Josh Allen has proven that he is among the NFL's brightest stars. On Wednesday, he'll put another set of skills to the test.
Allen will be pairing up with fellow star quarterback Patrick Mahomes in The Match. They'll be teeing off against The Match veterans Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, who appeared in last year's edition and teamed up with Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, respectively.
Brady and Rodgers have the experience, but Allen and Mahomes might put on a show with some of the explosiveness they showed in their AFC divisional round matchup.
THE MATCH: Guide to Brady-Rodgers vs. Allen-Mahomes
Just how good is Josh Allen at golf? The Sporting News attempts to answer that question.
Josh Allen's handicap
Of the four golfers, Allen has the highest handicap. When he played the 2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, he had a handicap of 9.0, which is nearly double Aaron Rodgers' handicap and about a stroke worse than Tom Brady's.
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Is Josh Allen good at golf?
Driving
Allen can throw the ball farther than most quarterbacks in the NFL. He seems to match that power with his driving ability.
Golf.com's Kellie Stenzel said that Allen generates plenty of speed with his hand and wrists, even if there is some slice to his swing.
.@BuffaloBills QB Josh Allen🏈
— Zephyr Melton (@zephyrmelton) January 15, 2021
Tremendous balance throughout and some good power from the way he uses his hands and wrists. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/i8HfmKg1Ko
Allen said at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am that his drives can carry 310 or 315 yards, "if I'm swinging it good."
"It's no Bryson DeChambeau, but I can hit it a little bit," he said.
Tackling a different type of turf at Pebble Beach.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 3, 2022
Go inside the ropes with @BuffaloBills quarterback @JoshAllenQB during his practice round @ATTProAm. pic.twitter.com/KewXwgbrFR
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Irons
Based on his practice round, his favorite iron might be a 2-iron. He managed to land a tee shot on the fairway with it, although he joked that it may not have been the best way to begin the hole.
"When you're in a lightning storm on the golf course, you hold up a 2-iron because not even God can hit a 2-iron," Allen said. "Actually like it."
His first shot out of the sand wasn't bad. It rolled away from the hole, but he set himself up for a putt. His second one was much better. And this one during the event itself was the best of the bunch.
.@JoshAllenQB with the soft touch.
— GOLF on CBS ⛳ (@GOLFonCBS) February 5, 2022
What a shot from the sand by the @BuffaloBills quarterback. pic.twitter.com/TIER3VxiZz
Another approach shot from the pro-am showed him hooking it over the bunker and landing it off the edge of the green before it rolled on a few feet from the hole.
As long as Allen decides to play all his iron shots, and not just the ones that stay on the fairway, he should be all right.
Play it as it lies, @JoshAllenQB ...
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 6, 2022
Or don't. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/lZPBbQkL2H
MORE: Allen, Mahomes emphasize friendship ahead of The Match
Putting
Allen sank the only putt from the practice round that was on video.
In the pro-am, he and Keith Mitchell finished 15 under par, but the cut was 19 under, so they missed out on playing the final two days of the tournament.
Putting could be where Allen's game is tested the most.
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Best golf moments
Allen has made a number of golf appearances over the years. Along with the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am in 2022, Allen was at the 2019 Jim Kelly Celebrity Golf Classic.
He also appeared with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Sam Darnold at the 2019 Maxfli Closest to the Pin Contest. The current Bills QB came out on top over the former Bills QB and the quarterback who was taken four picks ahead of him in the 2018 NFL Draft.
MORE: Rodgers says Allen and 'Kermit the Frog' better up their 's— talk' game
What to expect from Josh Allen in The Match
Allen's game is one of the biggest unknowns in the event, but Pebble Beach showed that he's capable of being solid. Expect him and Mahomes to show off the power with the driver, but count on the more experienced QBs — and golfers — to have more success in the short game.
