Well, this is a bummer. The golf world just got a little less bright, and a lot less likely to burst into spontaneous, genuine laughter. Matt McQuillan, a Canadian pro who actually made it onto the PGA Tour (remember those days?), has left us at a ridiculously young 45. It’s the kind of news that makes you want to stare blankly at your putter for a good ten minutes, wondering what the point of anything is.
McQuillan, bless his heart, turned pro in 2003 and somehow wrangled his way onto the big tour in 2010. His shining moment? A tie for third at the 2011 John Deere Classic. Not exactly a major win, but good enough to make your buddies back home buy you a beer. But here’s the thing: the real story wasn’t just the scorecards. Apparently, Matt was the kind of guy who could get a group of grumpy golfers to smile, crack a joke that actually landed, and make you forget you just shanked one into the woods. His own hometown folks and fellow golfers are saying he was the glue, the guy whose laugh you could hear across the fairway.
Beyond the tour grind, Matt apparently didn’t get enough of this maddening game and spent time teaching kids in Kingston, Ontario. I’m picturing him patiently explaining to some 10-year-old why the ball decided to veer left on the backswing, probably with a twinkle in his eye. Friends are tripping over themselves to talk about his enthusiasm, his ability to be genuinely thrilled for someone else’s birdie. It’s enough to make you a little sick, in the best possible way.
He bounced around colleges like any serious golfer – Oklahoma State, then Georgia. But Kingston, Canada, was always home. Golf Canada and the entire Canadian golf contingent are understandably gutted. They’re not just mourning a competitor, but a guy who made the whole darn thing more fun. We’ll remember Matt McQuillan for his kindness, and for the simple fact that he seemed to genuinely love this ridiculous, infuriating, beautiful game.