NCAA All-American and 2019 NCAA Division I individual champion set to play full arsenal of TaylorMade product as he makes his professional debut this week at the Travelers Championship
Carlsbad, Calif. (June 19, 2019) – Having already added top amateur standout Collin Morikawa to its dominant stable of athletes this summer, TaylorMade Golf Company announced today the addition of yet another amateur standout, consensus collegiate player of the year Matthew Wolff. Per his new multi-year agreement, Matthew Wolff will play TaylorMade’s metalwoods, irons, wedges, putter and ultimately, the company’s flagship golf ball, TP5x. The announcement comes on the heels of the 20-year-old’s decision to forego his final two seasons at Oklahoma State to turn professional.
Wolff, known for his unique and immediately identifiable swing paired with prodigious distance off the tee, has the charisma and demeanor far exceeding his 20 years of age and carries high expectations into his professional debut. The California native made his PGA TOUR debut earlier this season as an amateur at the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open on a sponsor’s exemption and is making his professional debut on Tour this week at the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands.
Victorious a school record six times with a 68.7 scoring average as a sophomore – the lowest in the history of college golf – Wolff capped off his tremendous collegiate career with an NCAA Individual title and both the Jack Nicklaus and Fred Haskins awards, given annually to the top collegiate player in the country.
Wolff joins a TaylorMade’s Tour staff that is widely considered the strongest in the industry, which includes Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, John Rahm and Tiger Woods, among others.
It’s a rainy Saturday here as I look out the window after walking my dog. It sucks, I was going to go golfing while I wait for my wife to call me after a night out at a friends house. But, that’s simply not going to happen. It’s too bad too because yesterday I finally felt some things in my swing that felt really good. Oh well, there’s always my net later on. So I figured, what a terrific time to write a blog post. On what you may ask? Well, I guess the title really says it all.
Brisk conditions lay ahead.
After the Open Championship the U.S. Open is my favorite golf tournament of the year (no disrespect intended to The Masters… I just simply love you). Year after year the USGA makes this tournament the ultimate golf test. Tough conditions to the point where the golf course is drained of its former self that ultimately sees the proverbial cream rise to the top. The USGA has been much-maligned in the past for this but to be honest… I love what they do when they set up the course for the Open.
2019, has been no different to an extent. The exception to this being that I’ve found the set-up this year to be pretty damn fair which is in a way a good thing. That isn’t saying that it’s quite set-up like the Pebble Beach Pro-Am but compared to Shinnecock Hills, Chambers Bay, et al it’s not quite the same. Sure the rough is grown out but the greens are certainly burned out having had the life seemingly sucked right out of them. Much in a way that’s similar to the scene in “The Prince Bride” where “Wesley” (played by Cary Elwes) is placed into “The Machine”. At any rate, “Mother Nature” is lurking in the Pacific and it’s going to be her that going to go a long way in crowning our champion. If this event turns into a “Battle of Attrition” it’ll be hard not to examine the possibility of a Koepka threepeat.
As I’ve watched the golf telecast on FOX (who ought to really stay in their own lane and stay clear of golf) I’ve found myself both bewildered and amused. Especially when it comes to the supposed controversy or drama between Jordan Spieth and his caddy Michael Greller. The fact that Spieth often talks out loud during his rounds is not a surprise. Is there a guy or girl in professional golf that talks to their golf ball more? Likely not. But when a tournament is covered by FOX that means that there is a host of cameras and of course microphones. The microphones pick up everything. Including this…
“Two perfect shots, Michael,” he said. “You got me in the water on one and over the green on the other.” – Jordan Spieth to caddy Michael Greller
Of course, everyone on social media and golf telecasts is talking about a riff or at least tension between the two usually amicable partners. Let’s have a look at some things for a second. Spieth whom in the past could do no wrong and was the second coming of Tiger has seen himself slip. His slip has been in the OWGR and in the eyes of golf fans. While he ranks 66th (at the time of writing) in the FedEx Cup rankings it’s the slide to 28th in the OWGR that’s alarming and cause for “quasi-concern”. He hasn’t played to his level and there’s no doubt that he’s frustrated. Perhaps he has outside distractions? Getting back to the topic at hand and the issue with Greller. The first thing that I wanted to say is that I have no doubt that Greller has thick skin. He better, considering the paydays that he’s received while looping for Spieth. There is no tension in the sense that the media wants you to believe and if anything Jordan is looking to channel his frustration elsewhere. Queue Greller. As the caddy you have a few details in your job description other than the old adage “show up, shut up, and keep up”. They include but are not limited to…
Being a counselor and/or therapist
Being the source of vital information
Researching hole locations and conditions overall
Standing for countless hours on the practice grounds
Keeping the player focused and…
Club selection
Going back to Spieth’s quote. Greller selected the club and of course “the boss” has veto power. Spieth didn’t veto Greller’s selection and opinion of which club should be selected and used said club in both cases. Greller didn’t swing the club… it was Jordan and he failed to execute properly on both occasions. Jordan those two particular shots were on you. Their issues are simply non-issues and they’re fine and this is simply a case of “deflection”. Oh and one last thing. If you describe what transpired a “blasting” of Greller I suggest that you reevaluate your definition of “blasting”. Last time that I checked Jordan was a Texan and not a Canadian.
Acceleration and follow thru.Solid technique. Kids… do not try this at home. (Photo Credit: Golf.com)
Patrick Reed. As a friend of mine Mike said on Twitter Reed is a whipping boy amongst golf fans on social media.
Reed is a whipping boy for social media anyway… doesn’t surprise me!
