Matthew Wolff may have the wildest swing in golf today, and during Thursday’s opening round of the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, his scorecard proved to be just as unruly-looking.
The 22-year-old phenom, who finished second at this championship to Bryson DeChambeau last year, had been out of competition for two months, but came back in full force on the major stage.
Wolff carded eight birdies at a tournament where pars are at a premium. Unfortunately, some rust showed in fits of bad play, as Wolff also carded three bogeys and two double bogeys en route to a one-under score of 70.
It’s strange to think the golf world had gone so long without Wolff in action. He hinted that his time away from the links was related to mental health, which is a commendable move to make to recharge, per Golf Magazine‘s Dylan Dethier:
After all, it’s been a heck of a year in general, and Wolff was struggling a lot with his game.
But there’s something to be said for just how explosive Wolff can be. The youthful flair he exudes is electrifying, as is his one-of-a-kind move through the ball.
If Wolff is ever to win a U.S. Open, though, he’ll need to dial back some of the aggression, or at least temper some of his risk-taking. That’ll come with experience, but the sooner Wolff’s course management skills catch up to his phenomenal talent, the more consistent he’ll be, and the more often he’ll win.
For now, it’s absolutely delightful to witness the unchecked wildness with which Wolff approaches golf. Many on social media enjoyed the unpredictable live theatre Wolff provided at the U.S. Open.
