Market Realist

PGA Caddies' Salaries Revealed — How Much Do They Really Make?

PGA caddies get a weekly salary, but that's not all — they also get a cut of their golfer's winnings. So, how much do caddies really make on tour?

Apr. 6 2022, Published 1:10 p.m. ET

The PGA is the organizer of the main professional golf tournaments played by men in the U.S. While the pro golfers are the stars of the sport, their caddies sometimes steal the spotlight.

Tiger Woods ' caddie Joe LaCava has been with the pro since 2011, and before that, his caddie Steve Williams was a household name for die-hard fans of the sport.

So, how much do these assistants on the green really make?

How much do PGA caddies make? Depends on how good their golfer is.

Tiger Woods with former caddie Steve Williams.

Caddies do more than just carry a golfer's equipment around. They're also responsible for giving professionals the distances to the hole, raking bunkers, and replacing divots – anything to ensure the golfer just has to worry about putting the ball in the hole.

According to Top Rank Golf, caddies make a base salary of $1,500–$3,000 per tournament. Along with a salary, caddies also make a percentage of winnings — 10 percent for a win, 7 percent for a top-10 finish, and 5 percent for anything else.

To put that in perspective, Justin Thomas' caddie Jimmy Johnson made an estimated $270,000 in 2021, while Phil Mickelson's caddie, Tim, who happens to also be his brother, made a reported $216,000.

"Every caddie gets a weekly paycheck, no matter where his player finishes," former caddie and ESPN analyst Michael Collins told Insider . "If the player misses the cut, the caddie still has to get a paycheck because the caddie pays for all of his own expenses — airfare, hotel, car, food, all of it."

Hoping for a ton of these this week. pic.twitter.com/ztglLUO1e4 — Tim Mickelson (@goodwalkspoiled) July 13, 2021

He continued, "No caddie and player has the same deal. Everyone negotiates themselves."

This means that the better their golfer is, the more the caddie makes.

The highest-earning caddie of 2021 made over $500,000.

Justin Thomas and his caddie Jimmy Johnson.

Based on the performances of pro golfers, these were the richest caddies of 2021 (via Sporting Free ):

Most of the caddies listed made a base salary of $120,000.

Overall, in the history of the sport, Tiger Woods' caddie Steve Williams is one of the wealthiest, with a net worth estimated at $20 million, earning $1.27 million in 2006 alone.

He was fired by Woods in 2011 after he caddied for his friend and golfer Adam Scott. "I didn’t think that we’d have no communication for the rest of our life," Williams said in the HBO documentary Tiger . “That just didn’t even enter my mind."

Mike "Fluff" Cowan recounted his first paid gig as a caddie, earning $20 a day and 3 percent of earnings. Today, Cowan is Jim Furyk's caddie and is worth $1.5 million.

Long story short, caddies have definitely come a long way in the sport.

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Earnings of a PGA Tour Caddy: Salary Plus Winnings

Collin Morikawa and caddie Jonathan Jakovac

  • DESCRIPTION Collin Morikawa and caddie Jonathan Jakovac
  • SOURCE Chris Trotman/Getty Images Europe
  • PERMISSION Getty Images license

One of the mysteries that surrounds the PGA Tour is how much caddies make. It was always considered a foregone conclusion that PGA Tour caddies earned a weekly salary plus 10 percent of their player's tournament winnings for that week. That's not necessarily the case anymore.

Let's take a look at some of the variables that surround caddies, earnings, and which caddies are most likely doing the best financially.

How Much Do Caddies Make?

A caddy's pay is a combination of a weekly stipend plus a percentage of a player's winnings . While every player/caddie agreement is different, generally speaking, most PGA Tour caddies make a base of between $1,500 and $3,000 per week. Based on a player's finish, a typical caddie rate is around 5% of the winnings for any finish outside the top 10. Players breaking into the top 10, but not winning, will share 6-8% of their prize with their caddies. Winning players may share up to 10% of the prize money with their caddy.

With any player/caddie agreement, terms are agreed upon which could include a caddie taking more for a weekly salary and less on the tournament earnings side. In addition, travel and hotel costs are negotiated and some players cover those costs for their caddie as well.

