Matthew Wolff Swinging Way to Winner’s Circle as PGA Tour Rookie

Matthew Wolff, the man who is known as the golfer with the funky swing, could soon be recognized for far more than the unique way he hits a golf ball. The 20-year-old has already won on the PGA Tour, but is looking for his second victory at this week’s World Golf Championship FedEx St. Jude Classic. He is a 100/1 longshot to win. Dustin Johnson is the favorite at 9/1, followed by Rory McIlroy at 10/1.

Wolff won the 3M Open two weeks ago at TPC Twin Cities. It was his first victory, and he accomplished it after only his third event as a professional. He also became only the third golfer to win the NCAA individual championship, and a PGA Tour event in the same year. The other two were Ben Crenshaw in 1973, and Tiger Woods in 1996. Wolff is also the ninth youngest to win a PGA Tour event.

If Wolff wins this week he could match Woods’ mark of two victories in the same season after turning professional. He certainly believes he has the ability to do so.

“I feel like I belonged out here, especially since I proved that in the first three events,” Wolff said. “Maybe some people out here thought of me as an underdog, that they didn’t have to worry about me. I really hope that they changed their mind and they don’t look at me that way anymore.”

Proving his Worth

The tournament clinching 26-foot eagle putt that Wolff sank at the final hole at the 3M would have erased any doubts from those who didn’t believe he belonged. Wolff didn’t start out on fire, he finished tied for 80^th at the Travelers Championship, and missed the cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in his first two events.

Then on his third consecutive week on tour, Wolff put together rounds of 69, 67, 62, and 65 to beat out Bryson DeChambeau by a stroke at the 3M.

“This is the first week it kind of sunk in,” Wolff told reporters on Tuesday. “I feel like I was still in shock after I won and I really didn’t know what to expect.”

Kisner Trying for Two-Peat

Kevin Kisner won the last WGC event, the Dell Technologies Match Play in March. Now he is trying to win two consecutive WGC events, a feat that’s only been done by two golfers.

Dustin Johnson won the Mexico Championship and the Match Play in 2017, and Tiger Woods did it five times.

“Anytime you can put your name next to those two names is quite a feat,” Kisner said. “I’d love to be the next person to do it.”

But Kisner hasn’t played at TPC Southwind since tying for 50th in the FedEx St. Jude Classic in 2014. The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has him at 80/1.

Kisner, who tied for 30th at last week’s Open Championship, will be playing in much hotter temperatures than at Royal Portrush.

“I heard we’re going to get a cool front and it’s only going to be in the 80s in Memphis,” Kisner said. “But the heat doesn’t bother me. My golf ball actually goes far. It will be a big change the first two days, for sure. You get rid of all these long sleeves and sweat a little bit and get used to what the ball will do there as opposed to what it’s doing here.”