Charlotte, North Carolina | The Wednesday pro-am at the Truist Championship had the usual assortment of bank executives, business leaders, a Super Bowl quarterback (Drake Maye), a collection of former Carolina Panthers stars including new Hall of Fame linebacker Luke Kuechly, and Dean Smith.
Not that Dean Smith, who built his basketball legend a little more than two hours from Quail Hollow Club (and died in 2015), but Dean Smith, the head coach of Charlotte FC, the local Major League Soccer squad. Smith’s caddie was Ashley Westwood, captain of Charlotte FC, who spent part of his down time on road trips last year earning his online caddie certification through the Caddy Clubhouse program.
It takes the coach/player dynamic to a different but comfortable level. They’ve played golf together and recently made a short road trip south of Charlotte to play Broomsedge for Westwood’s birthday.
Westwood, a feisty midfielder by trade, was introduced to golf by his father … Now living in the American South with its longer season, Westwood has found a new love for it.
Westwood, an Englishman, got interested in the program through fellow Englishman Chris Rice, who caddies for Harold Varner III and co-founded the program. Through a series of online tutorials, subsequent tests and an abiding interest in the game, Westwood earned a degree.
When Smith told him he had been invited to play in the Wednesday pro-am with FC’s next match not until Saturday, Westwood’s response was unequivocal. “He said straightaway, I’m caddying,” Smith said.
Westwood, a feisty midfielder by trade, was introduced to golf by his father but had limited time to play around his soccer schedule back home. Now living in the American South with its longer season, Westwood has found a new love for it.
On the pitch, there is a clearly defined coach/player hierarchy. But how did it work playing alongside tour pros Patrick Cantlay and Denny McCarthy and in front of thousands of fans – with a late rain shower soaking everyone?
“To be fair, I was turning around to Westy and asking him a couple of reads. He overclubbed me a couple of times and I pulled the wrong club out a couple of times as well. It happens,” Smith said.
Westwood trusted his certified caddie instincts but understood the player always has the last word.
“I didn’t want to tell him too much,” Westwood said. “You don’t like people interfering too much.”
They left smiling, though soggy after the final-hole downpour.
“Good having him on the bag,” Smith said.
Ron Green Jr.
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