'The awkward reporter' takes on golf's greats

Lee Westwood was far from impressed when the awkward reporter began by calling him Liam. Photo / Twitter.

Rickie Fowler and Henrik Stenson found themselves the butt of a cruel joke this week in Abu Dhabi, as European Tour golf devised a mischievous prank to bring them face-to-face with the 'awkward reporter.'

Fowler, Stenson and a whole host of other star names of the sport including Lee Westwood and Dustin Johnson were duped by the European Tour and fooled hook, line, and sinker into believing they were having a real interview - only to be embarrassed to the extreme.

Behind the chaos was cheeky duo Nicolas Colsaerts and Chris Wood, who both fed information to the awkward reporter via a headset, instructing the actor on how best to stitch up their counterparts.

The first victim up, Rickie Fowler, soon found himself subject to the longest sound-check in history.

Standing patiently waiting for interview, Fowler was left for an agonizing period of time as the awkward reporter counted down for a completely fabricated microphone check, before making the bemused Fowler repeat the word 'ketchup' several times.

Next up The Open champion Stenson found himself as the target, with Colsaerts and Wood instructing the awkward reporter to ask the Swedish star the same question, over and over again.

Confusion was written all over Stenson's face after he spoke about his prospects for the year ahead... only to then be asked about his chances for 2017.

Nobody was safe as the awkward reporter continued his rampage across the course, with Lee Westwood painstakingly having to correct his name from 'Liam' and Rafa Cabrera Bello getting his stomach muscles out for an imaginary audience.

The title of most embarrassed man on the course however perhaps went to Tyrell Hatton who, after being made to do the 'Mirage Media' arm gesture by the awkward reporter, was then prompted to sign off with a fist bump... only for the interviewer to revert to a hand shake.

'That was a shocker,' Hatton said aloud immediately afterwards, while visibly reeling from the embarrassment of the situation.

The European Tour is currently in full flow out in Abu Dhabi with the HSBC Championship, German star Martin Kaymer currently holding the half-way lead.