Matthew Wolff didn’t take long to respond to LIV Golf teammate Brooks Koepka’s comments about his recent performance.
Wolff admitted to being heartbroken about the criticism from his team captain.
To hear through the media that our team leader has given up on me is heartbreaking
Matthew Wolff
The 24-year-old American golfer sits in 25th place in the points standings after disappointing results.
With only the top 24 players getting a guaranteed spot next season, Wolff’s participation for 2024 hangs in the balance.
Koepka, tired of seeing his teammate deliver subpar performances, admitted his frustrations in an interview with Sports Illustrated saying “I’ve basically given up on him-a lot of talent, but I mean the talent’s wasted“.
Wolff’s full statement sheds light on his mental health struggles
On Friday, SI released a statement from Wolff in which he acknowledges Kopeka’s comments and hits back at his Smash GC’s captain for his leadership style.
Here’s the full statement:
“I read the SI interview with our Captain Brooks Koepka and it was beyond disappointing to me. When I chose to join his team in 2023, I did so with much optimism about my new home as part of Team Smash and equally as important the chance to be around and learn from a player of Brooks’s stature. Like everyone who has ever played the game at the highest level, I have had competitive moments in the past that I feel I have let myself down and even others in our new team environment. This has been quite difficult for me.ha My cllenges on and off the golf course with my mental health has been well documented. I deal with those challenges every day.
However, while my 2023 season has not been all I had hoped for to this point, I have made positive strides in managing my life and feel Ike my game is turning for the positive. To hear through the media that our team leader has given up on me is heartbreaking. It’s not what a team member looks to hear from its leader, and I think we all know these comments should have been handled much differently. But I’m moving forward and won’t ever give up on myself. While on course results may not appear now to be positive indicators, I’m trying to win an even BIGGER game with my life.
Finally, I trust Brooks wants what is best for our team. But it’s hard to imagine his comments in his recent SI interview in any way line up with those priorities. This will be my last comment on this matter. I’m heading out today to the Centurion Club trying to help our team win this week. I appreciate everyone’s continued support and your respect for my privacy.”
LIV Golf pressure too much for Wolff?
Wolff, who had a solid start in his transition from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf, is now facing a rough patch.
Struggling to crack the top 30 in his last five tournaments and even withdrawing from the final round of the LIV Golf DC event due to an undisclosed injury, his journey has taken an unexpected turn.
To make matters worse, rumors started swirling when Wolff mysteriously disappeared from Smash GC’s social media, hinting at a possible departure from Koepka’s squad. Though his profile has resurfaced, it seems his future contributions to the team are up in the air for the upcoming 2024 season.
All eyes of the golfing world will be watching this weekend’s LIV Golf showdown in London at the Centurion Club to see how the feud plays out on the course.
Can they put their differences aside for the sake of their team, or will tensions continue to escalate?