'Hideous': Golf world freaks out over 'new Happy Gilmore'

Rory McIlroy may have stolen the headlines, but Matthew Wolff was the talk of the golfing world after the TaylorMade Driving Relief exhibition on Sunday.

McIlroy delivered the money shot as live golf returned to television in the US for a Skins game that raised more than $US5 million ($A7.8m) for coronavirus relief funds.

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McIlroy and his partner Dustin Johnson had a chance to win six skins worth $US1.1m ($A1.7m) on the final hole at Seminole Golf Club.

Both missed and they returned to the par-3 17th for a closest-to-the-pin contest against Rickie Fowler and his fellow American Wolff.

Down to the last shot, McIlroy's effort measured at 13 feet to secure the spoils.

“Air five,” the world No.1 said to Johnson, alluding to the social distancing in place at Juno Beach, Florida, at an event with no fans.

Speaking of Wolff, it was the first time for many fans seeing the 21-year-old in action.

And it’s fair to say there was some shock.

Wolff utilises one of the more unique swings on the pro tours, with a funky little dip in his pre-swing before uncorking the club on a wild trajectory to the ball.

News.com described Wolff as the ‘new Happy Gilmore’ on Monday while conceding his swing is ‘hideous’.

Fans gobsmacked by Matthew Wolff’s swing

But there’s a very good reason for the bizarre swing.

Wolff suffered an injury to his collarbone at the age of 16 and instinctively tried to protect the area when he returned to swinging a golf cub.

But considering how bad it looks it certainly works.

Wolff’s swing coach George Gankas says his strange backswing is actually the source of his enormous power.

“It sets him up to deliver unbelievable power,” he told Bleacher Report recently.

“He tears up the turf with his spikes. I can always identify the spot where he’s been practising.”

Wolff admitted he’d be feeling uncomfortable playing alongside some of the game’s best in Florida.

“I feel like a lot of people are going to tune in and go, ‘Who is this kid playing with Rory, Rickie and DJ?’” he said.

“They’re going to know by the end of the match, though.”

The final carryover gave McIlroy and Johnson $US1.85m ($A2.9m) for the American Nurses Foundation.

Fowler, who made seven birdies, and Wolff made $US1.15m ($A1.8m) for the CDC Foundation.

“I'm proud to be part of an event to entertain people at home on a Sunday afternoon and to raise money for people who need it,” McIlroy said as he played the 18th hole.

When the exhibition ended, more than $5.5m ($A8.6m) had been pledged.

Players carried their own bags, wore microphones and shorts with a skeleton crew, of just six cameras, on hand to broadcast the event.

“It was an awesome day,” McIlroy said.

“It was nice to get back on the golf course and get back to some sort of normalcy.”

with AAP