The biggest story in golf this week has been a basketball player. That may sound strange, but it’s simply the power of Caitlin Clark. This year, Clark’s stardom rose to another level as the record-breaking Iowa phenom became a WNBA lightning rod, fueling discourse and drawing big crowds every time the Indiana Fever took the court. Through it all, Clark kept her head down and focused on her game (she was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year last month), and she did very much the same during her round at The Annika pro-am on Wednesday.
Though Clark’s golf game wasn’t nearly as sharp as on-court skills, the throngs of fans following her every move at Pelican Golf Club looked and felt very familiar.
I don’t know about you but I’m feelin’ 22. So are the thousands out here following @CaitlinClark22 in the pro-am at @theANNIKAlpga. pic.twitter.com/YG1V2wdcyk
— Grant Boone (@grantboone) November 13, 2024
the crowd following Caitlin Clark at @theANNIKAlpga driven by @GainbridgeSport Pro-Am 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/fdIbCHKAAv
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) November 13, 2024
“I saved the best for last.”
Caitlin Clark crushes her drive on 18 pic.twitter.com/sWmOSEsEaw
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) November 13, 2024
Any time, any place
Caitlin Clark will always draw a crowd pic.twitter.com/Vy9IRHjk8W
— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) November 13, 2024
RELATED: Everything we know about Caitlin Clark’s golf shoes
This is an LPGA pro-am, folks. It counts for nothing. It’s pure novelty. Still, a winding trail of fans followed Clark everywhere she went on Wednesday, much as they did during her last pro-am appearance at the 2023 John Deere Classic. The crowds lined tee boxes, even after Clark smoked her opening drive straight into the gallery, and swarmed her for autographs. That’s where things threatened to get a bit out of control, as Clark was engulfed by a sea of signature seekers, forcing security to step in and hold back the eager horde.
The fan frenzy for Caitlin Clark is insane! Fans needing to be held back and screaming for her. Just wow! pic.twitter.com/R07miuSOX1
— ericaf455 (@ericaf455) November 13, 2024
What a scene here at the end! Caitlin Clark madness. pic.twitter.com/D6d15BdQ9s
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) November 13, 2024
I’ve covered golf my entire career. Currently, I’m writing a book on Caitlin Clark. I’ve seen lots of autograph scrums for male golfers, but none with this emotion and energy. It would have happened for Tiger but he wouldn’t sign autographs. Clark does this everywhere she goes. https://t.co/3E0dimQAp6
— Christine Brennan (@cbrennansports) November 13, 2024
RELATED: Caitlin Clark reveals her ‘number one priority’ at The Annika pro-am and it’s painfully relatable
It seemed like the energy was generally positive, but it’s was still slightly unnerving to see just two or three security guards attempting to stem an entire tide of Clark fanatics. Not that it’s anything new to the Indiana Fever guard, whose so-called “Caitlin Clark Effect” even has its own Wikipedia page now. At just 22 years old, she seems able to handle the scrutiny and pressure of stardom better than some twice her age, and that’s good news, because there’s no telling where this rocket ship is headed.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
