Spartan Profiles: Matt Rudy

MATT RUDY:  CAPTURING THE GOLF SWING

            Tiger Woods may be the world’s best golfer, but no one has a better grasp on explaining the golf swing than the award-winning instruction editor and senior writer for Golf Digest magazine. 

             Indeed, Matthew Rudy, ’94, who also served as the magazine’s travel editor, has authored a dozen books about the golf swing—some co-authored with the likes of Johnny Miller, Michelle McGann and Stan Utley—and written countless articles analyzing the world’s best golf swings and also reviewing the best golf travel destinations. “From a mental health viewpoint, this is a great job,” notes Rudy.  “We work in the sun, go to warm places, and work with golf pros and teachers. It beats working in the mines.” 

            Matt currently ghostwrites the columns by Phil Mickelson and Hank Haney (Tiger’s swing coach), and has ghostwritten for such luminaries as Jack Nicklaus and David Leadbetter.  Ironically, all this swing analysis has not helped his own game.  He boasted a 7 handicap, but after writing his first instruction book (with Johnny Miller), “I was barely able to break 90,” he recalls with a chuckle.  “Now my handicap ping pongs between 10 and 15.  I’m trapped between different swing thoughts.” 

            A native of Saginaw, Matt chose to attend MSU’s School of Journalism—“one of the best in the country,” he says, lauding former director Stan Soffin for doing “a fantastic job” selling the school during his campus visit.  Matt worked in various roles at the State News, interned at the Detroit News, and then became a reporter for Sports Illustrated, where he covered Tiger’s first Masters win. 

            His favorite assignment?  An instruction series with Ernie Els in Loch Lomond.  Favorite golf course?  Turnberry in Scotland.  Favorite golf experience?  Playing at Lansing’s Groesbeck municipal course with former State News colleague Don Jozwiak, now an editor with PGA Magazine.  “We used to play the course four times a week,” Matt recalls.  “The second hole is a 90-degree dogleg and we’d hit our tee shots over the homes. I live in Connecticut, near many classic courses. But that’s the course I’d like to play tomorrow.”