The Life of a Caddy

Great tour players have great support teams. PGA players must make the shots and ultimately play the game by themselves, but they are wise to surround themselves with people who can help them succeed. Just as a supportive loving spouse can free up a player’s mind, an experienced and competent caddy also can help in many ways.

In the 2001 Buick Invitational, having a good caddy may have ensured Frank Lickliter his first tour victory. A caddy is instrumental in helping a player slow himself down, and to keep things in the proper perspective. Lickliter should have been hitting an iron off the 17th Tee at Torrey Pines and playing for bogey on his third sudden death playoff hole ….. under the circumstances a driver was the last club his caddy should have “allowed” him to hit. This article, however, is not about that situation – only to highlight the importance of a professional and experienced caddy.

Jeff Burwell would never have let that happen. Jeff is a 27 year veteran of the PGA Tour, and this article is about him and the evolution of his profession over the years. Jeff Burwell has caddied for many great players over the years - Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Roger Maltbie, Jerry Pate, Ben Crenshaw, Curtis Strange, Bruce Lietzke, John Cook, Tom Purtzer, Jay Haas, Billy Andrade, and Billy Ray Brown - to name a few of his employers.

Burwell was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. Although he played very little golf, he started caddying at Firestone Country Club while still in high school. Little did he know back then, that three decades later, he would still be traveling the world packing the clubs of the best golfers on the planet.

In the early 1970’s regular tour caddies were not allowed to caddy at Firestone Country Club during the PGA Tour stop, and players drew numbers for house caddies. “ I was picked by Player and, at the time, he was one of the top players on tour”, Burwell remembers.

Burwell didn’t win that week, but he has “won” several times over the years. Burwell said, “Every win is great, and you never take them for granted, but the most special victory for me was my first one with Roger Maltbie at the Memorial Tournament”. Although his favorite tournament is at Hilton Head in South Carolina, he also enjoys the historic tournaments such as the British Open and the U.S. Open. “One of my favorite memories in a major was when Roger Maltbie was in the final group at Augusta. I don’t think you can truly describe the feeling you get being in the last group and walking down those final holes on Sunday. We didn’t win, but that was a very exciting day.”

Jeff Burwell, who followed the tour and used to travel the country by car, admits that the life of a tour caddy has drastically changed over the last several years. Today, good caddies can make a good six figure income. “There is so much more money out there now. The new kids coming out expect way too much and so do their caddies. Very few of them realize what we went through, and there are only a handful of us left. Most caddies fly from one PGA Tour stop to the next, and only a handful will drive. It used to be that almost everyone drove together.”

Basically, caddies are self employed, and get paid a salary for the week averaging anywhere from $700 - $2,000. They can also earn from 5% - 10% of the purse should their player win. They must pay all of their own expenses, except when required to travel cross-country or internationally - only then do the players pay for their airfare. Burwell attributes his longevity in this exciting but different career to a motto most good tour caddies must master. “If you are to survive out here you must SHOW up, SHUT up, and KEEP up. You must ALWAYS be on time!”, Burwell says. Burwell also emphasized that you can’t get caught up in all the hoopla, “You must treat your job seriously and remember it is a job that requires you to wear many different hats. It is my job to help my player stay under control in difficult conditions. Depending on the player, I am a psychologist and at other times I am a valet. These players depend on us to be where we are told to be, and if you are not, you won’t last long on tour. You must be accountable and trustworthy.”

Burwell only works 20 – 21 events a year these days. He has the luxury of setting his own schedule about a month in advance. When he is not on the fairways, Jeff enjoys being on the sea. He loves fishing and to work as a first mate on a friends boat. He is looking forward to caddying more on the Senior Tour next year, where he gets to use a cart and there is no cut. He is also hoping to be chosen as one of the caddies for the Ryder Cup. “I would like to go with Curtis Strange to this event – it’s part of history!” When Burwell started caddying, only 40% of the players out on tour had full time caddies, but about 90% of the players coming out on tour these days have them, predominantly hiring their college friends or relatives.

Remember, an experienced caddy can be an incredible asset though ..…. just ask Frank Lickliter.

Jacqui Nicoletti McSorley played professionally on the Japan LPGA Tour, and is now a sought-after teacher. She avidly supports the growth of golf in San Diego area, as she started an LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site in northern San Diego county. She is co-author of the book Golf Guide for Parents and Players (Mansion Grove House).