What I’m about to say really is in my Tweet that prompted Mike to say this. Patrick Reed was frustrated and he hit a poor shot. It happens, it’s golf and it is the U.S. Open. The number of golfers around the world that would feel his frustration is in the millions. It’s just that we all have different ways of dealing with it. Parick Reed chose to snap his wedge over his thigh (while not breaking his Femur) and that was the only damage that he did. Did he have a tantrum on the golf course like Sergio Garcia or Bryson DeChambeau have in 2019? No! So lay off of him. Yes he has not endeared himself to golf fans (the top 5 in the world comment was the beginning of this judgment) but just because he snapped a club means he’s disrespectful and something else not to like about him? Like I stated above. If Tiger did this, people would be ranting about how the USGA set up an unfair golf course and would be marveling at Woods’ “super-human strength”.
If you’ve never thrown or broken a club before, have you even played golf?
Oh and one last thing. Miss. Spiranac. I’ve played a lot of golf. Recreationally, Mini-Tours and so on. I’ve worked in the industry as a Starter, Pro Shop Attendant, Assistant Manager, and as a Director of Golf Services. I’ve never “tomahawked a club” (another Tweet of hers) but I have been tempted. I’ve also never broken a club before. Why? Because we all deal with things in different ways. I simply choose to swear under my breath, scratch my chin and move on. Golf can be madly infuriating and frustrating but in life, there are more important things to get upset over. Not being able to put milk on the table and having to go to the food bank, losing your house, being mired with a myriad of health problems or not being able to pay your bills and have no heat during a Canadian winter. In my eyes, golf is not worth getting that mad over and for those of us who have to work for everything that we have… we have more important things to spend our money on than buy a new shaft and grip and then install it or have it installed.
Part Two clothing inspired by formidable Dunluce course at Royal Portrush
The latest collection of golfwear from leading apparel brand Galvin Green offers serious golfers a range of high-performance garments designed to help them perform at their best more often in the most demanding playing conditions.
The new 2019 Part Two range available this month has been inspired by the harshest conditions at one of the most challenging links courses in the world – the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush, soon to host the 148th Open Championship.
The ground-breaking materials that helped the European Team win the Ryder Cup in Paris last year – including a completely new GORE-TEX SuperStretch waterproof fabric – have been incorporated into the latest collection, along with innovative designs and colourways across the various layers and accessories.
“Serious golfers have told us how much they value performance golf clothing that helps them to play more often and at a high standard in the most challenging conditions,” said Global Brand Manager Nicholai Stein. “They also put a premium on comfort and style. So this exciting new range of water and windproof jackets, hoodies, body warmers, ultra-breathable pullovers, shirts, and trousers delivers on each of those aspirations with even more colour and size options to choose from,” he added.
The range includes a new version of the award-winning ShakeDry GORE-TEX jacket with a full-length silver zip that sees water bead up and run directly off the surface of the super-lightweight garment to avoid any chilling effect. Weighing just 174 grams, the ASHTON jacket enables the golfer to maximize clubhead speed while playing in wet conditions in comfort. It also has a very low packing volume and is available in sizes S-3XL.
Aaron
Alongside the flagship ARCHIE jacket with the C-KNIT backer is the new AARON rain jacket in GORE-TEX stretch fabric with a lightweight mesh lining. The stand-out garment comes in five colour options, including Sharkskin/Black/Lime. It features a distinctive design with front and inner pockets, adjustable chest, waist and cuffs and an elastic drawstring at the hem. Sizes S-4XL.
In all, there are seven different Shell Layer waterproof jackets to choose from in various colour combinations, including the short sleeve, full-zip ALVIN in Black and Navy, plus the GORE-TEX stretch fabric Paclite ANDRES in six colours (sizes S-3XL).
The brand’s unrivaled choice of GORE-TEX trouser options includes the AXEL, ARTHUR and ANDY variations featuring C-KNIT backed, lined or Paclite garments in literally dozens of sizes from S-3XL, short, extra short (ANDY in black). standard and long lengths.
INTERFACE-1 expands
The versatile INTERFACE-1 hybrid layer range introduced last year that can be worn 95 out of 100 rounds, has been expanded to include 19 new garments. In addition to the popular LINCOLN line of jackets in five colourways, the new collection includes the LYON full-zip jacket featuring a GORE-TEX INFINIUM membrane that provides extra warmth, plus a water-repellent finish. The padded chest and back offer excellent protection from windchill, while front pockets make it an ideal garment for off as well as on-course wear (S-3XL).
Lyon
The new eye-catching DWIGHT half-zip pullover is a bright addition to the warm layer INSULA™ collection, including a distinctive Black/Red combination (S-3XL), while the DOLPH full-zip hoodie comes in Black/Red and Sharkskin/Lime (S-XXL).
Seven cool layer shirts in highly breathable, soft VENTIL8™ PLUS fabric include the stylish MERELL in three colour options – Rusty Orange, Faded denim & Sharkskin – and the long-sleeve MARC in White/Black, Navy/White or Black/White (S-XXL).
The women’s range is led by the ARISSA waterproof GORE-TEX jacket with mesh lining in three colours – Navy/Azalea, Black/Silver & Azalea/Silver (XXS-XXL), matched with the ALANA trousers with solid lining (XS-XL) in Black. There is also a new jacket in Paclite stretch fabric called AINO with Navy, Black and Azalea as the main colours. Both jackets provide a two-way full-length front zipper.
Merell
An enlarged Junior collection includes GORE-TEX Paclite jackets and trousers, INTERFACE-1 and INSULA jackets, half-zip hoodies, bandanas and four shirts.
