What happened to Matt Wolff? Once part of Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC, American golfer Matthew Wolff has reportedly left the team, leaving him without an immediate connection.
Who is Matt Wolff?
Matthew Brandyn Wolff, born April 14, 1999, is a professional golfer from the United States. He achieved NCAA All-American status during his time at Oklahoma State University and became the NCAA Division I individual tournament champion in 2019. Wolff secured his first PGA Tour victory at the 2019 3M Open. He is moving to LIV Golf in 2022.
During his sophomore season, Wolff showcased his talent by winning back-to-back stroke play titles at the Carmel Cup and the OFCC Fighting Illini Invitational. He continued his impressive performance by sharing medalist honors at the Royal Oaks Intercollegiate.
These three straight wins pushed Wolff to the top of the college rankings. In recognition of his potential, he received a sponsor’s exemption and made his PGA Tour debut at the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open.
In addition to his accomplishments, Wolff’s unique and unorthodox golf swing has attracted attention. His swing incorporates a left foot strike, a technique he picked up playing baseball, to generate more spin and power by using the ground effectively.
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What happened to Matt Wolff?
Brooks Koepka, a professional golfer, has expressed his displeasure with his teammate Matthew Wolff ahead of the upcoming golf tournament in Hertfordshire, England. The two players are part of the LIV Golf League, which is supported by Saudi Arabia. Wolff withdrew from the previous tournament in Washington DC, citing an undisclosed injury, and has struggled in recent tournaments.
Koepka criticized Wolff for giving up his round in the previous event, saying it was against the competitive spirit of the sport. He expressed his frustration with Wolff’s lack of effort, arguing that it’s hard to have a team dynamic when one member refuses to work hard and exhibits negative behavior on the track, such as breaking clubs and displaying bad body language. Koepka hinted that he had given up on Wolff, despite the recognition of his talent, because he felt he was being wasted.
In response, Wolff defended himself by saying he was focused on playing his best golf for the good of the team. He confirmed that he is currently healthy and committed to good performances.
It’s worth noting that Wolff has previously spoken about his struggles with mental health. After a challenging Masters tournament in 2020, he openly admitted that he had difficulty getting out of bed. The following year, he took a two-month hiatus from the PGA Tour to prioritize his mental well-being. Wolff saw LIV Golf’s easier schedule as a positive factor for his mental health.
Furthermore, it should be mentioned that Wolff’s presence on Smash GC’s social media profiles has been reduced, with his Instagram and Twitter handles removed from the team bios on those platforms. Smash GC, a team captained by Brooks Koepka, also includes his brother Chase Koepka and Jason Kokrak.
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Where can Matthew Wolff go?
Fans have been anticipating that Matthew Wolff could return to Creek GC if a team member joins Smash GC. However, this possibility seems unlikely as Creek GC is currently doing well in the season, while Smash GC is currently in last place. Instead, there is speculation that Wolff could join the HyFlyers team.
Recent reports suggest that Wolff has parted ways with Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC and is currently without a team. The 24-year-old golfer joined LIV Golf for their second event last year and played for Phil Mickelson’s Hy Flyers team.
However, in early 2023, Wolff switched to Martin Kaymer’s Creek GC before eventually settling on Koepkin’s Smash GC. However, disagreements arose halfway through the 14-contest league, leading to Wolff’s departure.
Dan Rapaport of Barstool Sports reported on Twitter that Wolff has left Smash GC for personal reasons and is now expected to join another team by the end of the league.
Brooks Koepka Matt Wolff
Brooks Koepka, the captain of the Smash team at LIV Golf, accused his teammate Matthew Wolff of giving up during rounds and expressed his disappointment with him. Koepka stated that he had essentially given up on Wolff, despite acknowledging his talent.
Wolff, who found early success as a professional golfer by winning his third start on the PGA Tour, joined LIV Golf last year and became a member of Koepka’s Smash team. However, in his recent competitions, Wolff has struggled to perform well, finishing outside the top 30 in five consecutive tournaments, including a retirement.
Koepka expressed his frustration with Wolff’s poor performances and stated that he believes Wolff is wasting his talent. Despite Wolff’s previous accomplishments, such as winning the Jack Nicklaus Award as the nation’s top player during his collegiate career at Oklahoma State, and his strong start on the PGA Tour, Koepka feels that Wolff’s potential has not been fulfilled.
Wolff’s struggles on the course were accompanied by personal challenges. He took a two-month break in 2021 to address mental health issues after experiencing a dip in his performance. After that, he signed a contract with LIV Golf, an organization supported by Saudi Arabia.
During the recent LIV Golf tournament near Washington, Wolff withdrew from the tournament before the final round due to an undisclosed injury. Additionally, his presence on Smash’s social media pages has been reduced.
When asked about his situation, Wolff expressed his commitment to playing his best golf for the benefit of the team. However, when asked if he wanted to be with another team, Wolff responded with silence, shaking his head and walking away. The LIV Golf Tour is currently held outside of London, where Wolff currently holds the 25th position in the points standings.
“I mean, when you give up your round, you give up and stuff like that, it’s not a competition,” Koepka told Sports Illustrated. “I’m not a big fan of it. You don’t do much. It’s very difficult. It’s very difficult to even have a team dynamic when you have one guy who won’t work, one guy won’t put in the effort, he’ll give up on the track, he’ll break clubs, fall, bad body language, it’s very difficult.”
The career of Matt Wolff
Matthew Wolff turned pro in June 2019 and made his PGA Tour debut at the Travelers Championship. He quickly rose to fame by winning his first PGA Tour event, the 3M Open, on July 7, 2019.
Wolff’s victory came after a thrilling final round in which he shot a six-under-par 65, finishing one stroke ahead of Collin Morikawa and Bryson DeChambeau with a 21-under-par total. The tournament was decided on the final hole, as Wolff made an eagle putt to regain the lead and secure the win.
The triumph not only earned Wolff $1.152 million in prize money, but also earned him a two-year exemption from the PGA Tour. He became the first player since Billy Hurley III in 2016 to win the tournament after receiving a sponsor’s exemption. In addition, Wolff joined the exclusive company of Tiger Woods and Ben Crenshaw as one of the few players to win both an NCAA title and a PGA Tour event in the same calendar year.
Wolff’s success continued in the major championships. In August 2020, he made his PGA Championship debut and finished fourth after a final round 65. Just a few weeks later, he played at the US Open in Winged Foot with a two-shot lead going into the final round. Although he finished in second place, six shots behind Bryson DeChambeau, Wolff’s performance solidified his potential in the majors.
In June 2022, Wolff joined LIV Golf, a new golf league, and competed in his first event. However, he was subsequently suspended by the PGA Tour for his involvement with LIV Golf. Despite the suspension, Wolff has managed three top 10 finishes since joining LIV Golf. Namely, he tied for second place in Bedminster, finishing just two shots behind the winner, Henrik Stenson.
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Source: HIS Education