Presented by Knockaround Golf Sunglasses, official eyewear of the PGA TOUR, the annual Knockaround 17th Hole Caddie Competition is a fun watch during practice rounds on Wednesday before THE PLAYERS begins.
When golfers and caddies get to the 17th hole, the roles change. Caddies select a club and ball from the bag of their player, tee it up and take a swing, hoping to score some prizes and notoriety for being closest to the pin.
Last year, J.J. Jakovac, then a caddie for Collin Morikawa (he had four different ones last year), created his own historic moment by making the first hole-in-one ever at the event. Jakovac used a pitching wedge. He was 131 yards from the hole. As soon as his shot went in, it was clear he was the winner unless someone else holed out during the afternoon. No one did and Jakovac claimed the prizes.
In addition to the money caddies, and often players, put into the pot he received a $10,000 prize from Knockaround, a company that creates fun and functional sunglasses at prices that don’t set the credit card on fire.
The champion caddie also receives exclusive perks including a VIP parking spot for each competition day, an engraved money clip, a custom drawing by sketch artist Casey Jones and a permanent place of honor on a plaque inside the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse.
THE PLAYERS Championship also matches the total amount raised, donating it to a local nonprofit of the winner’s choosing. Last year, Jakovac selected Blue Star Families, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting and empowering military families in Northeast Florida.
Knockaround sunglasses are as golfy as you can get with high-tech lenses, which make the greens pop. Some of their brand ambassadors are Joel Dahmen, Peter Malnati, Mark Hubbard, Harry Higgs and Danielle Kang. Knockaround is headquartered in San Diego, home of the most perfect weather on the planet. It may not always be 72 degrees and sunny, but a lot of days are like that.
There are plenty of styles and colors for, you know, just knocking around. Personally, I’m fond of the Rainbow Sno-Cone, which has polarized, sky-blue lenses and iridescent rainbow pastel frames. It still features full UV400 eye protection and FDA compliant impact resistant lenses. Only $35.
Maybe you need prescription lenses, and those can be yours in wild and crazy frames like Grateful Dead Trippy Bears Fast Lanes, which are purple, aqua and blue with some wavy lines thrown in for good measure. $180, but you have to remember these are prescription. Or Grateful Dead Roses, non-prescription, now on sale for $27.
You can get glasses themed around your favorite football or baseball or basketball or hockey team. You want Packers’ green and gold? They have that. Dolphins’ orange, teal and white? That’s there. Tampa Bay’s red and black or Jaguars’ teal and black? Yup. Super Bowl champs Seattle Seahawks’ kelly green and navy blue? Yes! All teams, all colors. Starting at $40.
When you’re ready to order, you can get free shipping by ordering at least $50, so get with a pal and save on shipping.
Company founder, Adam “Ace” Moyer, named the sunglasses after his old shoes which he called his “knockaround” sneakers. Moyer started the company in 2005.
Finally, Knockaround sunglasses have a lifetime warranty. If you find that you’ve chosen the wrong style or color, they have a 45-day return policy.
The caddie competition was originally started to honor Tom Watson’s longtime caddie and friend, Bruce Edwards, who passed away in 2004 from ALS or “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” In 2014, in honor of the 10th anniversary of Edwards’ passing, the PGA TOUR began a tradition of matching any donations the caddies/players make and donating the match to the Bruce Edwards Foundation. In 2025, the tournament made a transition and now the winning caddie chooses a local foundation to receive a contribution.
