The Rush: Pro Golfer Matthew Wolff on Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and The Masters
Pro Golfer Matthew Wolff joins the Rush to discuss: playing in his first Masters and the challenges of Augusta, interacting with Tiger Woods on and off the green, the influence of Kobe Bryant and Mamba Mentality on his golf game, teeing off against Michael Jordan, and whether or not he brings his PGA-level game when he plays against non-pros. PLUS: Matthew recently inked a deal with Gatorade and he’s repping BOLT24!
Video Transcript
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- Cousins forgetting about the field goal. Thielen-- one armed, able to bring it down for the touchdown!
JARED QUAY: Monday was crazy-- so crazy that we have a super handy graphic with appropriate music to show you everything that happened.
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Yeah, Monday didn't hold back. So we're going to bring it down a notch and chill with my man, pro golfer Matthew Wolff. Matt, what is happening, brother?
MATTHEW WOLFF: What's up, man? Good to see you.
JARED QUAY: Good to see you, man. You are fresh off your first ever Masters. Your first two majors you finish in the top five. The Masters-- you didn't get to make the cut. Is Augusta just that tough?
MATTHEW WOLFF: Augusta's definitely a course that, you know, knowledge and, you know, playing it multiple times definitely gives you an advantage. I think that like, going there for the first time there is a lot of places that, you know, I missed on the wrong side of hands and little things like that where a veteran would, you know, would know that you absolutely cannot do that. I'm excited to, you know, go there for my second masters. And hopefully I can use some of that experience I learned.
JARED QUAY: I got to congratulate you on being the first golfer signed to Gatorade since Tiger Woods, man. Like, how crazy is that?
MATTHEW WOLFF: That's-- that's unbelievable. You know, I like, when Tiger signed with Gatorade, I don't even-- I mean, I don't even know if I remember it because I was so young. It was-- it's really awesome though.
I mean, you know, if you're a Gatorade athlete, you're at an elite level. And, you know, I'm just really happy to be a part of their team.
JARED QUAY: You have a personal relation with Tiger Woods now. I he like, different with you? You guys crack inside jokes?
MATTHEW WOLFF: I mean, I don't know how you know. He's awesome. You know, I feel like he really looks out for the younger generation. And, you know, when I played with him, he wasn't-- he didn't have his best round. But, you know, at the end of the day, he was-- you know, he was very nice. Even when he hit a bad shot right after, I could talk to him, and I didn't-- I never felt uncomfortable.
So, you know, he was he was really great to play with. And you know, the way he's changed the game and, you know, looked at by every other golfer-- it's just, you know, something that I strive for.
JARED QUAY: You're here repping Bolt 24. Who can chug a Bolt 24 the fastest? You, Usain Bolt, Serena Williams, or Zion Williamson.
MATTHEW WOLFF: Gosh. Well, Zion Williamson-- when he holds a Bolt 24 bottle, it's like it doesn't-- it's the size of his pinky. So I don't know if I can really compete with him, but I can chunk things pretty quick. Just Gatorade though, of course.
JARED QUAY: I heard you're a Lakers fan.
MATTHEW WOLFF: I am, I am. I'm a Lakers fan. I'm more of a Kobe fan though. On my 3 wood, like, I've got a head cover that's number 8 with Mamba mentality on it. And I just think that like, you know, his mindset about sports and wanting to dominate is, you know, every athlete who plays any, you know, whatever sport you play, you should have that same mentality towards it.
JARED QUAY: Did Kobe golf at all?
MATTHEW WOLFF: I don't believe Kobe golfed. I-- you know, another Gatorade athlete, Michael Jordan actually, I've played with him a few times down in Florida. That was pretty cool. He's a huge golf fan, but I don't think Kobe ever golfed.
JARED QUAY: Is MJ pretty good, or you gave him the work?
MATTHEW WOLFF: MJ's pretty good. I mean, I beat him a few times. But I'm not sure he'll like to admit that. But, yeah, I mean, he actually is pretty good. I gave him about 10 shots. We played from the same tees, and I give him 10 strokes.
JARED QUAY: How is it when play with regular guys? Like, just, you know, is it like, LeBron playing pickup basketball? Or is it, you know, sometimes you find some really competitive games?
MATTHEW WOLFF: You're competing so much that when you do play with, you know, normal people or amateurs and stuff, you really just like to have a good time.
JARED QUAY: Yeah, one day we'll get on there, and you can just beat me really bad, man. Matthew, thank you for covering "The Rush" with me, man. I appreciate it. In April, we'll be back at the Masters. We're going to have a great finish. Hope you're in top 5 right?
MATTHEW WOLFF: Yes, sir. Hopefully, a win. I mean, top 5 would be great. We're going for that jacket.
JARED QUAY: All right, man. Thank you, man. Have a wonderful day.
MATTHEW WOLFF: Yeah, thank you so much. Appreciate it, guys.
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