Alison Lee and Megan Khang’s caddies went wild.
Scott Taetsch/Getty Pictures
Alison Lee swings. Ball lands on the inexperienced. Ball spins again. Ball drops within the gap.
Crowd goes wild. Caddies go wilder.
What on this planet simply occurred?
After Lee, making her first look on the Solheim Cup in 9 years for Staff USA, holed her strategy shot at Robert Trent Jones Golf Membership’s second gap from 86 yards, her and companion Megan Khang’s caddies each ripped their shirts off within the ensuing frenzy.
It’s a must to see this one to consider it.
The eagle gave Lee and Khang an early 1 Up lead of their Saturday afternoon fourball match with Staff Europe’s Sweadish duo of Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom. However, maybe extra unlikely, their caddies’ celebration was choreographed simply moments earlier.
In accordance with Golf Channel’s Kay Cockerill, Khang’s caddie, Jack Fulghum, pitched a wager on the second tee. One of the best was that if both of the American gamers holed out in the course of the match, the caddies would pay out $500.
Cockerill reported Lee instantly countered.
“No, if we gap out, you guys [the caddies] take your shirts off,” Lee mentioned.
Just some minutes later, Lee’s wedge dropped within the cup and her caddie Taylor “Shota” Takada and Fulghum needed to pay up.
At first, Takada runs over to Lee, screaming earlier than Khang joins in on the celebration. Takada retains operating round for a second earlier than disappearing from the NBC digital camera shot.
That’s when Fulghum walks over, Khang’s bag in a single hand, his shirt and bib within the different with the form of sheepish grin which you could solely have if you lose a wager in essentially the most thrilling approach attainable.
9 years after Solheim Cup concession controversy, Alison Lee again on U.S. staff
By the point Takada comes again within the shot, his shirt is gone as he goes for a hug with Fulghum. Khang began bursting with laughter.
“Nicely grasp on a minute,” NBC broadcaster Terry Gannon mentioned, surprised, but additionally having enjoyable with the second. “Cease proper there. That’s sufficient.”
It was later when Cockerill got here on to share the backstory behind the celebration.
“Low and behold, 5 minutes later, they’re down within the fairway doing simply that,” Cockerill mentioned. “They couldn’t consider that they propositioned that and it occurred all in the identical gap.”
And as NBC’s Tom Abbott identified, Lee’s model of the wager saved every of the caddies $500 too!
The U.S. staff will look to maintain up that vitality degree by way of the remainder of Saturday’s matches. The Individuals entered the fourth of 5 classes main the Europeans 8 factors to 4 as they appear to regain possession of the Solheim Cup for the primary time since 2017.
