PGA Tour Caddie Reveals Embarrassing Moment Involving Rory McIlroy During Event
Kevin Chappell's caddie has told GOLF's Subpar podcast about a moment that distracted McIlroy at the Zurich Classic of New Orealns


A PGA Tour caddie has revealed an awkward moment when he distracted Rory McIlroy during the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
McIlroy was attempting to claim the title for the second successive year alongside Shane Lowry in the unique team event at TPC Louisiana, with the pair playing alongside Kevin Chappell and Tom Hoge in the opening two rounds.
That was, overall, likely a memorable occasion for Chappell’s caddie Derek Anderson. That’s because the chance to get an up-close glimpse of McIlroy’s game came less than two weeks after he joined golfing immortality by completing his career Grand Slam at the Masters. Meanwhile, the opportunity came in the same month the former NFL quarterback took up the role alongside Chappell.
Former NFL star Derek Anderson has become a caddie
However, it didn’t all go to plan, with Anderson recounting to GOLF's Subpar podcast a moment that led to the inexperienced caddie distracting the five-time Major winner.
He explained: "I felt 5'1" tall. I’ll set the scene a little bit. Kevin hit that shot on 17 on Friday. Shane missed the hosel by an inch. I kind of walked back and I'm kind of not really sure where to go, because the flag was over there and Shane's chipping. I was like, 'I just want to go put this bag down, get my guy's putter. Let's get this over with.' So I go behind the green and Rory's chipping from the front-right of the green, right back at me.
"Michael Collins says something to me and I look down [to the side], I don't even know what he was saying and all of a sudden I hear Chappie (Chappell) yell from 40 yards away, 'DA, stop moving!'
Kevin Chappell played with Tom Hoge at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans
"I was like, 'Oh s***.' I grabbed the bag and went right behind the camera guy and I just stood there and I froze. I thought, 'Oh my God, I don't even know what to do, what am I doing, there's all these people here.' Kinda freaking out. Meanwhile, Rory had stepped off the chip. Apparently, when I looked down I bothered him. And then he steps up and proceeds to lay sod over it, and I'm like 'Oh, no.' And then they made a bogey.”
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
To compound Anderson’s excruciating moment, he then found himself not just apologizing to McIlroy once for his error, but multiple times as they headed up the 18th. He continued: "As we were walking off, I tapped him with the putter like, 'I'm so sorry dude.' Going up 18, I'm just staying as far away from him as I could. I apologised to him like five times."
At least one member of the group saw the funny side, though. Anderson also explained that Lowry joked: "It took you two days and you finally screwed it up.”

Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
-
PGA Championship Weather Forecast 2025
The second Major of the year takes place at Quail Hollow in North Carolina, but how is the weather forecast shaping up?
-
Months After Suggesting Ways To Improve Pace Of Play On The PGA Tour, Lucas Glover Completes Third Round Of Truist Championship In Under Three Hours Alongside Wyndham Clark
Lucas Glover and Wyndham Clark didn't hang around during Saturday's third round, completing it in 2hrs 58mins
-
Months After Suggesting Ways To Improve Pace Of Play On The PGA Tour, Lucas Glover Completes Third Round Of Truist Championship In Under Three Hours Alongside Wyndham Clark
Lucas Glover and Wyndham Clark didn't hang around during Saturday's third round, completing it in 2hrs 58mins
-
Rory McIlroy Suggests A 'Little Shorter Golf Ball' Would Make This Week's Truist Championship Venue Even More 'Awesome'
McIlroy had nothing but praise for Philadelphia Cricket Club, but suggested a shorter golf ball would make it play like the architects intended it to
-
Justin Rose Withdraws From Truist Championship
The Englishman withdrew from the tournament prior to his third round on Saturday due to illness, with Rose focusing on recovering for next week's PGA Championship
-
Five-Time PGA Tour Winner Misses Cut But His Son Makes The Weekend In Family Affair At Myrtle Beach Classic
Jonathan Byrd failed to make it into the weekend at Dunes Golf and Beach Club, but his son, Jackson, managed to upstage his dad as the 19-year-old made the cut
-
'At This Point, I Don't Care' - Rory McIlroy Makes Honest Admission After Stepping Away From Politics Of Professional Golf
McIlroy stated that he is 'happy with where I'm at right now', after the five-time Major winner stepped away from the PGA Tour Policy Board in November 2023
-
Australian Open Reportedly Aiming To Bring Rory McIlroy 'Down Under' In 2025
McIlroy is reportedly the Australian Open's number one target if Royal Melbourne wins hosting rights for an event the World No.2 has not played since 2014
-
'It Fuels Me To Kind Of Go Out And Prove People Wrong' - Rickie Fowler Uses Doubters As Motivation During Hot Start To Truist Championship
The World No. 125 carded an opening round 63 at the Truist Championship on Thursday after receiving some blowback for his PGA Championship invite
-
'You're Trying To Become Part Of History And That Has A Certain Weight To It' - Rory McIlroy Explains What Jordan Spieth Has To Go Through To Join Grand Slam Club
Rory McIlroy explained the unique challenges facing Jordan Spieth in his latest bid to complete his own career Grand Slam at the PGA Championship