Caddies can also earn money from sponsorships. While not at the level of the player, caddies can make money by wearing a hat or a logo on their shirt sleeve that represent a company, most likely a club manufacturer or apparel brand.

How Pro's Select a Caddie

There are a number of different ways one is selected to be a caddie on the PGA Tour. More often than not, a pre-existing relationship exists with the player. The most likely relationships include a close friend, coach, or a caddie that has been on tour and is looking for a new employer.

Beyond those more common relationships, you also see siblings, spouses, and even lower-level professionals that haven't made in to the PGA Tour.

The Role of a Caddie Has Changed

For decades, the role of a caddie was pretty cut and dry. The caddie was in charge of carrying the bag, cleaning clubs, replacing divots, helping read putts, and scouting the course.

Today, a caddie tends to be so much more in addition to the above. We see caddies as very close members of a PGA Tour pro's inner circle. You'll even see caddies acting as crowd control for their player as well as their driver to and from the golf course.

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Time and Education Requirements

Most caddies work 30 weeks a year or less. This leaves almost 40 percent of the year free for them to pursue other jobs or enjoy their free time. There is little to no required education or experience needed to become a PGA Tour caddie, so many caddies are able to start working right after high school or college. What matters most is building up a reputation as a knowledgeable caddie

Which Caddies are Making the Most?

It's believed that Justin Thomas' former caddie, Jimmy Johnson, and Collin Morikawa's caddie, Jonathan Jakovac, were the highest earning caddies of 2021. Both are believed to have exceeded $500,000.

It should come as no surprise that Steve Williams, longtime caddie to Tiger Woods, has earned the most of any caddie all-time. It is believed that Williams earned over $12 million on Tiger's bag.

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Dustin Johnson talks to his brother and caddie Austin Johnson

The Highest-Paid Caddies on the PGA Tour

The best golfers in the world play on the PGA Tour . They make a lot of money and receive a lot of acclaim. Behind every great golfer is a great caddie. But what exactly do these sidekicks do? The highest-paid caddies on the PGA tour execute all the details of the competition just right. Here’s how they do it and how much money these wealthy caddies make.

The duties of a PGA Tour caddie 

The website Golfweek compiled a piece on the duties of a golf caddie. Whether a caddie is working for an amateur at a country club or a professional on the PGA Tour , the job is the same. Below is a summary of responsibilities for caddies (which may vary, depending on whose bag they’re carrying): 

  • Carrying the golfer’s bag of clubs 
  • Handling golfers their clubs
  • Cleaning the clubs and balls
  • Making the bunkers and sand traps easier to play in by raking them
  • Measuring distance to the pin
  • Fixing a divot
  • Removing the pin in the hole
  • Giving their golfer advice on which club they should use 

Caddies can be extremely valuable to a golfer. They’re like an equipment manager, coach, and trainer all rolled into one. That’s why some of them are paid very well. 

The highest-paid caddies on the PGA Tour

Many parts of a caddie’s job seem unglamorous, but it comes with a lot of benefits. Caddies for the most successful players make a great living. There isn’t much data on their salaries, but 2017 figures give context to the type of money that top caddies earn. According to  Golfing Addiction , these are the highest-paid caddies in 2017:

5. Kessler Karain: $610,000 

Why does PGA golfer Patrick Reed trust his caddie Kessler Karain so much? Probably because Karain is his brother-in-law. Reed’s first caddie was his current wife and Karain’s sister, Justine. According to Reed, the proclivity for caddying may be inherited:

I guess it just runs in the family. He was really good when it came to wind and club selection. She played a little bit in high school, and her brother played a lot in high school. I don’t know what it is. That family has it when it comes to giving me advice.

4. Michael Greller: $665,000 

As the caddie for one of the best players in the world, Jordan Spieth, Michael Greller is a high earner. One instance is a great example of the pressure professional caddies face. At the 2019 U.S. Open, Spieth hit two shots he thought were “perfect” but ended up in the water and over the green. The golfer loudly blamed Greller in an exchange that went viral online.

