Tag: Caddie

Why this U.S. Amateur semifinalist needs a new caddie for the weekend

“At the end of the day, I’m swinging the club, so it’s not a big deal.”

[anyclip pubname=”2122″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8224″]

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. — Neal Shipley is having a helluva summer.

He has runner-up finishes at the Dogwood Invitational, the Sunnehanna Amateur and the Trans-Mississippi Amateur. He also tied for third at the Pacific Coast Amateur. Now, the graduate student at Ohio State is a semifinalist in the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club.

On Friday, Shipley dispatched Andi Xu 2 and 1 in the quarterfinals. His luscious, flowing hair has become a fun talking point for fans and makes him plenty noticeable on the course, but his game is doing most of the talking.

“You’ve got to beat so many good players, and I’ve had a lot of really tough matches,” Shipley said. “This one is pretty special because I started out kind of slow and had to claw back. Got up, and then he got me, and then just kind of won those two near the end.”

U.S. Amateur: Photos from Cherry Hills

Buckeyes’ assistant coach Jimmy Beck has looped for Shipley this week, and they’ve been a formidable duo. However, Shipley has to find a new caddie for the weekend.

“Jimmy is awesome,” Shipley said. “Unfortunately, he has to go to his baby shower tomorrow.”

So, what’s the backup plan?

“Just so happens one of my really good friends who caddied for Austin Greaser at the Oakmont (U.S.) Am (2021), he happens to be at Beaver Creek, and I’m going to make him drive down for that.”

That good friend is Carter Pitcairn, a rising sophomore at Wisconsin. And yes, Pitcairn has plenty of experience in the U.S. Amateur as a caddie.

In 2021, he helped Greaser, now a grad student at North Carolina, to the championship match at Oakmont Country Club. This week, Greaser reached the Round of 32.

“I have a lot of trust in him,” Shipley said. “At the end of the day, I’m swinging the club, so it’s not a big deal.”

Beaver Creek is about two hours west of Cherry Hills in the Rocky Mountains. Instead of hanging out at the mountain resort, Pitcaird will be trying to help Shipley earn a berth in the championship match.

Shipley will take on Auburn senior John Marshall Butler at 2:15 p.m. ET in the semifinals.

[lawrence-related id=778389349,778389306,778389156,778389192]

Photos: Famous female caddies through the years in pro golf

Here’s a look at female caddies through the years on the PGA Tour. 

There have been numerous female caddies in men’s professional golf through the years. None are more famous than Fanny Sunesson.

She made her name on the bag with Nick Faldo. The duo won four major titles together in the 1990s. She also had stints with Sergio Garcia, Fred Funk and Notah Begay III before retiring in 2012.

She came back and caddied for Adam Scott at the 2018 Open Championship as well as fellow Swede Henrik Stenson at the 2019 Masters.

Sunesson set the bar high for female caddies in the men’s professional game, but she also paved the way for women to have more opportunities as caddies. Many others have followed, and it’s not a surprise to see a female caddie, often times wives or girlfriends, at a PGA Tour event.

At the 3M Open outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota native Frankie Capan III has his mom on the bag and does full-time on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Here’s a look at female caddies through the years.

Caddie who Monday Q’d into 3M Open shares special moment with boss on final hole

“It was a dream.”

[anyclip pubname=”2122″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8171″]

BLAINE, Minn. — Erik van Rooyen’s eyes welted with tears as he stood next to his caddie in the interview area.

Alex Gaugert was holding his daughter in his left arm while trying to find words to describe what his past few days had been like. Gaugert’s family stood behind a handful of reporters watching as he detailed his week.

Gaugert, who Monday qualified into the 3M Open, is van Rooyen’s full-time caddie. This week, however, he played alongside his boss for the first two rounds at TPC Twin Cities.

“It was a dream,” Gaugert said. “It happened fast. Monday qualifiers, you know, never done one and to get through was pretty cool. Then the Tour allowed us to play together. That was really memorable and something we’ll never forget.

“I know after I qualified there was definitely a few tears shed and it was really, really cool. And all the support, all the caddies and even the players, it was nice to get that feeling where everybody’s kind of trying to — everyone’s lifting you up and telling you ‘good job.’ It was cool to kind of have the light shine on you for a week, so it’s fun.”

