The heartwarming reason we might see players fire their caddies during the final round of the U.S. Open

Pinehurst, N.C.—Like most of us golfers, many players in the field at the U.S. Open were introduced to the game of golf by their father.

If you were to ask them, they’d tell you having their father watch them play in a major championship is a dream come true. And for the golfers that are fathers themselves, it’s a full circle moment to compete on one of golf’s biggest stages in front of their own kids.

To make the moment even more special, it’s all happening on Father’s Day weekend, a tradition that the USGA has carried on since 1965. And with the USGA’s custom of hosting the U.S. Open on this weekend every year, the players seemed to create their own tradition over the years—firing their caddies to let their father loop for them.

It’s something we saw from Zac Blair 10 years ago at Pinehurst No. 2, which was the last time the course hosted a U.S. Open. And it was a heartwarming moment between a father and son.

During the final round of the event, Blair was playing well and was one over for the day coming down the stretch. On 18 tee, he pulled his father Jim Blair, who played in the 1981 U.S. Open, from the crowd and had him caddie for him on the final hole. An incredible father-son moment between two great golfers. Blair finished with a par and carded an impressive one-over 71 for his final round to finish T40.

With Blair making the cut this weekend at the 2024 U.S. Open, it’s a scene we could see play out again, or perhaps with another golfer in the field. Blair is currently four over for the tournament, at tees off at 11:31 a.m.