Travis Kelce came to the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am as an amateur, but he ended up getting praise from the PGA Tour pro he was paired with.
Kelce teamed up with one time PGA Tour winner Keith Mitchell for the week. The event features 80 pros and 80 amateurs playing across Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill. Kelce plays off a 10 handicap and is one of several amateurs in the field around that mark.
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During a walk-and-talk segment with Golf Channel, Mitchell was asked what it has been like playing alongside the NFL star.
“Humbling. He hits it way farther than I do,” he said.
Mitchell opened with a 74 and followed it up with a 5 under 67 in the second round. After 36 holes, he sits tied for 59th.
Kelce, a three time Super Bowl winner and 11 time Pro Bowler, spoke about what draws him to golf when asked what he enjoys about the sport.
“It’s just the beauty of the course to be honest. I know I’m not going to come out here and shoot low. I’m just going to have some fun doing it. And I’m not going to lie. Once I found out I was playing with old cashmere Keith over here I had to just try and match his swagger and, oh, how smooth the guy is, man.”
On how golf fits into his life, Kelce added:
“Just to get away from reality to be honest. Stand over a ball, hit it as hard as I can, let some steam off and just enjoy the views.”
When the interviewer asked what part of Mitchell’s game he would like to copy, Kelce said,
“Like I said, just the swagger, how smooth he is, man. I knew I brought out the old visor for it. I got the cashmere on. We’re just trying to have a good time. He’s shooting low right now which is awesome.”
Travis Kelce recently played in the pro-am ahead of the WM Phoenix Open with Brooks Koepka and looked comfortable there as well. This week at Pebble Beach, he once again showed that his golf game is more than just a hobby.
Brooks Koepka shares honest take on Travis Kelce’s game at WM Phoenix Open
Before teeing it up at Pebble Beach, Travis Kelce had already caught the attention of another major champion. At the WM Phoenix Open pro-am, Kelce was paired with Brooks Koepka and got a taste of one of golf’s loudest stages. The par three 16th at TPC Scottsdale known as the Coliseum Hole is surrounded by grandstands and packed with fans who cheer good shots and let you hear it if you miss.
Travis Kelce handled it well. He knocked his tee shot to just a few feet and soaked in the reaction from the crowd. After the round Koepka was asked what it was like playing alongside the Kansas City Chiefs star.
“Yeah it was good. We’ve got quite a few mutual friends. So there’s been I guess many conversations between those third parties.
“But yeah he’s a great guy. First time I ever got to meet him. Yeah he hits it long. I’m sure that’s not shocking to anybody. He’s got speed and size. So it was fun. It was a good group and I enjoyed it.”
Travis Kelce’s power off the tee is no secret. He plays off a handicap around 11 and has steadily improved over the past few years, often shooting in the 80s while aiming to break into the 70s more regularly.
Distance is his biggest weapon. In 2023, he won the American Century Championship long drive contest with a 362 yard blast. His ball speed has been recorded close to 200 miles per hour, numbers that would stack up with many of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour.
He may not be a scratch player like some NFL peers but Travis Kelce has shown he can more than hold his own when sharing the course with top professionals.
Edited by Sonali Verma
