Here’s what he said about playing in the Masters:
”And at the Masters I think that was pretty much the turning point is like, the entire time my head was down and I hated it. I mean, I just, I didn’t love being out there and like I didn’t enjoy it and it was hard for me. I mean, I want to try to be strong for all the fans, but I guess I just am not that strong yet, but I’m trying my hardest and I’m getting there.”
You play your whole life to get to the PGA tour and the biggest tournament in the world, The Masters, and then you can’t enjoy it? That’s tragic. I’m not a therapist or psychologist but Matthew Wolff needs help. Keep in mind this was in 2021 so this has been at least a two year battle for him…
“I just can’t emphasize it enough, more than the score that I shot I was just happy to actually be smiling and laughing out there because, like I said, I haven’t done it in a long time and it’s hard to do when there’s this much pressure and people and eyes watching you and stuff.”
I’m not a doctor but these comments are concerning. Wolff had a very promising start to a young career being the third player ever to win an NCAA title and PGA Tour event in the same calendar year. The only other two to do it are Ben Crenshaw and Tiger Woods. He also had two Top 5 finishes in majors so he was playing very well. Perhaps it was too much too fast…
“And I mean, kudos to pretty much every professional athlete out there, it’s, I haven’t been in this world for a long time, but it’s fucking hard.”
So Matthew Wolff has the golf world in the palm of his hand. Not only does he succeed at the college level but gets on tour and wins almost immediately… then he steps away. Unimaginable. To be able to attain an almost impossible dream and then not be able to enjoy it so you leave. The hours, weeks, months, years, and decades Wolff has spent to just have a chance to perform at this level and he then when he has it, he can’t enjoy it. Tragic.
This interview gave a peak into what Wolff was going through but isn’t the full picture. It’s pretty clear now why Wolff took the LIV deal. Clearly he has the talent to compete with the worlds best but mentally doesn’t want to play golf anymore. I’m sure he was thinking he’d take the money, play less, and hopefully find a good balance that would let him enjoy golf again. Smart but unfortunately it clearly has not worked.
If Matthew Wolff was going to ask for my advice? Stop playing golf. And that means stop playing golf for good. Take the burden of having to be a pro athlete away, work on yourself. Leave the game with the intention of never coming back. Feel that freedom, try to find some happiness, find your next talent, and …
