Tour pro slams wild Solheim Cup celebration

Alison Lee’s Saturday chip-in at the Solheim Cup sparked wild celebrations.

The US star, playing with Megan Khang in the afternoon fourballs, canned an 86-yard wedge shot for eagle on the par-4 second hole.

All eyes were on the resulting scenes, though, as Lee’s caddie Taylor Takada – and Khang’s caddie Jack Fulghum – went topless.

The loopers ran wild at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club and, while it’s split opinion among golf fans, one tour pro has blasted the move.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Pablo Larrazabal wrote: “Shirts off from caddies to celebrate a great shot at the Solheim Cup? The game that I love is going too far the wrong way.”

Clearly unamused, the Spaniard followed up: “Celebrations like this in golf. Please, respect the game we love.”

We’ll let you watch the celebration, below, and decide…

SHIRTS OFF FOR ALISON LEE'S HOLE OUT FROM THE FAIRWAY 😤💯 pic.twitter.com/VDmLUq8xR6

— LPGA (@LPGA) September 14, 2024

There was a story behind it, however. Golf Channel’s on-course reporter Kay Cockerill said during the broadcast that it was planned.

On the second tee, Khang’s caddie suggested to pay either player $500 if they holed out from the fairway.

Lee’s caddie had another idea. Takada said no, and instead told the pair that if one of them holed out, the caddies had to take off their shirts.

Within fifteen minutes, chaos had erupted in Gainesville.

As Team USA began sweeping the defending champions aside, US captain Stacy Lewis – among several vice captains and players on the first tee – watched the celebration unfold on a giant screen.

We could see a similar performance at the Presidents Cup later this month, too.

Reacting to the viral clip on social media, US team member Max Homa said: “Tarps off!!! Let’s go.”

Kevin Kisner, one of Jim Furyk’s captain’s assistants, replied: “I’ll do this in Montreal if you hoop one! Book it!

“Better start doing crunches now, got faith in my guy Max Homa.”

Of course, Homa quipped back: “Deal!!”

Lee’s shot put her and Khang 1-up over Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom before the US pair won the match 4&3.

• Solheim Cup 2024: Schedule and tee times

• When and where can you watch the Solheim Cup on TV?

After the Euros conceded the match on the 15th green, Lee told Cockerill: “[It was] probably one of the coolest moments of my life, my career.

“Got to have one of my best friends with me, two great caddies and we celebrated… just the way we wanted to.”

Khang added: “Honestly, if you couldn’t tell by my voice, I’ve had a little too much fun, well, I guess you can never have too much fun on this team.

“Like Alison said, it’s always great when you get to play with one of your best friends and what an electric start to the day.

“It was crazy that that happened. Obviously, the caddies are going a little bit more viral right now, but we’re just having a good time and embracing the fans out here.”

Rose Zhang and Andrea Lea also won their fourball match on Saturday, thrashing Linn Grant and Celine Boutier 6&4.

Meanwhile, Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen beat Ally Ewing and Lexi Thompson 2&1 before Charley Hull and Georgia Hall beat Allisen Corpuz and Lilia Vu 2-up.

USA take a 10-6 lead into the Sunday singles.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.