The status of tour caddies is steadily rising. Now, there are even "billionaire caddies" earning as much as the players themselves.
The most notable example is Ted Scott, caddie for world number one Scotty Scheffler of the United States. This year, Scott once again demonstrated perfect teamwork with Scheffler, helping him secure seven victories including the Masters. Last year alone, Scott earned about 5 million dollars (approximately 7 billion won), which is equivalent to being ranked 20th on the PGA Tour’s prize money list. In other words, only 19 players earned more than Scott. Even Korean players such as Kim Siwoo and Kim Joohyung earned less prize money than Scott.
Teddy Scott (right), caddie of world number one Scotty Scheffler, is the most successful "billionaire caddie" on the PGA Tour. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News
원본보기 아이콘Scott's income remains strong this year as well. According to Sporting News in the United States, by July he had earned about 1.92 million dollars (2.7 billion won), surpassing the average PGA Tour player income of about 1.73 million dollars. The Daily Mail in the United Kingdom estimated that Scott has earned about 11 billion won over the past four years. This reflects his achievements since becoming Scheffler’s premium aide. For reference, Scheffler has earned nearly 100 million dollars (about 139.6 billion won) in prize money alone on the PGA Tour.
The "original emperor caddie" is Steve Williams, who was by Tiger Woods’ side. From 1999 to 2011, over 12 years, they achieved 72 victories together, including 13 major wins. Williams earned over 1 million dollars every year, and also received valuable gifts such as cars awarded to Woods as prizes, amassing a significant haul.
Caddie Steve Williams (right) is the 'original emperor caddie' who collaborated with Tiger Woods for 72 wins. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
원본보기 아이콘Most PGA Tour caddies are former professional golfers. Their role goes far beyond simply carrying clubs-they are responsible for distance measurement, swing advice, and green reading, providing strategic support. Their course knowledge and analytical skills are exceptional. The contract fee per tournament ranges from 1,500 to 4,000 dollars, and players with higher profiles pay their caddies higher weekly wages. However, being a caddie comes with annual costs of about 50,000 dollars for travel, accommodation, meals, and transportation. The real income comes from incentives. The standard "10-7-5" contract gives caddies 10% of the prize money for a win, 7% for a top-10 finish, and 5% for making the cut.
Recently, caddies have been earning money through various channels. They have appeared on the Netflix series "Full Swing" and run their own media outlets. As a result, sponsors have begun to recognize the commercial value of caddies. The PGA also operates a 1 million dollar compensation program for caddies, awarding bonuses based on points. There are also exclusive events and sponsorship benefits for caddies.
The presence of caddies is growing in the sponsorship market as well. Caddies for top-performing players frequently appear on broadcast screens, making them attractive advertising platforms for sponsors. In fact, Williams was sponsored by Nike Golf and TAG Heuer, and later signed with the oil brand Valvoline, wearing its logo on his shirt.
Since 2015, cleaning company Jennyking has been sponsoring towels for caddies. Initially starting with 12 caddies, now more than 150 caddies use Jennyking towels. Sponsorship through apparel is also ongoing. Last year, five caddies for PGA Tour players-Geno Bonnalie (Joel Dahmen), Aaron Flener (J.T. Poston), John Limanti (Akshay Bhatia), Joel Stock (Will Zalatoris), and John Ellis (Wyndham Clark)-signed sponsorship deals with Saxx in exchange for wearing the brand’s apparel.
One of the most popular sponsors is paint company Valspar. Since 2014, Valspar has given bonuses to caddies wearing their hats during PGA Tour events. The average payment is reported to be between 5,000 and 8,000 dollars, with the potential for higher earnings depending on the golfer's performance. However, if a caddie wears a hat that is not from Valspar, they are immediately disqualified from the caddie incentive plan.
Cleaning company Jennyking has been sponsoring towels for caddies since 2015. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
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