The Loop
Golf World Monday: Caddie races, pro and con
From the February 4 issue on Golf World Monday:
It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt. The latest wrinkle to the alternate entertainment lineup at the Waste Management Phoenix Open is the caddie races at the par-3 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale, the "stadium" hole surrounded by grandstands that seat more than 20,000 boisterous fans.
Photo by Getty Images
Caddies race from tee to green, a distance up to 162 yards, a decent jaunt, especially with clubs on their backs. We think they're fun to watch, frankly. Whether it's Kenny Harms sliding head first into the green or Brent Henley body-checking older brother Kip after stumbling and falling head over heels, the races are something completely different.
Even players Y.E. Yang and Kyle Stanley got into the spirit yesterday. Hey, we're for just about anything that brings more paying customers to golf, so we have no problem with caddies adding to the festivities with wind sprints. But that spill Brent Henley took could have resulted in a serious injury or damage to the clubs belonging to Robert Garrigus.
Just something to think about. Perhaps next year the loopers should at least put down the clubs before leaving the starting blocks. Less risk to life, limb and graphite.