Added van Rooyen: “I was talking to a few people earlier in the week, when we were playing college together, this was what we were all talking about. Oh, man, we’re gonna play the PGA Tour together, we’re gonna room together, play practice rounds together. We get to share that a little bit with him on the bag, but with him playing a tournament, it was really, really cool.”

The duo were teammates at Minnesota from 2010-13. Gaugert became van Rooyen’s full-time caddie in 2019.

Gaugert finished at 6 over for the week, following an opening 6-over 77 with an even-par performance on Friday. Meanwhile, van Rooyen shot 3-under 68 on Friday and sits at 3 under for the week, right on the projected cut line as the afternoon wave gets underway.

On their final hole Friday, the duo embraced, celebrating an incredible week.

“You don’t get these special moments every single week,” Gaugert said. “This game’s hard and it was — it’s cool to share that with my best friend, something I’ll never forget.”

The moment was also special for van Rooyen, as it makes him appreciate playing on the PGA Tour even more. As far as Gaugert’s job security down the road?

“Oh, yeah, his job’s safe,” van Rooyen said. “Trust me, we’ve been through some highs and we’ve been through some lows together. Nothing can shake us, so we’re all good.”

SAXX Underwear announces partnership with PGA Tour caddies to support cancer research with hilarious video

For every birdie a caddie’s player makes, SAXX Underwear will donate $100 to the Testicular Cancer Foundation.

Golf caddies are tasked with taking care of their players week in and week out, but the boys on the bag need some support, too.

That’s why the folks at SAXX Underwear have stepped in and partnered with a handful of PGA Tour caddies to help with their own equipment and make a positive difference along the way.

Tour caddies Geno Bonnalie (Joel Dahmen), Aaron Flener (J.T. Poston), John Limanti (Keith Mitchell) and Joel Stock (Will Zalatoris) will wear SAXX underwear, shorts and polos on and off the course, and for every birdie their players make, SAXX will donate $100 to the Testicular Cancer Foundation.

“The Ball Masters” will also have their own caddie house when the U.S. Open heads to Los Angeles Country Club, June 15-18, 2023.

As Bonnalie likes to say, “every set of balls deserves a proper caddie.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1375]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01f5k5vfbhv59szck1 image=]

Patrick Cantlay hires Joe LaCava, Tiger Woods’s longtime caddie, to full-time job

Cantlay and LaCava have worked together before during the 2021 Northern Trust.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When Joe LaCava caddied for Steve Stricker at the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans two weeks ago, Stricker made it very clear that it was a one-off for LaCava, who has been on the bag of Tiger Woods since 2011. But LaCava is working again this week at the Wells Fargo Championship for Patrick Cantlay, only this isn’t going to be a one-off.

Cantlay recently split with veteran caddie Matt Minister following the tournament in New Orleans. With Woods sidelined for the foreseeable future after undergoing ankle fusion surgery, LaCava was available for work and, as first reported by Golf Channel, LaCava is joining Cantlay on a full-time basis.

Cantlay and LaCava have worked together before during the 2021 Northern Trust when Minister missed time due to COVID-19.

LaCava, 59, cut his teeth caddying for his brother-in-law, Ken Green, caddying for him for the first time at the 1983 Manufacturers Hanover Classic when he was 19. He was on the bag for four wins during three years with Green before working for more than two decades for Fred Couples, including the 1992 Masters. He was on Dustin Johnson’s bag in 2011 when Woods asked him to take over his caddie duties following his split with Steve Williams.

Wells Fargo: Odds, picks | Thursday tee times

LaCava has received offers to work for other players before when Woods has been out with injuries but always remained loyal to Woods, joking that he was “semi-retired.” That loyalty came naturally — LaCava’s mother taught at the same school for 32 years and his father worked at the same bank for more than 30. LaCava was by Woods’s side for 11 official wins, including the 2019 Masters (as well as the 2011 Hero World Challenge, an unofficial event).