3. Daisuke Shindo: $680,000

Serving as the caddy for PGA pro Hideki Matsuyama, Daisuke Shindo experienced a hilarious moment during his time on Matsuyama’s bag. When the golfer found himself in a group with Tiger Woods and Brooks Koepka at a tournament, Shindo took the opportunity to get Woods’ autograph . It’s a testament to Woods’ star power that a seasoned caddie like Shindo felt starstruck.

2. Austin Johnson: $1.6 million 

If Austin Johnson’s name is familiar, it’s for good reason. He’s the caddie for his brother Dustin. A story from March 2019 gives a good idea of Austin’s dedication to his brother. Despite breaking his arm and wearing a cast, Austin still caddied for his brother at an event. 

1. J.P. Fitzgerald: $1.65 million 

J.P. Fitzgerald spent 10 years caddying for one of the world’s best players, Rory McIlroy. The golfer dismissed him in 2017 and hired his best friend Harry Diamond. This summer, Fitzgerald was on the bag yet again , caddying for NCAA champion Matt Wolff as he attempted to earn his PGA Tour card.

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highest paid pga tour caddies

The Expert Golf Website

15 Richest Golf Caddies Of All Time – A Look At Golf’s Best Caddies

highest paid pga tour caddies

Golf caddies help to make the game more enjoyable for the players that we love. A great golf caddy can make or break a round. It is interesting to think about life on the PGA Tour and what you will need to do to make it as a professional caddie.

Caddies, over time, have shown us that they can live the PGA Tour life just as well as the golfers on tour. However, caddies don’t make quite as much as the professionals; they certainly get their fair cut of every great tournament.

Let’s take a look at some of what a caddie does, how they can help a player, and how much some of these caddies are making right now.

What Are A Caddies Duties

As you probably already know, the main job of a golf caddy is to carry the bag of a player around the course. In addition, they are supposed to the player’s clubs clean and their belongings organized. Caddies are also supposed to give professionals the distances to the hole so that the player can get accurate results.

Another thing that the caddy must do is rake the bunkers and replace divots as a player goes through their round. The golfer is able to focus on their game, and the caddies are going to keep an eye on how things are going on the golf course.

How Much Can They Expect To Earn?

highest paid pga tour caddies

A caddy will earn a base salary and a percentage of the winnings that the player makes. This can add up to quite a bit of money when a player has a great week.

If a golfer wins a tournament, a caddy will make ten percent of the earnings of the player. For a top ten finish, a caddy will earn 7%, and for anything else, the caddy makes 5% of the earnings. Week in and week out, this will add up quite quickly. Most caddies will also have their travel expenses covered by the player as well.

Why Do They Earn So Much?

Caddies are the ultimate player support staff. Most golfers will admit that without their caddy, they would be in a very difficult position. The caddy helps with the daily tasks, but they help a player feel comfortable mentally as well.

The mental clarity and comfort that a player gets from having the same caddy week in and week out is essential and a major reason why they make so much. Most successful professional golfers are going to have no issues with paying their caddies quite a bit of money. They look at it as a team event.

1. Jimmy Johnson

highest paid pga tour caddies

Jimmy Johnson is currently caddying for Justin Thomas, but he has a successful history on tour. Johnson worked for Charles Howell, Steve Stricker, Nick Price, and Adam Scott. Certainly, this is a great lineup of players.

Johnson grew up in Dallas, Texas, and played golf at the University of North Texas. His favorite place to caddy is a Ryder Cup, and we certainly can’t blame him. Before becoming a caddy, Jimmy spent time playing on a mini golf tour.

highest paid pga tour caddies

2. Jonathan Jakovac

highest paid pga tour caddies

Collin Morikawa has had quite the year. He is a fun player to watch, and it’s great to see him win; nobody likes seeing Colin win more than Jonathan Jakovac, his caddy.

Jakovac was a player before he became a caddy on the tour. After college, Jakovac didn’t make it through Z school.

Trying to stay in the golf business, he started caddying for Ryan Moore, and he did so for seven years. Jakovac has nothing but great things to say about Morikawa and the way he handles himself on tour. This partnership seems like it will last for many years.

