New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner has been spending his off-season working on his golf game – and he’s now installed a simulator in his home to help him improve
Image: IAmSauceGardner)
When he’s not busy shutting down your favourite NFL wide receiver, New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner might be found on the golf course or working on his swing with his new simulator.
The 2023 season was another year of disappointment for the Jets, who missed out on the playoffs after losing Aaron Rodgers who played just four snaps before his season-ending Achilles tear. Despite the team’s struggles, Gardner had a standout year, earning First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowler honours for the second consecutive year since joining the league.
However, the cornerback was understandably dissatisfied with how the season unfolded for his team – missing out on the playoffs once again.
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An American football superstar whose exceptional performance stems not only from his natural talent in coverage but also from the hard work he puts in off the field, whether that’s studying film or mentally preparing for upcoming challenges, Gardner has been all-in on football throughout his life.
This past offseason, the 24-year-old took up another sport, regularly sharing videos of his golf swing throughout the summer. He received praise from Will Zalatoris and Rickie Fowler as he continued to improve week by week.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mirror, Gardner’s face lit up when asked about his golf game and how much he’s enjoyed playing throughout the summer. He plans to continue playing as much as possible, revealing that it provides a welcome respite from the mental and physical demands of NFL football.
He said: “Oh, yeah, man, it’s definitely great being able to take my mind off football. You know, I love it. I love the game of football so much… So it’s just like, sometimes you got to get away from it and do something else temporarily so that way you can just keep that love so strong, that unconditional love.
“That golf bug is real. I’m definitely addicted to golf, I can’t help it. The key to addiction is admitting it. You know what I’m saying? That’s just what it is, man… I spent a lot of money getting a golf simulator put in my house. It don’t matter if I have a tough day of practice, like a long day, you know, I still go down there and do some chip shots or something like that, just something. Picking up golf has just been great, man.”
Image:
X/IAmSauceGardner)
Image:
IAmSauceGardner)
But for the moment, Gardner will have to shelve his frequent golf rounds, as with the NFL season on the brink of kickoff, his focus returns firmly to the gridiron. His recent tweet read: “Golf… it’s been real. You have been a great side quest this offseason. You turned me into TigerWishICould, but now it’s time to lock in on you know what. Let’s take some time to appreciate how far my swing has come since June 16th to now.”
Gardner has established himself as one of the premier cornerbacks in his early NFL years, holding opposing receivers to under 350 yards in coverage and only a single touchdown, while regularly reining in some of the top talent in the league.
As he enters his third year in the league, Gardner finds himself in the best position yet with the Jets, thanks to significant enhancements to both their offense and defense – they’re tipped to win their division for the first time in 22 years.
The Jets are scheduled to kick off their season on the road against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, before jetting off to London in week five to face the Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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