“Unbelievable! Caddie Under Attack: Chaos Erupts at Wild LIV Golf Showdown Down Under!”

In a scene reminiscent of the electrifying atmosphere at the WM Phoenix Open’s iconic 16th hole, a professional golfer’s caddie found himself on the receiving end of a water bottle hurled by a fan during the LIV Golf Adelaide event.

Someone in the crowd launched a full water bottle at Lucas Herbert’s caddie and hit him in the head at LIV Golf Adelaide. Not cool. pic.twitter.com/1wInxyRF3V

— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) April 27, 2024

Nick Pugh, the caddie for Australian golfer Lucas Herbert, was struck in the back of the head while tending to the flagstick on the 12th hole of Grange Golf Club. This incident occurred immediately after Herbert sank a birdie putt, adding to the drama of the moment.

The 12th hole at Grange GC, known as the “watering hole,” is renowned for its lively ambiance, characterized by booming music, enthusiastic crowds, and a liberal serving of beverages. Drawing parallels to the atmosphere at TPC Scottsdale’s 16th hole, the setup features stadium-style grandstands that encircle the hole, amplifying the excitement.

According to reports from the Sydney Morning Herald, over 30,000 spectators were in attendance for Saturday’s round in Adelaide. This fervor was reminiscent of the previous year when Chase Koepka’s hole-in-one on the 12th prompted an eruption of cheers and a cascade of cups and bottles onto the green.

However, this year’s festivities took a concerning turn.

Following Herbert’s group, which was the last to play the 12th hole on Saturday, local fans celebrated his closing birdie with gusto, marking the conclusion of Herbert’s impressive round of seven-under 65.

As jubilation swept through the crowd and drinks were flung into the air, the situation took a distressing turn. Pugh, in the midst of his duties, turned his back to the crowd to replace the pin when he was unexpectedly struck by a thrown bottle.

The impact caused Pugh to drop to his knees, prompting Herbert to rush to his side to check on him. Fortunately, Herbert later reassured everyone that Pugh was okay.

“He’s good and he took it really well. He could have been a lot more upset with it, but he took it really well,” Herbert said, as reported by the Herald. “It’s probably difficult to expect someone who has had 15 beers to aim a water bottle away from someone. That’s maybe asking too much.”

This incident brings to light the ongoing concern for player and caddie safety in the midst of celebratory fan interactions. Reflecting on the WM Phoenix Open’s experience in 2022, where Sam Ryder’s ace on the 16th hole sparked a flurry of beer-throwing, organizers took measures to mitigate risks by switching to serving beer in plastic cups in 2023.