“He’s as loyal as loyal gets,” Justin Thomas said of LaCava. “There’s so many guys out here that would have him caddie in an instant. When he was loyal to Tiger and Tiger’s probably telling him go caddie, go do whatever, and Joe, that’s just not the kind of guy Joe is. But at the same time, very similar to Bones, he’s competitive and he’s a caddie. I mean, they love to caddie and they love to win golf tournaments and they love being in that moment. I’m sure that weighed into his decision as well.”

Thomas continued: “I don’t know the details and don’t know how long it is or what’s going on, but I know that that’s something that would never ever, ever be done if Tiger would not OK that. That’s not the kind of guy Joe is, kind of guy Tiger is and same with Patrick. There definitely was some kind of conversation that went on there.”

Cantlay, 31, has won eight times, including the 2021 FedEx Cup when he was named PGA Tour Player of the Year. He is ranked fourth in the world but is still seeking his first major.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=]

Masters: Caddie Carl Jackson in good condition after car accident Friday outside of Atlanta

Jackson’s car was totaled in the crash.

Carl Jackson is in good condition after being involved in a car accident Friday outside of Atlanta.

Jackson, 76, was driving to Augusta from his home in Roland, Arkansas, when he collided with a stopped vehicle on Interstate 20. Jackson’s car was totaled in the crash.

Jackson has caddied in a record 54 Masters Tournaments—his last in 2015—and still plans on caddying for Ben Crenshaw in Wednesday’s Par Three Contest.

When hearing the news, Crenshaw and his wife, Julie, each reached out to Jackson.

“I was worried sick,” Ben texted late Friday.

“A car is replaceable,” Julie said. “We’re just so thankful Carl is OK. That’s all that matters.”

Masters 2023 leaderboard: Get the latest news from Augusta

Crenshaw won the 1984 and 1995 Masters with Jackson on his bag.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3413″ ]

Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=]

Rose Zhang plays practice round at Augusta National with Jennifer Kupcho’s old caddie but opts to keep dad on the bag for final round

“Ultimately I feel like what we have is going pretty well thus far.”

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rose Zhang had the same caddie on her bag Friday at Augusta National Golf Club who Jennifer Kupcho used in 2019 when she won the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Kupcho, of course, made a game-time decision to swap our her dad for Brian McKinley for that historic final round, which proved especially clutch when a migraine impaired her vision at the midway point.

While Zhang, 19, soaked up every word that McKinley told her, not only about the course but Kupcho’s closing 67, she ultimately decided to keep her father, Haibin, on the bag for a second consecutive year. The Stanford sophomore had indicated on Thursday afternoon that she intended to use an Augusta caddie for the final round but changed her mind later that evening.

Zhang had her trainer on the bag in 2021 when the title slipped out of her hands around Amen Corner.

ANWA: Q&A with Morgan Pressel

“Ultimately I feel like what we have is going pretty well thus far,” said Zhang, “and I feel very comfortable with him on the bag. He’s very predictable. We know our games in and out.

“I think especially when you’re at the biggest stage at Augusta, it’s pretty necessary to have that comfort to be able to be yourself and do what you need to do.”

2023 Augusta National Women's Amateur
Rose Zhang plays her stroke to the No. 13 green during a practice round for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club, Friday, March 31, 2023. (Photo: Augusta National Women’s Amateur)

Zhang’s record start at Champions Retreat included rounds of 66-65 to open up a five-stroke lead over Ole Miss senior Andrea Lignell. With thunderstorms forecasted mid-morning and wind gusts up to 35 mph, officials opted to use a two-tee start for the final round with the final pairing going off at 8:50 a.m. E.T.

Zhang, the No. 1 player in the world for more than 130 weeks, headed to the range after Friday’s practice round, noting she was spraying the ball roughly 30 yards right of her target off the tee – on one hole. Several others headed left. She wanted to find a feeling she could trust before Saturday.

Zhang’s final round sat Augusta National have been less than desirable the past three rounds: 75-75-74.

A record-tying nine-time winner at Stanford, Zhang led by seven going into the final round of the NCAA Championship last spring and said she’d never felt more nervous as it shrunk to three strokes after 10 holes.

Zhang closed with a 75 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, but still managed to win by three.

“I’ve kind of learned that it’s essential to always realize that you’re playing the same fields as you were on Day 1,” said Zhang, “so there’s going to be a lot of people trying to climb up, and you have to be prepared for that.”

