Well now, y’all probably wonderin’ how much them caddies on the PGA Tour make. I reckon it ain’t as easy as just carryin’ a bag and walkin’ behind the players. It’s a tough job, and they earn every penny, that’s for sure. I been hearin’ a lot about how much caddies make, so let me tell ya, it ain’t no small change, especially if you’re workin’ for them top players.
Now, most of them caddies get a weekly base pay, kinda like a steady job. Usually, they make somewhere between $1,500 and $3,000 a week. That’s for just showin’ up, walkin’ around with the player, and carryin’ that big ol’ bag all day long. But here’s the thing—if the player does well, the caddie gets a cut of the winnings. If that player finishes in the money, say top 10, they might get around 5% of the prize money. And, if their player wins, well, they get a bigger slice of that pie!
But let me tell ya something— it’s them big names that really bring in the bucks. Take Ted Scott, for example. He’s Scottie Scheffler’s caddie, and let me tell ya, that man’s made over $5 million just this year. That’s right, $5 million! Can you imagine? He’s in the top 25 earners on the PGA Tour, makin’ more money than some of the players themselves! You know, them players like Viktor Hovland, Tommy Fleetwood, and Will Zalatoris—they’re all makin’ less than Ted Scott this year. Ain’t that somethin’?
And it’s not just Ted Scott. Some of the top caddies are makin’ serious money too. For example, Harry Diamond, who caddies for Rory McIlroy, he’s racked up $15 million over the years. That’s some serious dough, don’t you think? Of course, you gotta be workin’ for a top player to see them kinds of numbers. But even if you ain’t carryin’ for a big name like that, you can still make a decent livin’ if you’re good at your job.
Now, them caddies have to negotiate their own contracts, and it ain’t always the same for every one of ’em. Some get more, some get less, dependin’ on the player and how well they do. But generally, if you’re workin’ for a decent player, you can expect that base pay and that sweet bonus when they do good. So, if you’re lucky enough to work for someone like Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy, you could be bringin’ in a small fortune over time.
Now, don’t go thinkin’ that it’s all about the money. It’s a tough job. You gotta be quick on your feet, know the course, and understand the player’s needs. Them caddies gotta be more than just bag carriers—they’re like a second coach, right there on the course, helping their player figure out how to win. A lot of them caddies even work with their player on strategy and help with the mental side of the game. Ain’t no slouch workin’ them bags!
But let’s get back to the money side of things. Some of these caddies make so much, you might be wonderin’ if it’s worth it. Well, if you’re workin’ for a top-tier player, you could make more than some of them golfers out there! They get a slice of that player’s earnings, and trust me, when them golfers are doin’ good, so are the caddies.
Take Bryan Kopsick, for instance. He works for Ben Silverman, a 36-year-old Canadian golfer. Now, Ben’s had a good season, but he ain’t rakin’ in the same kinda money as a top player like Scottie Scheffler. But Bryan still makes a pretty good livin’ caddying for him. Even the players who ain’t in the top 10 still make their caddies a good bit of money. Ain’t no shame in workin’ for a solid player, even if they ain’t at the very top of the leaderboard.
In the end, being a caddie on the PGA Tour can be a pretty sweet gig. You get to travel all over, meetin’ people and seein’ places you might never have thought you’d see. And if you’re good at it, you can make a mighty fine livin’. Whether you’re workin’ for a big name or a smaller player, you can count on that weekly base pay and those bonuses when your player does good. The more they win, the more you win!
So, what does all this mean for the average person? Well, it means that caddies make a lot of money, especially when they’re workin’ for the best of the best. But it also means that it’s not just about walkin’ and carryin’ a bag. It’s about being a part of the team, helping the player succeed, and gettin’ a nice cut when they do. It’s a tough job, but if you’ve got the skills, it can sure pay off in the long run.
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