"How do they play in front of so many spectators? It was a day that made me realize how amazing Im Sung-jae truly is."
That was actor Song Joong-ki's reaction after serving as Im Sung-jae's caddie and even hitting a tee shot at the Masters Par 3 Contest. Song appeared as Im's caddie at the Par 3 Contest held on April 8 (local time) at Augusta National Golf Club's par-3 course in Georgia, a traditional event held the day before the Masters begins.
Wearing a white boiler suit and green cap—iconic symbols of the Masters—Song performed his caddie duties admirably throughout the nine holes, handing over clubs and raking bunkers.
On the final 9th hole (135 yards), Song hit the tee shot in Im's place, as the golfer had promised. After a careful practice swing, Song struck the ball with a 9-iron. It cleared the water between the tee box and the green but landed in the left rough near spectators.
Song first met Im through a mutual acquaintance in 2021 and attended Im's wedding as a guest the following year. The actor, who says he shoots in the mid-80s to mid-90s, is also an ambassador for The R&A, which organizes The Open Championship.
He laughed and added, "He's telling me to shoot 17-under in the main tournament—that would be a win, wouldn't it? That's asking too much, but I'll try my best anyway."
