Scottie Scheffler 'potentially good enough to turn pro' in pickleball, says Smylie Kaufman
World No. 1 golfer and Olympic gold medalist Scottie Scheffler might just have a future in professional pickleball after all.
At least according to PGA Tour winner and on-course reporter Smylie Kaufman.
On the latest episode of his podcast The Smylie Show, he dished on playing a two-hour doubles match in Nashville with Scheffler and a couple of other notable names.
Kaufman played alongside former NFL wide receiver and pickleball enthusiast Golden Tate, while Scheffler was paired with fellow PGA Tour star Sam Burns.
It was 2 a.m., so golf carts were used to light the court.
Fast forward to the 22:42 mark of the podcast to listen to the segment on pickleball.
"I have a good serve, and that’s something I was able to hang on to for a bit, and then I really started to struggle just getting returns back, and it was just mainly because the ball was moving so much. I started to realize that Scottie may be the best pickleball player on tour, and potentially good enough to turn pro," praised Kaufman. "I don’t say that lightly because he’s the best pickleball player I’ve ever played against."
The former LSU Tiger was clearly in awe of Scheffler's skills with a paddle.
He simply couldn't get over his good buddy's proficiency.
"The whole drive home, I just kept thinking to myself, 'All right, so like I know Scottie’s really good at golf, and he’s the best on the planet at it, but I think I know why.' And it was just how good of an athlete he is," noted Kaufman. "The touch that he had on the court is the same touch that he has with his wedges, how competitive he is, and how he mentally had me in a blender in this game."
Once Smylie and Sam bowed out of the doubles match, Scottie and Golden reportedly went head-to-head in singles.
Details of that story will hopefully be featured in a future episode.
Scheffler, of course, participated in the Deep Eddy Vodka Celebrity Pickleball Showdown at Brookhaven Country Club last November.
He practiced for the event with World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters, and shared some golf tips with her along the way.
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