Augusta National Golf Club has its interesting traditions like the Champions Dinner, the Par-3 Contest, and the roars echoing through the pines. But Viktor Hovland's caddie has a unique tradition of his own, one that doesn't involve a golf club.

Every year at The Masters, while the world's best players prepare for Amen Corner and Augusta's notorious greens, Shay Knight has an entirely different assignment waiting for him.

“He gets pestered by my friends and family to go in the shop in the morning, stand in line for 40 minutes, and buy all the gnomes,” Hovland said. "I feel bad for him."

Sky Sports Golf posted the video on X on March 24 with the caption, “The power of the Masters gnome!”

The Masters gnome has become one of the most sought-after items in golf merchandise.

People queue for hours at Augusta National's pro shop for a shot at one. Some end up on resale sites like eBay for hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars.

Limited-edition gnomes have sold for several times their original price because of strict buying rules and limited supply.

Knight stands in that same line every year.

Buying merchandise during Masters week is common among players and their teams. Hovland’s gnome requests have turned into a running joke within his circle.

The Chore That Proves Shay Knight Is One of Golf’s Most Loyal Caddies

One thing about caddying at Augusta National during Masters week is that it is already one of the most pressure-filled jobs in sports.

It involves reading putts on the world's most scrutinised greens and managing yardages. Keeping a player's head straight across 72 holes, the work is relentless.

He gets up before the gates open. He stands in line at the pro shop and carries armfuls of gnomes for people. Viktor Hovland acknowledged just how much he leans on his looper for the task.

"That's a loyal caddie to have," Viktor Hovland said.

Hovland and Shay Knight have worked together on the PGA Tour for several years, building a steady partnership over that time.

The annual gnome routine shows a different side of that relationship. It also shows the trust between them, the kind that carries into competition.

Is queuing for gnomes the strangest caddie job in golf history? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav