C.T. Pan experienced an unexpected event during the final round of the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club when his longtime caddie, Mike 'Fluff' Cowan, fell on the third hole and was unable to continue. With Cowan being treated for non-serious injuries at the clubhouse, Pan found himself in need of a replacement caddie.
The first person to step up was Paul Emerson, a fan from Aurora, Ontario. Seeing Pan in distress as he walked Cowan to the medic adjacent to the fairway, Emerson asked if he could help and was granted permission to take over the bag for a few holes. With no prior caddying experience but a strong passion for golf, Emerson did his best to assist Pan.
After helping Pan through a few holes, Michael Campbell from caddie services at Hamilton Golf and Country Club took over as the official replacement caddie on the fifth hole. Campbell had extensive knowledge of the course and proved to be an asset in guiding Pan through the remainder of his round.
As they approached the back nine, Alex Riddell, who serves as Paul Barjon's caddie and lives in Hamilton, offered his services after watching Pan's final round on television. Familiar with Pan from their time together on PGA Tour Canada, Riddell joined the group for the rest of the round.
Despite these changes in caddies, Pan managed to maintain focus and shot an impressive 1-under 69 for the day. The highlight of his final round was a hole-in-one on the par-4 12th hole, which brought excitement to both Pan and his new caddies.
Cowan is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries and will continue working with Pan in the future.
