Rift between LIV Golf teammates appears to grow; Brooks Koepka says he’s 'given up on' Matthew Wolff
It remains unclear whether Wolff will play for Smash GC next year
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Brooks Koepka and Matthew Wolff both play for the Smash GC team in LIV Golf. Koepka is the team captain, but he seems to be at odds with Wolff.
Wolff recently had a forgettable performance during a golf tournament in Spain, which marked the fifth straight time he had a disappointing showing.
In May, he withdrew from an event outside Washington, D.C., where he was two spots outside last place following 36 holes.
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Team Captain Brooks Koepka, right, of Smash GC and Matt Wolff of Hy Flyers GC walk off the first tee during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational - Portland at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club June 30, 2022, in North Plains, Ore. (Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
"I mean, when you quit on your round, you give up and stuff like that, that's not competing," Koepka told Sports Illustrated.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Koepka suggested that Wolff does not work hard enough.
"I'm not a big fan of that. You don't work hard. It's very tough. It's very tough to have even like a team dynamic when you've got one guy that won't work. One guy is not going to give any effort, he’s going to quit on the course, break clubs, gets down, bad body language. It's very tough. I've basically given up on him — a lot of talent, but I mean the talent's wasted."
Brooks Koepka of the U.S. smiles alongside the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club May 21, 2023, in Rochester, N.Y. (Warren Little/Getty Images)
Wolff's season began on a good note, with the golfer finishing in the top 10 on tree different occasions.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}During an April event in Florida, Wolff finished in the top 5. The Smash GC team earned second place, a season-best finish.
Matthew Wolff of Smash GC plays a shot during the LIV Golf Invitational - Mayakoba at El Camaleon at Mayakoba Feb. 26, 2023, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Juan Luis Diaz/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
After that, things began to come off the rails for the former PGA Tour winner. Wolff tied for 44th place at an event in Australia and followed up that performance with a 41st place finish at his next event in Singapore.
Following his withdrawal from the final round at the event near Washington, D.C., Wolff was suddenly removed from some of Smash GC's social media platforms.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I'm here, you know, trying to do what I can to play the best round of golf and that's going to help the team," Wolff told Sports Illustrated. "I'm just here to focus on myself and try to play some good golf. And that's what everyone's really trying to do because golf is trying to put the best score up. And, then, if that helps your team, it's great."
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Wolff declined to answer questions about whether he wanted to play with a different team. He is No. 27 on the money list. The top 24 players receive a guaranteed place in LIV Golf for next season.