PGA Tour pro makes classy gesture after embarrassing on-course antics

In an attempt to make amends with the maintenance crew, PGA Tour pro Adam Hadwin has paid for the damaged sprinkler head and bought the whole team lunch.

At the Valspar Championship, a red-mist moment for Hadwin turned into red-faced embarrassment after he smashed his club into a sprinkler head, causing it to spray water uncontrollably.

But in a generous attempt to make up for his “vandalism”, the Canadian not only paid for the broken sprinkler, he also bought lunch for all of the green staff who had to clean up his mess.

The incident took place during the second round of the Valspar Championship at Innsbrook’s Copperhead course.

Hadwin had been furious with himself for a poor chip and vented his anger by slamming his wedge into the ground.

However, unbeknownst to the 37-year-old, hidden directly underneath the grass was a sprinkler head that was destroyed instantly by his club.

Hadwin left the hole with a double bogey and finished the round 5-over par, missing the cut.

Speaking at the end of the round, Hadwin said: “I did not know there was a sprinkler there when I struck the ground, so I was really more embarrassed than anything else.

“Everyone who has ever played golf knows how frustrating it can be, but I have to control myself a little bit more.

“I’ve got no excuse but to gain control out here.”

Hadwin knew his embarrassing moment meant a big clean-up job for the Innisbrook maintenance staff and so decided the best way to apologise was to buy them all Chipotle.

Ryan Stewart, director of agronomy at Innisbook, announced Hadwin’s apology, posting: “A big thank you to Adam Hadwin for paying for that sprinkler head and buying our staff lunch. That was a great touch, and our staff loved it. Thank you again.”

Rory McIlroy was very critical of the incident, stating: "It can be relatable, but at the same time, you want to try to set a proper example.

"It does show that we are human, and it shows the human side to ourselves.

"But at the same time, we have a responsibility to set an example, and golf is a lot about the etiquette of the game and doing the right thing - There's a balance to be struck there."

Hadwin is no stranger to embarrassing moments on the golf course as he was wiped out by a security guard as he ran onto the green to celebrate fellow Canadian Nick Taylor’s victory at the Canadian Open.