Matt Parziale: The firefighter living the Masters dream

Matt Parziale 2018 Masters (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /

Matt Parziale, a 31-year old firefighter, has made it to the Masters this year. Even though we don’t expect much from his presence, the story of how it got there is an inspiring story you can use for yourself to show that everything is possible with the right mindset.

No matter what day and age, we always love rags to riches stories. They are relatable, they are inspiring, and they give us hope and motivation to climb higher in society and life.

The world of golf was recently astonished by its own, real rags to riches story: a blue-collar fireman won the national amateur championship and was invited to play at this year’s Masters tournament, next April.

Meet Matt Parziale, a 31-year old firefighter with Ladder Company 1 of the Brockton Fire Department. Matt is also a son of a Brockton firefighter.

Usually, the U.S. Mid-Amateur tournament is the end of the year’s golf season for him, having failed to win any match in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Yet, last October was something different for Parziale. He made it out of the first and second rounds. He struggled through the quarterfinals, being 5 down with only eight holes left to play, and almost miraculously won this game. Matt was nothing short of impressive. He beat Josh Nichols 8 and 6, making 8 impressive birdies to finally win the 2017 U.S. Mid Amateur Cup.

It is maybe the luckiest coincidence that Matt Parziale won the very first U.S Mid Amateur where the champion is exempt to join the next U.S. Open in June. Of course, he is also exempt from the U.S. Amateur next August at Pebble Beach. But for Parziale, according to his own tweet, the invitation to the Masters was his best Christmas present ever.

But, rather than discussing Parziale’s inclusion in the Masters and 2 other major tournaments, and his chances, let us first know him more in person and most importantly, how he was to achieve what he achieved.

Matt Parziale celebrates making the Masters field…by going back to work the next morning

Although we can say that Parziale is ‘just’ a part-time golfer and full-time firefighter, and even after winning the biggest game of his life, he had to get back to work as a firefighter at 7 A.M. the very next day. He shared with the press his story on how he missed his first flight from Atlanta, and could only get back home by 2 A.M. So, he had to fulfill his often life-threatening responsibilities as a firefighter after just less than 5 hours of sleep, after what we’re sure was a physically and mentally tiring tournament.

Let’s be honest here, how many of us will still go to work in this situation? Even less if our job is as physically challenging as being a firefighter. Does this responsible and professional attitude have something to do with him winning the championship? Our best guess is it is, especially considering his non-existent golfing career previous to winning the Mid-Amateur.

For those who somehow think Parziale’s win is all about luck, Matt Parziale was actually a golf elite with a collection of trophies in his youth. He was All-America back in his college years and held the title of Massachusetts Golf Association player of the year.

So, I’ll hate to bring the bad news, but this might no longer be a rags to riches story, but rather a story of how the game of golf can be so cruel, so difficult, and will require your absolute best never-say-die attitude.

Undying commitment brought Parziale to Augusta

Parziale used to practice the game until he bled on both of his hands. We all know that unless you do really well in golf, it’s hard to turn it into a living, and that’s what happened: he had no money. Realizing that fact, he decided to follow his father’s footsteps to have a stable career as a firefighter that still allowed him to play amateur golf. A typical week for the firefighter Matt is two 24-hour shifts a week and 5 days off, where he can practice and play golf.

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The hardest part of this game, according to Matt himself, is the fact that you are out there on your own, it is not basketball or American football where you have the whole team to support you. That solitude was highly contrasted by Matt’s day-to-day job as a firefighter, which is filled with teamwork and (in his words), awesome teammates.

Another unique thing about his personal life is that he had already planned a wedding date later this year in August, which, thanks to his victory, now clashes with the U.S. Amateur Championship. Thankfully, his spouse, Ali Hubbard, agreed to move the wedding date, and this year is looking a lot more to be Matt Parziale’s confirmation year in golf. He is already a hero for so many people dreaming to achieve what he already achieved in golf.

I think all of us will agree that Parziale’s odds at the Masters will be a long shot. Yet, for him, his life has already changed. He now got all the media interested in him. Will he consider going back to the pros and forfeit his career as a firefighter? We’ll have to see.

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Matt himself got all the support from those around him, a very supportive father, Vic Parziale, his fiancee, and his firefighter colleagues, some of those also play golf seriously. All of them mentioned how Matt is not only a good golfer but a great person as well.

Will it be a three-peat for Brockton, who gave birth to amateur-turn-champions Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler years ago? Again, we will have to see, and all the best for Matt Parziale. You are already a winner.

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