Q Golf - Official online magazine for Golf Queensland Summer 2016 | Page 19

A

TREE-HUGGING
MOMENT
One of the more memorable
moments from Ben Ikin’s entrée
into caddying came on day two of
the Australian Open, on the par
four, 15th hole.
Guyatt had pulled his drive into the
paperbark trees and a very narrow
opening back onto the fairway was
his only option.
“He had a small gap and made good
contact, but the ball hit the tree
just in front of us,” Ikin recounted.
“No-one saw where the ball
landed, but finally we discovered
three little dimples looking out at
us. The ball had been embedded
deep in the paperbark right in
front.
“Matty took a drop, put the ball
back into play and took one of the
best doubles I have ever seen.”
The following day on the same
hole, Guyatt bombed his drive
down the middle and as they
approached the disaster area
from the previous day Ikin started
heading off into the trees. Thinking
he was about to retrace history,
Guyatt quipped ‘you aren’t allowed
to take a photo’.
“I just kept walking, found the
offending tree from the day before
and gave it a hug and a kiss,
apologising for what had occurred
24 hours earlier,” Ikin said.
“Matty just smiled, and no doubt
thought I was a tad weird, but
it helped lighten the moment.
And, that day he made birdie.”

Ben Ikin in his rugby league playing days

www.golfqueensland.org.au

Summer 2016

Q Golf 19