You don’t doubt Annika Sorenstam’s green reading ability, right? If the 10-time major winner was caddying for us recreational golfers, we would likely listen and soak in all the advice. And even if the results are not at par (pun intended), it’s more on us than on her, right? Well, not for everyone—and most certainly her son, who even managed to spark a heated debate among fans in the process. But before we get to that part…

Will McGee, the 13-year-old son of Sorenstam, is well on his way to follow his mother. And it seems like he’s already making his dissatisfaction be known, even if that it means refuting the legend. As per a hilarious story revealed by PGA star Michael Kim, “Charles Howell was caddying for his son at a junior event and saw that they were paired together with Annika’s son who she also was caddying for. Both kids were playing ok but because it’s golf and juniors, the kids were getting frustrated at times.”

“At one point, Annika gave her son a read on a putt. Her son hits the putt and it misses high and her son says “I knew the read was too high!” [laughing emoji] Charles took a chuckle and thought even the [goat emoji] gets gripe about her advice by her kids. Everyone had a good time by the end of it.” Hilarious, right? Your putting skill being ‘questioned’ even though you have 72 LPGA Tour titles to show for it.

Notably, Will and Sorenstam have been collaborating since 2022. The duo appeared together at the 2022 and 2023 PNC Championship—originally a Father/Son Challenge, in which Annika Sorenstam teamed up with her father in 2019, to become the first female professional to join the field.

Having said that, in Will’s first year of participation, they finished at T17 with 15 under (the team’s score in the first and second round were 62 and 67 with 10 and five birdies respectively), also becoming the youngest person ever to tee up in the 25-year history of the event. In 2023, the duo concluded T11 with a total score of 15 under (they scored 62 and 67 with 8 and seven birdies in the first and second round, respectively). The young boy also plays on the kids’ Space Coast Tour regularly, with aims to pay for Stanford someday. He had made headlines after acing the No.5 and shot 24 on The Cradle, a nine-hole Par-3 course at Pinehurst, where Sorenstam herself was competing at the U.S. Women’s Open.

But, it’s also important to note that disagreements between the mother-son duo are sparse, as opposed to what the tweet revealed. In fact, in 2023, young Will’s thoughtful words even brought the iconic female golfer to tears. The incident unfolded when Annika was walking down to the 18th fairway with her son while finishing up the final round at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando. As the legendary golfer appeared in a hurry, Will intervened and said, “Slow down, Mommy, I don’t want this moment to end.”

Well, let’s see how a wholesome and funny story sparked a debate, after what Michael Kim said in his next tweet…

Michael S Kim’s hot take puts Annika Sorenstam in a spot

“Btw, I’m really against kids having caddies at any point. For the super young like 8 or under, having one adult scorer that can help out with certain rules is more than enough on a par3 course. I think having caddies can slow down a kids golf development,” the professional golfer said. And it wasn’t long before the community jumped in with their take. Some users opined that having a caddie early on helps in course management, and learn the little nuances that only an experienced adult can bring. 

Take this user, for example, who stated, “I never had a Caddie when I started playing but always thought it would have been interesting to have one to speed up the learning of course management.” Others, however, sided with Michael S. Kim on the matter. 

Some believed having a looper early on in life can actually make them rely on others’ inputs more, and consequently, acquire the bad habit of blaming your caddy for a bad shot. One user tweeted, “Most competitive kids can be self-sufficient by at least 10. Parents can still hand them food and drinks but shouldn’t be allowed to caddy IMO (in my opinion).” Another seconded that. “No kidding, leave the kids alone and let um (sic!) have fun.”

Interestingly, U.S. Kids Golf Foundation notes on their official website, “U.S. Kids Golf encourages all players to have a parent, guardian, or family member caddie for them to enhance the experience of playing in our events…caddying provides players and caddies the opportunity to spend hours of uninterrupted time together, creating priceless memories.”

One golf coach, Karina Sanchez, also said, “Being a parent-caddy is a unique opportunity to support and encourage your child’s golfing venture. As you accompany them on the course, it’s important to adopt a positive and empowering approach that allows their talent to flourish.”

But of course, parents also have to follow certain rules. “The way you respond to your child’s play has a profound impact on their development as a golfer and as an individual. Your words hold significant weight, so use them wisely. Offer constructive feedback and praise their efforts, emphasizing their progress rather than dwelling on temporary setbacks. Remember, their performance at a young age does not define their future in the sport, but your support and encouragement will shape their mindset and love for the game,” said one point, while another mentioned:

“While caddying, refrain from providing technical swing thoughts or excessive criticism after every shot. Save technical discussions for the coach or select a time well after the round to discuss area of improvement. Allow your child to enjoy the game without being overwhelmed by technical details. Instead focus on providing positive reinforcement and fostering.”

Parents have described caddying for their children as a fulfilling and rewarding experience. It’s something that helped them bond with their kids better. While that’s certainly a fact, some users believe that after a certain age (7-10), that should be stopped. Their advice? “The quicker you can get off their bag, the better.”

The major gripe for most average golfers was: “Couldn’t disagree more. If a 9-year-old is good to carry his bag, I know 125 guys with cards who REALLY should be able to do so (just like the college kids),” wrote one of them. 

Notably, Tiger Woods caddied for his son, Charlie, last year before his comeback. But more recently, he has been a spectator rather than his looper. As for commoners, the debate is still ongoing. What’s your take?