The professionals took in all of the motion on the Caddie Competitors on Wednesday.
Claire Rogers
Hi there buddies, and joyful Wednesday from TPC Sawgrass! We began our day vibrant and early due to Rory McIlroy’s 7:50 a.m. press convention.
Talking of fatigued, Rory, you recognize who’s feeling a little bit drained after the early morning name time? Me. (Simply kidding. I informed myself I wouldn’t be aggravated by the earlier-than-usual Wednesday wakeup if I nonetheless had sufficient time to blow dry my hair earlier than leaving for the course, which I did. McIlroy, you’re secure for now.)
I’ll say it was an all-time excessive for the variety of coffees I’ve seen at a press convention. Rumor has it this might be a brand new document for the earliest presser held on the PGA Tour. Nobody I requested might consider one other one which had began prior to eight:00 a.m., so I’m declaring this to be Rory’s newest document. Congratulations to the four-time main champion, and if you happen to’re an expert golfer who’s studying this: I don’t condone this conduct going ahead. I’ll say that I prevented site visitors for the primary time all week this morning, in order that’s positively a constructive.
First-timers day and PGA Tour superlatives
As quickly as McIlroy’s presser wrapped up, I headed over to the entrance garden of the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse for first timers day, the place Gamers Championship rookies talked to the media and obtained a particular go to from PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, who gifted them every with a pair of cufflinks made by Tiffany. Sadly, media members didn’t obtain any presents from Tiffany, however that’s okay.
Monahan additionally offered American Categorical champion Nick Dunlap together with his official PGA Tour membership card, which was actually cool to look at.
Between Dunlap, Ludvig Aberg, Akshay Bhatia, Austin Eckroat, Nicolai Hojgaard, Jake Knapp and Matthieu Pavon, this actually didn’t really feel like we had been chatting with first-timers. These guys are already very profitable. In non-golf phrases, that is most likely what it’s prefer to stroll into an AP class on the primary day of highschool. These children are the cream of the crop!
Considered one of my favourite items of content material from first timers day was listening to the gamers speak about their yearbook superlatives.
Aberg admitting that he was “most likable” is so humorous. It doesn’t even appear to be he’s making an attempt to brag about it, which makes it even funnier as a result of it’s clearly a flex. A regarding variety of the fellows didn’t know the definition of “superlative,” however we on the Rogers Report received’t maintain that towards them.
Caddie Competitors
Absolutely the spotlight of my day right here on the Gamers was hanging out on the seventeenth tee for the annual Caddie Competitors, the place loopers obtained to point out off their very own recreation for a couple of moments and tee it up on some of the enjoyable holes on the PGA Tour.
Not solely did the caddies get tremendous into it, however the professionals had been very enthusiastic about it as nicely. The professionals all grew to become videographers whereas their guys teed off and made certain to get down-the-line swing content material. And people, many of those caddies are very good golfers.
We’ll begin with Willy Wilcox, who made a hole-in-one on on the seventeenth at TPC Sawgrass when he was within the discipline within the occasion again in 2016.
Sadly, it didn’t go fairly as nicely for Wilcox as we speak. One ace is greater than most of us could have in a lifetime, so I believe he’ll be alright.
Essentially the most spectacular second of the Caddie Competitors was when Nicki Stricker (spouse to Steve) stepped as much as the tee. I imagine she’s the one feminine caddie within the discipline this week (and most weeks!), however that didn’t hold her from matching proper as much as the tee, grabbing one in all her husband’s golf equipment, and sticking it to 9 ft.
The group went wild as quickly as she hit the ball within the air. Max Homa began cheering, the opposite caddies clapped and Nicki Stricker simply laughed.
It was by far my favourite second of the day, and one I received’t quickly overlook.
The runner-up second of the day was when Shane Lowry completely misplaced it after one of many caddies in his group whiffed on the tee.
The professionals had been all so excited to look at their caddies tee it up, and I couldn’t assist however take a handful of pictures of the motion. And as a social media gal, I observed that the professionals are all fairly good at capturing content material! A minimum of so far as swing movies go. Who is aware of what their pictures recreation seems like when a pal asks for a photograph taken vertically with flash on throughout an evening out.
Claire Rogers
Claire Rogers
If you happen to look carefully on the subsequent photograph, you’ll see that Xander Schauffele was FaceTimed in to look at his caddie, Austin Kaiser, hit his tee shot.
Claire Rogers
After which we had Max Homa with a entrance seat to his caddie’s tee shot. Fortunately, his looper, Joe Greiner, is a superb participant, so he didn’t have to fret an excessive amount of concerning the king of Golf Twitter (sorry people, that is my column, and I refuse to name it “X”) roasting his swing.
Claire Rogers
Claire Rogers
Claire Rogers
Congratulations to Sean McDonagh, Vincent Norman’s caddie, for placing it extremely shut as we speak.
Miscellaneous!
I witnessed a really healthful interplay outdoors the ropes by the seventeenth tee as we speak and I’d like to share it with you all.
Right here’s to creating some new buddies on the golf course!
