Scottie Scheffler Amazes Golden Tate After a Battle: Former NFL wide receiver and Super Bowl champion Golden Tate is no stranger to recognizing athletic talent. Recently, after facing off against World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler in a pickleball match in Nashville, Tate couldn’t help but admire the golfer’s skills on the court. The two-time Masters champion, it turns out, isn’t just a force in golf—he’s quite the pickleball player as well.
A Standout Performance on the Court
Tate reflected on his experience playing with Scheffler during the latest episode of The Smylie Show, hosted by PGA Tour winner Smylie Kaufman, sharing not just the moments on the course, but the deeper lessons and inspiration he drew from witnessing Scheffler’s remarkable composure and skill.
“I’d seen him play in like Celeb-Ams, and I thought he had some game, but I didn’t realize how good he was. His reaction time and his footwork were good, and he had, as we would expect, really good hands, soft hands, and he was able to place the ball, so it was really fun to play with him.” – (Tate)
The Pro Bowl wide receiver was genuinely impressed as he and Scheffler faced off in singles after their doubles match with Kaufman and fellow PGA Tour star Sam Burns, marveling at Scheffler’s incredible skill and competitive spirit on the course.
Scheffler’s Strategy Shines
Despite his impressive athletic background, Tate couldn’t help but admire how Scheffler dominated the match from start to finish, showing a level of control and precision that left a lasting impression.
“He has a really good understanding for the game of pickleball. It was kind of wild. He was putting me in situations where I couldn’t create an edge. I felt like going into the match I was more athletic than him, but after he whooped up on me twice, I was like, ‘Ok, this guy can play.’” – (Tate)
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Looking for a Rematch
Tate is eager for another shot at Scheffler on the pickleball court, reminiscing about their last match where Scheffler’s brilliant strategy had him darting across the court in exhilarating sprints, desperately trying to gain an edge but always coming up short.
“He had me out there just running sprints all over the court. He’d just be sitting in the middle of the court, just like angles, angles, and I was getting one or two of them, but then the third one, he would just close it out because I was burnt out and tired. I would love to get another game and figure out a way to get something going.” – (Tate)
News in Brief: Scottie Scheffler Amazes Golden Tate After a Battle
Former NFL star Golden Tate recently praised World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler’s pickleball skills after facing him in a match in Nashville. Appearing on The Smylie Show podcast, Tate noted Scheffler’s excellent reaction time, footwork, and ability to place the ball with precision.
Despite Tate’s athleticism, Scheffler dominated their singles match, leaving Tate impressed by the golfer’s strategic mastery on the pickleball court. Tate expressed his hope for a rematch, describing how Scheffler dictated the pace and outlasted him in their intense game.
