PGA Tour 'Temporary Shutdown'... "What About Professional Caddies?"

Caddies "Direct Hit from COVID-19," but 'Emperor Caddies' like Woods' Caddie Rakaba Are Exceptions "Mixed Fortunes"

As the PGA Tour has suspended the tour until May due to the spread of COVID-19, professional caddies are facing difficulties in making a living.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] 'Business at a standstill.'

The PGA Tour has recently suspended its tour in the United States until May due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), causing a significant impact on professional caddies. Caddies usually contract on a weekly salary basis and receive bonuses based on player performance, such as 10% for a win and 7% for a top 10 finish. Naturally, income is generated only when tournaments are played. Austin Kaiser, caddie for Xander Schauffele (USA), said, "There is no other alternative," expressing his frustration.

The PGA Tour abruptly canceled The Players Championship, known as the 'fifth major,' after the first round on the 13th, and subsequently postponed the Valspar Championship on the 19th, the Dell Technologies Match Play on the 25th, and the Texas Open on April 2nd. The shock was even greater as the first major, The Masters, was indefinitely postponed. On the 18th, the tour removed the RBC Heritage on April 16th, the Zurich Classic on April 23rd, the Wells Fargo Championship on April 30th, the AT&T Byron Nelson on May 7th, and the second major championship on May 14th from the schedule.

Caddies now face an extended leave period until May. Given that COVID-19 is still ongoing, it is uncertain whether the tour will resume even by June. Dale Valley, caddie for Abraham Ancer (Mexico), expressed his frustration, saying, "If I can't work for about a month, it means I'm ruined." With the PGA Tour as well as professional golf tours in Asia, Europe, Japan, and Australia all on an 'all stop,' caddies have fallen into a state of panic.

Tiger Woods' caddie Joe LaCava (right) receives a salary even when Woods does not participate in tournaments.

It is ironic that there are 'rich caddies.' These are the ones who accompany world stars like Joe LaCava, caddie for the 'returned golf emperor' Tiger Woods (USA). LaCava receives a salary even when not participating in tournaments. He first connected with Woods in October 2011 at Price.com. Interestingly, LaCava left the 'rising star' Dustin Johnson (USA) to join the 'setting star' Woods. Fortunately, Woods succeeded in his comeback by winning the Chevron World Challenge in December and went on to claim 3 wins in 2012 and 5 wins in 2013.

LaCava attracted even more spotlight by rejecting 'love calls' from other players during the four years Woods was off the tour due to back surgery starting in 2014. Woods successfully revived his career by winning the Tour Championship in 2018 and secured his 15th major victory at last year's Masters. Steve Williams, Woods' former caddie, is known as the 'original emperor caddie.' Working with Woods for 13 years, including 13 major wins and a total of 72 victories, Williams earned over $1 million (approximately 1.27 billion KRW) annually.

Michael Greller, caddie for Jordan Spieth (USA), and J.P. Fitzgerald, former caddie for Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), are also famous 'emperor caddies.' Greller hit the 'caddie jackpot' of $2.1 million (approximately 2.66 billion KRW) when Spieth won 5 times, including back-to-back majors at The Masters and the US Open in 2015, leading him to the FedEx Cup (PO) championship while ranking 39th in prize money at the time. Fitzgerald also received a hefty bonus exceeding $1 million when McIlroy captured the PO in 2016.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.