A THUNDERSTORM HELD off as Caitlin Clark finished her celebrity round of golf in the John Deere Classic Pro-Am, the sun alternating between withering hot and slipping behind rumbling clouds on a steamy July afternoon.
Clark signed autographs and posed for countless photos as she navigated the crowd in Silvis, Illinois — about an hour east of the University of Iowa — like a longtime pro golfer.
Near the end of the round, the Iowa Hawkeyes point guard, clad in a white shirt, black shorts and yellow and white Nikes, crouched at the front of the tee box and leaned on her club. Awake since before sunrise, Clark made the briefest concession to what had become another long day in the spotlight: She yawned.
Being Caitlin Clark has become a full-time job.
Since leading Iowa on a postseason thrill ride to its first women’s Final Four in 30 years, she has barely stopped moving. Clark traveled to both coasts for national awards; threw a ceremonial first-pitch strike at a Triple-A baseball game; served as grand marshal for an IndyCar race; went on a European tour…
