Song Joong-ki Suited Up in White at Augusta — as Im Sung-jae's Masters Caddie

When Im Sung-jae steps onto the Augusta National Golf Club's iconic Par-3 Course on April 9 for the 90th Masters Par-3 Contest, he will have a very familiar face carrying his bag. Korean actor Song Joong-ki — one of the country's most recognizable stars — will serve as Im's honorary caddie, wearing the tournament's symbolic white boilersuit and experiencing one of golf's most cherished traditions firsthand.

It is the kind of crossover moment that fans of Korean entertainment and golf alike have been buzzing about, and the story behind it is as warm as the Augusta Georgia sunshine.

A Friendship That Started Over Golf

Im Sung-jae and Song Joong-ki first met in 2021 through mutual acquaintances, and the two quickly bonded over their shared love of the game. Golf has become something of a cultural obsession in South Korea over the past decade, and both men are genuine enthusiasts — Im as a professional player, Song as a dedicated amateur who reportedly plays in the low 80s.

Their friendship deepened over the years. Song attended Im's wedding in 2022 as a guest, marking him as part of the golfer's inner circle. When Im was preparing for the 90th Masters, he thought of Song as the perfect person to join him for the Par-3 Contest, framing it as a gift — a chance to give his friend an irreplaceable memory at one of golf's most storied stages.

"I suggested it because I thought it would be a great memory for Joong-ki," Im said. "He's going to tee off on behalf of me at one of the nine holes."

What the White Boilersuit Means

The white caddie boilersuit is one of the most recognized symbols in golf. At Augusta National, caddies — whether professional bag carriers or celebrity guests at the Par-3 Contest — don the crisp white uniform that has become synonymous with the Masters experience. Song Joong-ki will wear it proudly as Im's honorary caddie, participating in a tradition that stretches back decades.

The Par-3 Contest itself is held the day before the main tournament opens, on the Wednesday afternoon. Unlike the competitive rounds that follow, the event has a joyful, festive atmosphere. Players are joined by family members, close friends, and in some cases celebrity supporters. Children often step in as caddies, hole outs are celebrated with roars, and the pressure is delightfully absent. It is one of the most beloved days on the entire PGA Tour calendar.

Song Joong-ki is not a newcomer to the world of competitive golf. Since being named an official ambassador of The R&A — the governing body of golf worldwide — in February 2025, he has immersed himself deeply in the game's culture. He attended The Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland in July 2025, playing practice rounds alongside professionals. He also appeared at the LPGA Tour's HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore as a keynote speaker. For Song, the Augusta invitation is the culmination of a growing, serious relationship with the sport.

A Celebrity Caddie Tradition in Korean Golf

Song Joong-ki is joining a distinguished line of Korean celebrities who have walked the Par-3 fairways alongside their golfer friends. In 2011, singer Lee Seung-cheol caddied for Y.E. Yang. In 2015, actor Bae Yong-joon carried the bag for Bae Sang-moon. Most recently, in 2024, actor Ryu Jun-yeol impressed the Augusta galleries as Kim Joo-hyung's caddie, demonstrating a surprisingly clean tee shot that made headlines back home.

Each of these appearances has generated enormous interest in Korea, where the Masters occupies a special cultural space. Im Sung-jae himself is one of the most popular active players on the PGA Tour, and his Masters preparations have been closely followed by Korean fans. His decision to bring Song Joong-ki into this moment has sent fan communities into an enthusiastic frenzy.

Im Sung-jae's Masters Bid

Beyond the celebrity storyline, Im Sung-jae arrives at Augusta with serious competitive credentials. A multiple PGA Tour winner, Im has been one of the most consistent Korean presences on Tour for years. His long, controlled game is well-suited to Augusta's demands — a course that rewards patience, precision, and the ability to read subtle breaks on the tournament's notoriously slick greens.

Im prepared for the 90th Masters with a period of rest, arriving fresh and focused. He joins fellow Korean golfer Kim Si-woo, who chose a different preparation strategy by playing earlier that week to sharpen his competitive edge. Both players carry the hopes of a passionate Korean golf audience into one of the sport's most challenging and prestigious events.

For now, though, all eyes are on the Par-3 Contest — and on the sight of Song Joong-ki, dressed in white, striding the Augusta fairways with one of Korea's golfing heroes. It is the kind of image that reminds fans why they love both sport and celebrity culture: sometimes the two worlds collide in exactly the right way, at exactly the right moment.