Rookie in the Making Wolff on the front page of John Deere Classic

Matthew Wolff has made a name for himself by winning the 3M Open on his fourth start on the PGA Tour, having gone professional.

The 20-year-old, who played in Oklahoma State, will try to win the match two in a row this weekend at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois.

Wolff was the youngest winner of the circuit since Jordan Spieth had won the TPC Deere Run at the age of 19 in 2013. And as Spieth, he became an upcoming star while he arrives in the Quad Cities.

Among the best players in the world, many people take the week or play at the Scottish Open in preparation for the British Open next week. This makes Wolff as good a choice as a title race in a place known for his low scores.

"My caddy did somehow say that this course was a bit like last week, just for the conduct aspect and the way it is organized," Wolff said. "I played there for Monday morning, and I realized that it was rather a course that suited me well enough and I like its appearance."

Wolff's victory at TPC Twin Cities last week earned him a lot: it earned him an instant membership, a two-year exemption for the PGA Tour and invitations to the Masters and PGA championships next year. . But that did not earn him a spot on the field at the British Open. This is also a possibility this week: the best player who has not yet been exempted and who will rank among the top 5 at the TPC Deere Run will qualify to play next week at the Royal Portrush – and get a place for the flight charter provided by the John Deere Classic to players traveling to Northern Ireland.

If it does not succeed this year, it seems that Wolff, who has always shown tremendous potential, has many league debut.

Wolff, who grew up in Southern California, won first-round honors for the Cowboys in 2017-18 before winning the individual NCAA title in May. After missing the cup at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Wolff shot 62-65 over the weekend at the 3M Open, ensuring the win with a 25-foot putt for the 18th-green pass eagle.

This makes him the seventh player in the last 80 years to win a PGA tour tournament before turning 21. The other six players – Spieth, Tiger Woods, Seve Ballesteros, Phil Mickelson, Raymond Floyd and Rory McIlroy – have won several major tournaments.

Wolff and his assistant, Cole Spradlin, rented a van and drove directly from Minnesota to Quad Cities, where they arrived around 2.30am on Monday.

"It's a dream come true, I'll say it again and again, my life changed as soon as this putt came in," Wolff said. "But it only lasts a long time and my goal is to become the world's number one."

He is now 135th, but that should change soon.

The John Deere Classic has long since offset its lack of power by using sponsor exemptions to attract some of the brightest prospects of the game.

Newcomers this year will include Cal's Collin Morikawa, who shot a shot past Wolff in Minnesota. Morikawa's performance has earned him a special temporary membership on the PGA Tour, which means he can use unlimited exemptions from sponsors to get his circuit card for next season.

Morikawa, who will begin his fifth career start, will be joined by fellow recruits Viktor Hovland and Justin Suh.

"Obviously, the goal of this summer was to win a full map for next year," Morikawa said. "We are almost there."

Defending champion Michael Kim is a player who does not have much success. After winning the TPC Deere Run by eight shots, matching the biggest margin of victory on tour in 2018, Kim began working on swing changes with coach John Tillery and missed 17 goals. ; row.