How pro golfers are keeping their fans entertained

The global pause in golf as a result of the Covid-19 coronavirus has led some professional golfers to find unique ways keep themselves – and their fans – entertained.

European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington was among the first to go online and start providing free golf lessons.

And he’s been exceptional. Harrington has offered the best coaching money can buy, all for free and for any area of the game – from how to play “the most dangerous lie in the rough” to how to stop hitting a hook.

In the process, golf fans have also been given a free tour of Harrington’s home and the incredible practice facility he has built there.

And his tips are delivered in typical Harrington style – straight to the point. When advising on how to stop slicing the ball, Harrington declares: “I’m talking about the slice here. I’m not interested in the deep plane. If you’re interested in the deep plane, go somewhere else.”

South Africa’s Brandon Stone and Erik van Rooyen have decided to go the musical route.

Stone bought himself a ukulele and announced to his fans that he was going to spend the lockdown learning to master the instrument.

Van Rooyen one-upped him, though, and showed off his skill on the electric guitar.

And he can play. Seriously. You’ve never seen as much joy on this man’s face – even when playing the most sublime golf shot – as you have when he is cranking out AC/DC’s You Shook Me All Night Long.

New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox rose to the challenge and posted a clip of his musical talent – drumming.

Brooks Koepka decided to embrace his inner Netflix child and become a TV critic.

Through ESPN SportsCentre, he gave his fans a list of what he’s watching, and admitted that “reality TV is my go-to”.

In another clip, Koepka gives a breakdown of his favourite golf movies. Top of the list? Happy Gilmore, starring Adam Sandler.

The Sunshine Tour professionals were quick to get in on the action, and produced a fabulous clip featuring some of their favourite superstitions.

In it, we learn that Heinrich Bruiners always marks his golf balls with the letters ILBPAICL, which stands for “I like big putts and I cannot lie”, while Ruan Conradie’s brother and fellow professional Estiaan reveals how Ruan has to hug his clubs and “give them a bit of love” before every round.

In other classic golf lockdown clips, we have learnt that Belgian bomber Nicolas Colsaerts would’ve loved to have been a deejay if he wasn’t a professional golfer; that Matthias Schwab’s guilty pleasure is gummy bears – “I can eat tons of those!” – and he hates snakes; and how Henrik Stenson once pretended to be a burglar when he climbed on to the balcony of a room two of his fellow Swedes were sharing and burst through the curtains with a hoodie on, shouting: “Gimme the freakin’ money!”

We’ve laughed at tour caddies looking thoroughly bored as they walk around their homes carrying golf bags for nobody, with one caddie begging his wife to throw him a pepper while she is cooking so that he can use his golf towel to clean it like a golf ball, and another raking his cat’s litter box like a bunker.

There’s also been a multitude of trick shots and innovative ways the world’s leading professionals are finding to keep busy until golf returns to normal.

For the fans, the golf lockdown has definitely provided some of the funniest golf content we’ve had in years.

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