NFL star Golden Tate recently shared his pickleball experience with Scottie Scheffler. The $9,400,000-worth player admitted to being surprised by how good the World No. 1 golfer was at the game. The former Detroit Lions star said he ‘didn’t realize how good’ the PGA Tour star was especially under the conditions they were playing.
Tate revealed that Scheffler was comfortable playing with golf cart lights. He said that the 29-year-old impressed the rest of the squad, which included five-time PGA Tour winner Sam Burns, with his ‘reaction time and his footwork.’
The 36-year-old said he was ‘thankful’ no one including Scheffler didn’t get hurt despite playing under risky conditions. He said they ‘created a memory that night’ which they intend to tell a lot of people.
Speaking with former PGA Tour pro Smylie Kaufmann on the latest episode of The Smylie Show, Golden Tate said (at 43:32):
“I didn't (know how good Scottie Scheffler was). I'd seen him playing like celeb Ams and I thought he had some game but I didn't realize how good he was and especially how good he was under the conditions that we were playing…
"We play pickle ball with golf cart lights and pretty late and thankful that no one hurt but his reaction time and his footwork was good. He had really good hands and soft hands and he was able to place the ball. So, it was really fun to play with him and we created a memory that night. We'll tell a lot of people it'd be fun to tell to.”
Tate noted that he was ‘bummed’ when the night ended as it “was really cool.” It is pertinent to note that Scottie Scheffler is yet to comment on the pickleball experience he had with Tate.
Former PGA Tour pro thinks Scottie Scheffler could be a pro at Pickleball
Scottie Scheffler had a stellar season, winning seven times on the Tour, a gold medal in Paris, and over $50 million in earnings. Interestingly, Smylie Kaufmann thinks the golfer could be equally good as a Pickleball pro. Speaking to Tate on his podcast, the former PGA Tour lauded the World No. 1 player’s competitive nature.
Kaufmann, while recalling a story that happened at one of the tournaments, noted that Scheffler may be “the best pickleball player on tour.” Furthermore, the golfer-turned-analyst said that the latter was ‘potentially good enough to turn pro’ in the sport.
Recalling his pickleball experience with Scottie Scheffler, Smylie Kaufmann said:
“I started to realize that Scotty may be the best pickleball player on tour and potentially good enough to turn pro. I don’t say that lightly, because he’s the best pickleball player I’ve ever played against.”
It is pertinent to note that Scottie Scheffler had earlier showcased his pickleball skills to the world by beating pickleball star Ann Leigh Waters in the Carvana PPA Tour Celebrity Showdown. Notably, the ace golfer’s wife Meredith has also confirmed her husband’s obsession with the sport. He also played alongside Jordan Spieth at a Celebrity Pro-Am in Texas.