Caddies share their most rewarding on-course moments to date
By T.J. Auclair · October 11, 2018
There’s nothing more satisfying than having success in your chosen profession.
We recently asked caddies on Twitter to share with us their most rewarding on-course moments to date. The fantastic answers we received ran the gamut from helping an amateur to a great round, all the way to helping a player to a win on the PGA Tour.
Feel free to click here and join the conversation, adding your moment to the thread.
RELATED: 23 of the best caddie one-liners we’ve ever heard
Here’s a look from some of our favorite answers — in no particular order — submitted by caddies…
1. “Being a part of Stuart Appleby’s 59 to win the 2010 Greenbrier. Won’t forget that putt on the last.” – Scott Sajtinac
Here’s a look at that putt Sajtinac referenced on what was just the fifth 59 in PGA Tour history at the time:
2. “Playing in the final round of the 2018 Valero Texas Open with Damon Green and Zach Johnson. Yes, Andrew Landry won his first PGA Tour event in his home state with his entire family present, but Zach and Damon were just class acts and incredibly supportive down the stretch.” – Terry Walker (Landry’s caddie)
3. “Caddying for Gene Sauers for his first PGA Tour Champions win. The doctors gave him a 25 percent chance to live after he was diagnosed. It was the 2016 U.S. Senior Open on my birthday!” – Derek Sanders
From 2006 to 2010, Sauers did not compete professionally after an initial misdiagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis turned out to be Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a severe skin reaction) – and he was given only a 25 percent chance of survival. Sauers received multiple skin grafts over several months that left visible scarring before he gradually and miraculously recovered.
To date, that U.S. Senior Open remains the lone PGA Tour Champions victory for Sauers – a major is always a good one.
4. “Embracing my guy after we rolled a putt in to finally secure a PGA Tour card after 20 years of the grind he was on. #newtothegig #bigmomentsearly” – Chevy Hartzog
We’ve detailed Hartzog’s fast-track to the PGA Tour with journeyman pro Chris Thompson. Click here to read all about it. It’s fascinating.
5. “Got a player off a 22 handicap around Kingsbarns in 77 scratch. Needless to say, he was over the moon.” – Colin Oosenbrugh
The only thing more special than playing golf on a bucket-list course like Kingsbarns is having an A+ caddie to navigate you around. And did Colin ever do that for his 22-handicap guest whose playing partners could not have been happy if there were any friendly wagers going on!
6. “When the owner of a NFL franchise gave me $1,000 on the 18th tee at a no-tip facility.” – Mark (@govolx)
You can’t put a price on great reads! Or, maybe you can… like $1,000.
7. “Getting invited to play the guest’s course after a 4-day member guest.” – Steve Karalekas
The caddie should be the golfer’s best friend on the course – but it’s even cooler when they turn into a great friend off it, too.
8. “Lot of moments that could be first. But helping my friend, Chris Smith, win his first PGA Tour event is at the top.” – Matt Minister
We can’t argue with that. What an accomplishment.
I have been caddying occasionally each year on close to home LPGA and Symetra events the last four years. I have caddied for six different women. My best experience is when I am asked back. My first day was a 9 hole practice round and when she told me she will see me tomorrow at 7 a.m. on the course, I was on the moon. Since then I have caddied for her the following year and for the U.S. Women’s Open qualifier. This coming weekend, I have been asked back by a Symetra player to fly to Philly for our second gig together!!