With Quirky Swing And California Chill, Matthew Wolff Has Fans Howling In Phoenix
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA | Moments before Matthew Wolff began his second round at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, he looked like any other unshaven 19-year-old college kid making a pilgrimage to the world’s craziest golf tournament.
He embraced three of his fraternity brothers and then scrolled through his phone one last time, zipping it away in his bag just before his name was announced.
And then he got over the ball. Taking out an iron, the Oklahoma State sophomore whacked the ground to create a natural turf tee and then confidently fidgeted, twisting his hips in each direction. And then came the swing. Calling it unconventional would be a disservice. Wolff takes the club straight outside and upright while flying his left heel several inches above the ground, finishing with a powerful yet graceful transition into impact. It’s the Jim Furyk loop with Brooks Koepka’s power and Nick Price’s tempo.
“He’s just got it.” — Alan Bratton, Matthew Wolff’s coach at Oklahoma State
In this particular motion, Wolff fired a pistol 280 yards down TPC Scottsdale’s first fairway. That’s about how far Furyk hits his driver. It almost feels unfair that in the first six holes, Wolff hit iron off the tee four times and averaged 288 yards. And if that seems nearly criminal, you will want to be sitting down for this one: Through two rounds in Phoenix, Wolff ranked third in driving distance at 331 yards per drive and second in driving accuracy at 75 percent. Given those numbers, it’s almost unfortunate he wasn’t higher up on the leaderboard than tied for 24th at 5-under-par 137 heading into the third round of his PGA Tour debut.
“He’s just got it,” says Wolff’s college coach, Alan Bratton. “When you drive it that accurately and that long, it’s hard to beat. He has incredible hands and he can implement different concepts so easily into his game. But he’s still a natural talent learning the game. His ceiling has no limit.”
Back in 1995, Bratton went through the same emotions Wolff is experiencing now. He missed the cut at the Phoenix Open during his PGA Tour debut, having Monday-qualified to earn his spot in the field. It’s now common for players like Wolff – the No. 1 player in college golf – to receive a sponsor’s exemption like he did this week.
What’s the difference between two college stars making their debuts 24 years apart? The access to tour events for players is far better now and the intimidation factor isn’t as prevalent. Wolff already knows he is good enough and the success of other young players takes away the fear factor.
His meandering swing and gaudy numbers have the golf world collectively fired up about Wolff, who hails from Agoura Hills, Calif. Cameron Champ may have quickly ascended to budding-star status because of his ridiculous power, but it’s Wolff who is the better overall prospect on paper. He’s already won more in three semesters of college than Champ did in three years at Texas A&M. And while their distance off the tee is similar, many believe Wolff’s putting and scrambling abilities are already superior to those of 23-year-old Champ.
There’s a lot more to a golfer than numbers, however. Wolff’s funky delivery contrasts sharply with the more aesthetically pleasing swings of young tour pros, and his personality isn’t like most of theirs, either. This isn’t a kid who has ever been chained to golf in any sense, and maybe that’s why he looks so happy when he plays.
As his threesome finished in near darkness Friday, Wolff showed a little bit of the charisma that makes him so magnetic.
First he poured home a 15-foot par putt at the 16th as only a few hundred people remained among the beer cans strewn throughout the empty arena surrounding the notorious par-3. The howls started to echo throughout the coliseum and Wolff raised his arms to implore them for more. His transparency in conversation showed his personality as well. After the round, he spoke candidly about how a double bogey on No. 12 made him think about not wanting to be near the cut line with the rowdy 16th looming. And then he took a humorous jab at his coach once he learned he had guaranteed a better tour debut.
“I heard he missed the cut (in his debut), so I have that on him now,” Wolff said. “I hope I don’t turn out like Coach Bratton, no offense to him.”
“He’s going to be a legend, just watch.” — Zach Lorch, Wolff’s closest friend
Once Sunday night hits and the sun has illuminated the surrounding mountains that certain shade of purple, Wolff will be a college player again. His first order of business will be shaving his scruff – that’s a team rule at Oklahoma State – before heading to Hawaii for the Cowboys’ opening event of the spring. Only then will Bratton be back to leading the cavalry.
In a sea of many bland and robotic young American pros, Wolff isn’t any of that. Most of his friends don’t know the first thing about golf, and that’s indicative of a person who doesn’t take himself too seriously.
Wolff’s closest friend, Zack Lorch, came in a gray Los Angeles Dodgers jersey to watch him Friday, often asking the par of each hole Wolff played. That didn’t stop him from feeling unabashed confidence.
“He’s going to be a legend, just watch,” Lorch said. “Matt is just the absolute coolest. In high school you would be walking down the hall and someone would always be next to him because everyone loved him.”
Wolff’s traveling convoy of family, friends and other supporters – the group nicknamed itself “Team Wolff” and never missed an opportunity to howl after a good shot – started the round at more than 100 patrons and held strong for most of the day. Some of them drove all night from Oklahoma and arrived half an hour before Wolff’s tee time. One of his closest friends, Jake Dicker, planned to spend more than $1,000 to fly from Indiana to Phoenix Saturday morning so he can be a part of the traveling circus for the last two rounds. Dicker’s parents, who have been close with Wolff since grade school, were in attendance Friday sending updates back to their son.
“How the world will see him and how he appears is exactly who he is,” David Dicker said. “He’s humble, but he’s a killer.”
Wolff’s grandmother, Sylvia, wanted to see her grandson play so badly that she maneuvered her motorized scooter through wild crowds for all 18 holes. On days when she isn’t able to watch in person, Sylvia heads straight to social media and searches for every Matt Wolff mention out there.
Between his close friends, family and coaches, Wolff may have had the most enthusiastic following of anyone on the course.
“It’s really special to have everyone here,” said Wolff’s mother, Shari. “I’m just so happy. When Matt woke up this morning, he was smiling and laughing. As a mom, you love seeing your kid like that.”
At points in the second round, spectators would watch Wolff swing and then imitate the move on their own. Some were dismissive, saying there is no way it could hold up under pressure. Some were praising it, wondering out loud why other players weren’t trying to mimic it.
But everyone had to watch. It’s hypnotic, your curiosity building each time you see him swing.
Not to rush him along or place too much pressure on such a young talent, but golf could use more players like Wolff.
He won’t have this kind of close personal following for every tournament, but no matter what, people are going to come in droves to watch him.
The swing. The energy. The power.
It has all the makings of something truly brilliant.