What Happened to Matt Wolff? Where Can Matthew Wolff Go?
by Ushapriyanga
Updated Jul 07, 2023
Who is Matt Wolff?
Matthew Brandyn Wolff, born on 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 individual champion of the NCAA Division I tournament in 2019. Wolff secured his first victory on the PGA Tour at the 2019 3M Open. In 2022, he joined LIV Golf.
During his sophomore season, Wolff showcased his talent by winning consecutive stroke play titles at the Carmel Cup and the OFCC Fighting Illini Invitational. He continued his impressive performance by sharing the medalist honors at the Royal Oaks Intercollegiate.
These three consecutive wins propelled 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.
Aside from his achievements, Wolff's unique and unorthodox golf swing has attracted attention. His swing incorporates a left leg kick, a technique he adopted from playing baseball, to generate more rotation and power by utilizing the ground effectively.
What Happened to Matt Wolff?
Brooks Koepka, a professional golfer, has expressed his dissatisfaction with his teammate Matthew Wolff ahead of an upcoming golf event in Hertfordshire, England. The two players are part of the LIV Golf league, which is backed by Saudi Arabia. Wolff withdrew from a previous event in Washington DC, citing an undisclosed injury, and has been struggling in recent tournaments.
Koepka criticized Wolff for quitting on his round in the previous event, stating that it goes against the competitive spirit of the sport. He expressed his frustration with Wolff's lack of effort, claiming that it is difficult to have a team dynamic when one member refuses to work hard and displays negative behavior on the course, such as breaking clubs and exhibiting bad body language. Koepka implied that he has given up on Wolff, despite acknowledging his talent, as he feels it is being wasted.
In response, Wolff defended himself by stating that he is focused on playing his best golf to benefit the team. He confirmed that he is currently healthy and committed to performing well.
It is worth noting that Wolff has previously discussed his struggles with mental health. After a challenging 2020 Masters tournament, he openly admitted to experiencing difficulty in getting out of bed. In the following year, he took a two-month break from the PGA Tour to prioritize his mental well-being. Wolff saw LIV Golf's lighter 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 was reduced, with his Instagram and Twitter handles removed from the team's bios on those platforms. Smash GC, the team captained by Brooks Koepka, also includes his brother Chase Koepka and Jason Kokrak.
Where Can Matthew Wolff Go?
It was anticipated by fans that Matthew Wolff might return to Creek GC if a member of the team joined Smash GC. However, this possibility seems unlikely as Creek GC is currently performing well in the season while Smash GC is currently in last place. Instead, there is speculation that Wolff may 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 initially joined LIV Golf at their second event last year and played for Phil Mickelson's Hy Flyers team.
However, in early 2023, Wolff made a switch to Martin Kaymer's Creek GC before eventually settling with Koepka's Smash GC. However, disagreements arose during the halfway point of the 14-event league, leading to Wolff's departure.
Dan Rapaport of Barstool Sports reported on Twitter that Wolff left Smash GC for personal reasons and is now expected to join another team for the remainder of the league.
Brooks Koepka Matt Wolff
Brooks Koepka, captain of the Smash team in LIV Golf, has accused his teammate Matthew Wolff of quitting during rounds and expressed his disappointment in him. Koepka stated that he has essentially given up on Wolff, despite acknowledging his talent.
Wolff, who achieved early success as a professional golfer with a victory in 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 events, Wolff has struggled to perform well, finishing outside the top 30 in five consecutive tournaments, including a withdrawal.
Koepka expressed frustration with Wolff's underwhelming 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 best player during his college career at Oklahoma State, and his strong start on the PGA Tour, Koepka feels that Wolff's potential is not being fulfilled.
Wolff's struggles on the course have been accompanied by personal challenges. He took a two-month break in 2021 to address mental health issues after experiencing a decline in his performance. Subsequently, he signed with LIV Golf, a Saudi-backed organization.
During a recent LIV Golf event 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 was reduced.
When questioned about his situation, Wolff expressed his commitment to playing his best golf to benefit the team. However, when asked if he wished to be on a different team, Wolff responded with silence, shaking his head, and walking away. The LIV Golf tour is currently taking place outside London, where Wolff currently holds the 25th position in the points standings.
“I mean, when you quit on your round, you give up and stuff like that, that’s not competing,” Koepka told Sports Illustrated. “I’m not a big fan of that. 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."
Matt Wolff Career
Matthew Wolff turned professional in June 2019 and made his debut on the PGA Tour at the Travelers Championship. He quickly made a name for himself 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 total score of 21-under par. The tournament was decided on the final hole, as Wolff made an eagle putt to regain the lead and secure the win.
This triumph not only earned Wolff $1.152 million in prize money but also granted him a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour. He became the first player since Billy Hurley III in 2016 to win a tournament after receiving a sponsor exemption. Additionally, 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 major championships. In August 2020, he made his debut at the PGA Championship and finished tied for fourth place after a final-round 65. Just weeks later, he entered the U.S. Open at Winged Foot with a two-stroke lead heading into the final round. Although he finished as the runner-up, six strokes behind Bryson DeChambeau, Wolff's performance solidified his potential in major tournaments.
In June 2022, Wolff joined LIV Golf, a new golf league, and participated 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 to achieve three top-10 finishes since joining LIV Golf. Notably, he tied for second place in Bedminster, finishing just two shots behind the winner, Henrik Stenson.
What Happened to Matt Wolff- FAQs
Matthew Wolff turned professional in June 2019.
Brooks Koepka has expressed his disappointment in Wolff and has stated that he has given up on him as a teammate.
Brooks Koepka, a professional golfer, has expressed his dissatisfaction with his teammate Matthew Wolff ahead of an upcoming golf event in Hertfordshire, England. The two players are part of the LIV Golf league, which is backed by Saudi Arabia. Wolff withdrew from a previous event in Washington DC, citing an undisclosed injury, and has been struggling in recent tournaments.
Matthew Brandyn Wolff, born on April 14, 1999, is a professional golfer from the United States
Matthew Wolff currently holds the 25th position in the LIV Golf points standings.