T.J. Watt Recruiting Joe Haden to Fix His Golf Game, Match With Ben Roethlisberger Teased

Like so many others did among the COVID-19 pandemic, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt decided to pick up golf.

Unfortunately for Watt, he is quickly realizing that the game does not come easy.

“The golf game is coming along a little slower than I would want,” he joked on Tuesday.

Watt is looking for answers just like the rest of us, and did say he might solicit some advice from cornerback Joe Haden, who is one of the most avid golfers on the team.

“Sounds like Joe Haden is just gaining ten strokes per year now, it’s ridiculous,” he said. “I got to get whatever coach he has.”

.@joehaden23, help the guy out!@_TJWatt | Full 🎥: https://t.co/TC35QE5cUy pic.twitter.com/6ByesST5gi

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) June 15, 2021

Haden responded to Watt’s request on Wednesday with the tried and true adage that practice makes perfect.

“I told him you got to swing the club a lot,” Haden said. “So I’ve been doing a whole lot of golfing out in LA after training.”

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Haden also revealed there is a match in the works that would potentially pit the duo against both teammates and family.

“Me and T.J. are going to play against Ben (Roethlisberger) and his brother in a match,” Haden said. “Hopefully we get a lot of strokes, but that should be a good time.”

It is unclear which of T.J.’s brothers Haden was referring to, as both J.J. and Derek enjoy hitting the links during the offseason. Roethlisberger has a reputation as a scratch player, and was ranked as the third-best golfer among NFL quarterbacks by PGA.com in 2018.

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Regardless of how the pairings shake out, it appears Haden has already giftwrapped the lineups for TNT’s next iteration of The Match. Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady will battle Bryson DeChambeau and Aaron Rodgers in the fourth installment on Tuesday, July 6.