UWGB coach Doug Gottlieb defends Caitlin Clark after golf blunder at LPGA Tour pro-am

Caitlin Clark had a difficult start to her day at The Annika LPGA Pro-Am Tournament. Before the event, the Indiana Fever star wished for only one thing: to avoid hitting any of the spectators who'll watch her up close.

Clark, who is part of a team featuring the tournament's host Annika Sorenstam and World No. 1 Nelly Korda, almost failed to deliver, as she narrowly avoided striking some fans who went to see her tee off from behind the ropes.

Her miscue at the Pelican Golf Club caught the attention of the new coach of the UWGB men's basketball team, Doug Gottlieb. He took to X to defend the former Iowa Hawkeyes superstar, saying how difficult it is for amateur players to tee off in front of a crowd.

"People have no idea how hard it is to stand and hit a ball in front of a gallery when you aren’t a golfer," Gottlieb posted.

Caitlin Clark nails tee off shot on second attempt

Following a few gasps from the crowd after her failed tee off shot, Caitlin Clark immediately apologized and proceeded to take a second ball out of her pocket. She composed herself and nailed her second attempt.

While Clark's official score has not been released yet, her immense popularity was on full display at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, as several fans followed her everywhere possible on the golf course.

After a stellar 2023-24 season at Iowa, Caitlin Clark was the top overall pick in this year's WNBA draft. She justified the hype in her rookie season, leading the Fever to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and receiving all but one vote to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year.

Meanwhile, the Green Bay Phoenix filled the head coach vacancy left by Sundance Wicks with Gottlieb, allowing him to start his coaching career.

Gottlieb, who has served as an analyst for FOX Sports and ESPN, among other major networks, has had a difficult start at Wisconsin, as the Phoenix lost their first two games to the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the St. Thomas Tommies.

The Phoenix's next game will be on Wednesday at 8 p.m.ET against the Western Illinois Leathernecks.