PGA Tour Pro Adam Hadwin Makes Amends with Course Crew After Sprinkler Mishap

PGA Tour pro Adam Hadwin has shown that even in the world of competitive golf, humility goes a long way. The 37-year-old Canadian golfer recently patched things up with the course crew at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club after an uncharacteristic outburst during the Valspar Championship led to an unfortunate sprinkler mishap.

It all went down in the second round of the tournament. Frustrated after a rough shot on the 10th hole, Hadwin smashed his club into the ground, inadvertently breaking a sprinkler head. Cue the chaos—water sprayed everywhere, and Hadwin himself tried, rather unsuccessfully, to push the sprinkler head back into place. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work.

While the scene may have been comical for onlookers, it was no laughing matter for Hadwin at the time. He ended up two-putting for a double bogey and finished the day five-over par, missing the cut by three shots.

But here’s where things get admirable. On Friday, the Valspar Championship revealed that Hadwin had not only paid for all damages to the sprinkler but also sent a heartfelt video apology and treated the course maintenance crew to lunch. Talk about turning a bad situation into a classy moment.

The Director of Agronomy at Innisbrook, Ryan Stewart, shared a photo of the Chipotle lunch, thanking Hadwin for the gesture. "A big thank you to Adam Hadwin @jessicahadwin for paying for that sprinkler head and buying our staff lunch. That was a great touch and our staff loved it," Stewart wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Hadwin’s wife, Jessica, didn’t miss the chance for some cheeky humor, responding on social media, "Next we will make amends with that sprinkler." Honestly, if sprinklers had feelings, this one would probably forgive him.

Sprinkler mishaps aren’t unheard of in golf history. Back in 1999 at the Bay Hill Invitational, Davis Love III famously shattered a sprinkler valve with his sand wedge, flooding a bunker mid-tournament. So, Hadwin’s incident might not be unique, but his way of handling it sure stands out.

From frustration to redemption, Adam Hadwin’s story reminds us that even in high-stakes sports, owning up to your mistakes and making amends can leave a lasting impact. Well played, Adam.