Jaco
Medal Winner
Just wondering how good the caddies for the top pros are at the game? It’s clear how integral they are to a successful round, and certainly not just bag carriers, but are they scratch golfers themselves? It looks a great job.
I'm pretty sure Westwood makes all of the decisions now. His caddy, partner or son sometimes, pretty much carries the bag and keeps the clubs clean only. It's how he wants to do it now. Let's face it, he has played for enough years to know what club to play, the type of shot to hit.It varies. I think there is now an ex-ET tour player on a bag and a lot have been single figure golfers. The likes of Westwood have their wife/partner on the bag. Even then I think Westwood has taught her what he wants to know in terms of distances, clubbing. Some have been on bags for decades and are quickly snapped up if and when they become available and others, a bit like golfers who have freshly earned their card are learning how to caddy at such a high level.
Thanks, that’s really interesting. You’d think having a plus 2 handicapper would be a massive advantage over a wife or 28 handicapper.
Thanks, I’ll look at that. Sounds interesting.Theres a great youtube video from Rick Shiels with a tour caddy on his bag! Worth a watch to see what the caddy actually brings to a pro's game! Course management seems to be the predominant thing
Don't think that's strictly true. You look at football for example and great players don't always make great managers. Then someone like Jose Mourinho who was a professional footballer but not exactly a very good one, has won the top honours as a manager.
As has been said, some players will need a caddy for the mental side more than anything else. Depends on the golfer. To use another sport Jo Konta the British tennis player was ranked outside the top 100 for years and then in her mid 20s shot up to make the top 10, she credited that to hiring a mental coach. So she didn't feel her game was the issue but more the mental aspect.
I expect there will be people out there who are maybe 15-28 handicappers but can read a course and greens and analyse it's contours and where the ball needs to be superbly, they just can't execute it themself. Issue is how does a person like that ever get discovered as having a good golfing brain but just lacking the technical skills? Much more likely to get the opportunity to caddy if you are a top golfer already imo[/QUOTE
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Don't think that's strictly true. You look at football for example and great players don't always make great managers. Then someone like Jose Mourinho who was a professional footballer but not exactly a very good one, has won the top honours as a manager.
As has been said, some players will need a caddy for the mental side more than anything else. Depends on the golfer. To use another sport Jo Konta the British tennis player was ranked outside the top 100 for years and then in her mid 20s shot up to make the top 10, she credited that to hiring a mental coach. So she didn't feel her game was the issue but more the mental aspect.
I expect there will be people out there who are maybe 15-28 handicappers but can read a course and greens and analyse it's contours and where the ball needs to be superbly, they just can't execute it themself. Issue is how does a person like that ever get discovered as having a good golfing brain but just lacking the technical skills? Much more likely to get the opportunity to caddy if you are a top golfer already imo
I thought it was confidence, but it’s a while ago that I watched it. But I think to remember Rick saying he was hitting the clubs without doubt being the difference.Theres a great youtube video from Rick Shiels with a tour caddy on his bag! Worth a watch to see what the caddy actually brings to a pro's game! Course management seems to be the predominant thing
Just wondering how good the caddies for the top pros are at the game? It’s clear how integral they are to a successful round, and certainly not just bag carriers, but are they scratch golfers themselves? It looks a great job.