Family affair: Sons, daughters, wives working as caddies at Charles Schwab Cup Championship

The Charles Schwab Cup Championship has 81 fathers and husbands competing this week at Phoenix Country Club.

The Charles Schwab Cup Championship has 81 fathers and husbands competing this week at Phoenix Country Club.

Many of them have their sons, daughters or wives working alongside them as caddies.

There are nine such pairings, in fact, with five sons, two wives and two daughters on the bag.

Dudley Hart is playing this week with his daughter, Rachel, caddying for him for the first time.

“It was very interesting. I don’t know how to rake the bunker, still don’t know, but it was fun,” she said.

She’s one of three triplets and the second of his kids to caddie for her father. Rachel said she’s not a golfer but did say she really enjoyed her time with her dad on the golf course.

“We had a good time,” Dudley said. “She’s a freshman at the University of Tampa and I haven’t seen much of her this fall so it’s nice to have her sneak out and hang out with me, let her experience what I’ve done for 30 plus years now, get an up-close look at it.”

CHARLES SCHWAB CUP: Leaderboard

Tom Lehman’s son, Thomas, is caddying this week. Thomas is on his high school team at Notre Dame Prep in Scottsdale and has caddied for his dad countless times. He estimated it’s been 20 rounds.

“I had a great caddie. He didn’t misread a putt all day and if I simply was good enough to hit them where he said to hit them, I would have scored a lot better,” Lehman said after his round of 68 on Thursday. “We had a good time.”

Tom Lehman
Tom Lehman and his son Thomas at the 2020 Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Photo by Elise Tallent/PGA Tour Champions

Being a golfer, Thomas said he learns a lot about the game watching his dad in tournaments but also from watching the other pros.

“Oh, yeah, definitely, definitely learn a lot caddying. Being able to watch him just go around the course,” Thomas said.

“And the other guys, too,” Tom added. “Watching Lee Janzen hit wedges or chip or putt, for example, or Langer, the way he manages his game, it’s a good learning experience.”

A family affair

  • Dudley Hart and daughter Rachel
  • Esteban Toledo and daughter Eden
  • Tom Lehman and son Thomas
  • Olin Browne and son Olin Jr.
  • Hale Irwin and son Steve
  • Tom Byrum and son Jake
  • Scott Simpson and son Sean
  • Tom Kite and wife Sandy Jones
  • Steve Pate and wife Sheri

Noteworthy: Tom Byrum’s son-in-law Nick Flanagan, the 2003 U.S. Amateur champion, is caddying for Cameron Beckman this week.

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