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Sean McDonough wins Players Championship Caddie Competition at No. 17's Island Green

garry smits, jacksonville florida times-union
·2 min read

Vincent Norrman is one of 21 first-time participants in The Players Championship.

His caddie, Sean McDonough, already has a victory before the first official shot of The Players has been struck.

McDonough won The Players caddie competition on Wednesday with a shot to within 25 inches of the cup at the par-3 17th hole. It was the fourth-closest proximity in the 25-year history of the competition that was held unofficially until 2000 and has been a highlight of the practice round days at The Players.

McDonough wasn't thrilled with the contact he made. With the ball in the air he said he thought he shanked it and after it landed 2 feet, 1 inch from the hole, he claimed he was very close to a hosel rocket.

The leaderboard at the Players Championship's Caddie Competition at mid-afternoon on Wednesday showed Sean McDonough, who works for Vincent Norrman, as the leader. It held up and McDonough won the annual closest-to-the-pin contest at the Island Green.
The leaderboard at the Players Championship's Caddie Competition at mid-afternoon on Wednesday showed Sean McDonough, who works for Vincent Norrman, as the leader. It held up and McDonough won the annual closest-to-the-pin contest at the Island Green.

"Just trying to make solid contact and see where it goes," he said before his swing.

It was the closest shot to the hole since Chris Rice (Harold Varner III) came 14 inches away in 2021, setting the current record. There still hasn't been an ace made by a caddie during the contest.

McDonough received an undisclosed amount of money that Tour players stuff into a box when coming to the 17th hole. The PGA Tour matches the amount in a donation to the Bruce Edwards Foundation, named for the veteran caddie and Ponte Vedra Beach resident who passed away of ALS in 20024.

McDonough also gets a VIP parking pass for the week, an engraved money clip, a custom drawing by sketch artist Casey Jones and their name on a plaque inside the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse.

McDonough beat Mike Brennan, the caddie for Matt NeSmith, by only 8 inches.

Phillip Reedy, who works for another first-time Players participant, Harry Hall, was third with a shot to within 5 feet, 4 inches.

There was another notable moment at the Island Green. Nikki Stricker, the wife and caddie for PGA Tour Champions player Steve Stricker, hit a shot 9 feet from the hole. Stricker is playing on an exemption granted to the winner of the previous year's Kaulig Companies Championship (formerly the Senior Players).

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Sean McDonough, the caddie for Vincent Norrman, wins 17th hole contest