After a rocky start to the 2024 Solheim Cup, where fans had trouble reaching the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia on day one, the second day of the prestigious tournament seemed to go much more smoothly. Well, mostly.
While the competition itself was intense, the real spectacle unfolded on the second hole of the day, involving the caddies of Team USA stars Alison Lee and Megan Khang. In an unexpected turn of events, both caddies found themselves walking down the fairway shirtless, much to the delight of the crowd.
So, how exactly did two grown men end up shirtless in the middle of one of golf’s biggest stages? It all started with a playful wager.
Bet Gone Wrong Leads to Shirtless Caddies at Solheim Cup
Before teeing off on the second hole, Megan Khang’s caddie, Jack Fulghum, threw out a light-hearted bet. He suggested that if either Lee or Khang holed out, the caddies would owe them $500. However, Taylor “Shota” Takada, who was caddying for Alison Lee, had a different—and much bolder—idea. Instead of money, Takada proposed that if either player holed out, the caddies would take off their shirts as part of the celebration.
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It didn’t take long for the bet to be tested. Moments later, Alison Lee stepped up and hit a perfect wedge shot from 86 yards, landing just past the pin and spinning the ball back into the hole for an impressive eagle.
True to their word, Fulghum and Takada immediately removed their shirts, celebrating the moment with a lively chest bump on the fairway as the crowd roared in approval. The unexpected display of enthusiasm brought a burst of fun to the usually composed Solheim Cup atmosphere.
Momentum Carried Through the Match
Lee and Khang, fueled by the energy of their caddies’ antics, used that momentum to dominate their match. They secured a decisive 4 & 3 victory over the European duo of Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom, helping Team USA inch closer to their ultimate goal.
The United States has not won the Solheim Cup in the past three editions of the event, making their performance this year even more crucial. By the end of the second day, Team USA held a commanding 10-4 lead over Team Europe, though the Europeans were leading in the two remaining matches on the course.
With Sunday’s singles matches looming, the U.S. team needs to reach 14.5 points to clinch the Solheim Cup and bring it back to American soil.
Whether or not they can sustain their dominance remains to be seen, but if the caddies’ shirtless celebration is any indication, Team USA is certainly enjoying the ride.