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=]

World No. 1 Lydia Ko will begin 2023 with a new caddie despite stellar comeback campaign

Ko ended 2022 with a victory tour championship, was player of the year and rose to world No. 1.

Lydia Ko will start 2023 with a new caddie.

After ending 2022 with a victory at the CME Group Tour Championship, rising to World No. 1 and claiming the Rolex Player of the Year award and Vare Trophy for low scoring average, Ko rather shockingly decided it was time for a change.

The 25-year-old Kiwi will begin her 2023 season next week at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International with David Jones on her bag, Ko’s sister and manager Sura confirmed to Golfweek. The pair previously worked together at the 2021 Lotte Championship, where Ko snapped a 1,084-day drought with a seven-stroke victory.

Lydia Ko of New Zealand’s caddie, Derek Kistler, celebrates on the 18th green after winning the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 20, 2022 in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

Jones, who most recently caddied for Nick Taylor on the PGA Tour, was on the bag for In Gee Chun when she won the 2016 Evian Championship and for Sung Hyun Park’s two major titles at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open and 2018 KPMG Women’s PGA.

Ko had Derek Kistler on the bag for last season’s stellar comeback and half of 2021. Ko’s team didn’t want to comment on any reasons why she decided to make a change.

Lydia Ko of New Zealand walks up to the 16th green during the final round of the LPGA LOTTE Championship at Kapolei Golf Club on April 17, 2021 in Kapolei, Hawaii. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Ko is aware that she has a bit of reputation when it comes to caddies. Even those who have experienced great success with Ko aren’t safe from a pink slip.

When she was awarded the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year in 2014, a teenaged Ko joked with the crowd at the Rolex LPGA Award Banquet when it came time to thank all the men who had carried her bag.

“This is the funny part, you see,” she said. “I want to thank Scott, Mark, Steve, Steve, Domingo, Fluff, Greg, Jason.”

And the list goes on …

[pickup_prop id=”31877″]

[vertical-gallery id=778303041]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=]

Amateur caddie suffers medical emergency, receives CPR on course at 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am during Friday’s round

The situation happened on the 11th fairway at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

A scary situation unfolded on Friday during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

A caddie for one of the amateurs playing alongside pros Beau Hossler and Max McGreevy collapsed on the 11th hole of Pebble Beach Golf Links, according to Paolo Uggetti of ESPN.

Geoff Couch and Lukas Nelson are the amateurs playing with Hossler and McGreevy.

Uggetti reported that the caddie was receiving CPR while being taken to an ambulance. He also chronicled that PGA Tour rules officials were encouraging Hossler and McGreevy to resume play, but neither Hossler nor McGreevy were comfortable doing so.

Uggetti also reported that PGA Tour officials offered to let the players step aside so other groups could play through, but McGreevy told Uggetti that he couldn’t see his group resuming Friday.

The PGA Tour released a statement Friday afternoon about the incident.

Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis reported Hossler and McGreevy would take a break and then return to the 11th hole once all groups had played through and they resume their second rounds. Lewis also said the group received a phone call stating the caddie would be OK.

[vertical-gallery id=778319325]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=]

Report: Shane Lowry and longtime caddie Brian ‘Bo’ Martin to split after losing spark and chemistry

The split comes after a nearly five-year partnership.

In the midst of a year when Shane Lowry is gunning to make the European Ryder Cup team, he’s going to have a new looper on his bag.

Lowry and Brian “Bo” Martin had an amicable split last weekend, per a report from the Irish Independent. The duo teamed up in 2018, their biggest victory coming in the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, where Lowry cruised to a six-shot victory for his only major title.

The report states Martin and Lowry had lost their “spark” and “chemistry,” even pointing to an incident during the 2022 Masters where Lowry was visibly frustrated after he felt he was given bad advice.

Two weeks ago at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Lowry went into the final round tied for the lead but fired a 76 on Sunday, eventually falling by nine shots. Last week at the Dubai Desert Classic, he missed the cut, leading him and Martin to make the decision.

The Irish Independent reports Lowry will play five straight weeks on the PGA Tour beginning next week at the WM Phoenix Open and concluding at the Players Championship.

[vertical-gallery id=778275870]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=]