Achi news desk-
Paul Emerson only planned to watch the RBC Canadian Open from the gallery this weekend in Hamilton, but ended up joining one of the pros.
“My heart started beating pretty good,” the Aurora, Ont. A resident told CTV News Toronto in an interview.
On Sunday, CT Pan was halfway through the third hole at Hamilton Golf and Country Club when his caddy, Mike (Ploof) Cowan, slipped and injured himself.
Emerson, who watched the tournament as a fan outside the ropes, offered to help.
“I just said to CT Pan, ‘Do you need help?’ And he said, ‘Yes,'” Emerson recalled, adding that he had only done so once before at the amateur level.
“The next thing you know, they said, ‘Get the apron off Fluff.’ So I helped Fluff off the apron … I put the apron on and started walking up the hole.”
Emerson, who works as a lawyer but describes himself as a “golf nut,” was featured on the broadcast of the fourth round and made two holes for Pan. He birdied the third hole and scored on the fourth.
When asked if Emerson offered Pan any advice during the two holes, he said he “didn’t even dare.”
“And I don’t think he planned to ask while we were together,” Emerson said with a smile.
Paul Emerson, 50, carries the bag for Taiwan’s CT Pan for 2 holes at the Canadian Open in Hamilton, Ont., Sunday, June 2, 2024.
“The job really was, I think at that moment, was just to provide help. That’s all I applied to do. There was no reason to believe he would ask me for tips. If he ever saw me play, he wouldn’t know either.”
A member of the caddy services team eventually joined Emerson on the fifth hole, which he said was a little bitter because he wanted to continue.
“I had a lot of fun and I was willing to do whatever (Pan) needed,” Emerson said.
Al Riddle, who lives in the area and played for Paul Berjon, stepped in to caddy the final nine holes and served as Pan’s fourth player of the day.
Pan finished tied for 35th with a three-under total, which was 13 shots behind champion Robert McIntyre.