What's a good way to make pro golf, and PGA Tour events, less fun and interesting? On Tuesday night, Rex Hoggard reported that the PGA Tour would be banning the caddie races that are a fixture on the circuit, specifically at TPC Scottsdale for the Waste Management Open and at Colonial for the Crowne Plaza Invitational.
It's not the most outrageous prohibition but it is a bit disheartening. The races are harmless, even if one caddie told Tour exec Andy Pazder (via Hoggard), "This is ridiculous, it's like we are a carnival show." You are the show, as are the golfers...even if this particular 10-minute stretch on one hole deviates from your usual role in that show.
The reason for banning the races seems to have little merit. Pazder cited injury concerns as the reason for doing away with the untraditional form of side entertainment:
"We have advised the folks at Colonial and out in Phoenix to discontinue the caddie races. It was a situation where we developed a little concern about caddies' safety. Running 150 yards puts caddies at risk for injury."
Ugh. It's 150 yards. Running. That last sentence is just on a tee for anyone wanting to make a joke about golf.
Here's maybe the worst-case scenario, neatly archived on the PGATour's own YouTube channel:
Thanks to sbnation.com for the article