For decades the job of the caddie was straightforward. Carry the clubs, replace the divots, rake the sand, and clean the clubs. Give advice when asked, keep your mouth shut otherwise. Part servant, part butler, he (and yes, it was always a “he”) was there to bolster the player and make life just a bit easier.
These days, this is not necessarily the case. Pro caddies are often very close members of the golfer’s inner circle, just as likely to be a coach or a mentor to the golfer as anything else. They will read the terrain, and often read the golfer’s state of mind, before offering all of the above services as well.
Professional golfers will often select a caddie from a close group of friends, possibly even a family member or coach that they have known for a while. And like any other part of the tour, professional caddies will be looking for a new employer after having been around for a while with other golfers.
The big question that everyone always asks is how much do caddies make? It was traditionally assumed that it was ten percent of their player’s winnings, although that isn’t always the case anymore.
A caddie will negotiate a contract with their player and while the details will vary, the industry standard is that the caddie will be paid a weekly stipend of between $1500 and $3000 per week. On top of this the normal percentage of winnings is around five percent for anything outside the top ten, and from six to eight percent for spots two through ten. The winners will then give up to ten percent to their caddie.
Each contract is individual and some players will pay travel and hotel costs for their caddies as well. But for the caddie who will likely be in the television camera’s view, there is another piece of the pie that they can claim. Sponsors are very happy to contract a caddie to wear a hat or a logo on their shirt, and though not at the level that a player would command, this can be a nice little side crust for the caddie.
With a job that can be fairly lucrative, there is no real education or experience necessary for become a PGA Tour caddie. As long as you have a good reputation as a knowledgeable caddie, you will find that you can build relationships and a career.
At the top of the game are caddies like Jimmy Johnson and Jonathan Jakovac, who both earned in excess of $500k last year. But the real top of the heap is Steve Williams, longtime caddie to Tiger Woods, who has pocketed more than $12 million on the back of Tiger’s winnings.