3. Austin Johnson

highest paid pga tour caddies

Having a brother as excellent as Dustin Johnson is one of those life things that you can’t quite plan for. Austin Johnson is the caddie and brother of Dustin Johnson.

These brothers share a very strong bond, and it has helped them accomplish quite a bit on Tour.

Dustin attributes part of his success to the relationship he has with his brother and how they work together on the PGA Tour. With the way that Austin Johnson and Dustin Johnson have been performing, don’t be surprised to see these two at the top of these lists for years to come.

4. Paul Tesori

highest paid pga tour caddies

Paul Tesori was a former golfer that turned caddie. Currently, he is working with Webb Simpson, but this is not his first gig on tour.

Years ago, Tesori also caddied for Vijay Singh, Jerry Kelly, and Sean O’Hair as well.

Tesori is married and has one child. He is known to have a very good relationship with Webb, and they work well together on the tour. When Webb Simpson won the 2018 Players, Championship Tesori was on the bag.

5. Adam Hayes

highest paid pga tour caddies

Jon Rahm is a player that we have all come to know quite a bit about. Rahm has certainly made a splash in the golf world, and his caddy Adam Hayes has been an integral part of his success. Hayes is a very well-respected caddy on the PGA Tour, and he has been out there caddying for more than 20 years.

In the past, Hayes has worked for Jason Duffner, Russell Henley, Vaughan Taylor, and Ben Crane. Hayes has stayed at the top of the caddie earning charts for a number of years. If he stays on the bag of Rahm, chances are he will keep making plenty of money.

6. Tim Tucker

highest paid pga tour caddies

It takes a special person to caddie for Bryson Dechambeau. Bryson has a very specific way of playing the game, and the caddie that he chooses must be able to handle this and to work with Bryson throughout the round.

Tucker and Dechambaue have had a bit of an on and off relationship, and Tucker left the bag for about two years at one point. Bryson feels as though Tucker calms him down when necessary, and that is something that has proven to help Bryson keep his career moving onward and upward.

7. Kessler Karain

highest paid pga tour caddies

Although caddying for Patrick Reed may not seem like a dream job, it has worked out quite well for Kessler Karain. Patrick Reed had his wife caddying for him for years before she took off to raise their family.

Her younger brother stepped in to take over and has been there ever since. Kessler was not a caddie before he started working for Reed, and it took a bit of training, but he learned to really like it. He can play golf and knows the game well, so Reed trained him to work for his game.

highest paid pga tour caddies

8. Josh Cassell

highest paid pga tour caddies

Daniel Berger is young, but he is certainly doing a great job managing the PGA Tour at the moment. Josh Cassell has helped to make this a reality for Berger. Cassell is not new to the world of professional golf; he has worked for Dufner, Horschel, and Aaron Baddely, to name a few.

Cassell loves working on getting a player to the point of winning, and he loves the fight for a title. Cassell has not been with Berger for all that long, but the relationship seems to be going quite well.

9. Marc Kelly

highest paid pga tour caddies

Marc Kelly is the caddie for Marc Leishman. This relationship is a long one that has lasted over a decade. When a player and a caddie pair up like this for this many years, you know they have something working right.

Kelly and Leishman are friends, and they enjoy traveling and playing together. This is a caddy player relationship that will probably last for many more years.

10. Albin Choi

highest paid pga tour caddies

Albin Choi is not just a caddy; he is a great player as well. He is currently caddying for I’m Sung-jae and making some great money. However, many players on the PGA tour will tell you that Albin Choi could easily be the player that should be making it on the PGA Tour.

Choi was an incredible young golfer that had some struggles making it on tour and eventually had to take a caddie position. Choi has had some personal struggles in his life with his family, but he remains a very well respected player and caddie.

highest paid pga tour caddies

11. Mark Crane

highest paid pga tour caddies

Mark Crane is currently caddying for Tyrrell Hatton. Crane has a very impressive golf career and caddying career. Hatton is not the first bag that he has been on, and he has made a great living through the years caddying for a wide range of players.

Crane says that his best moments caddying was at the Ryder cups that he participated in. Certainly, we can understand that a Ryder Cup is something that is hard to beat!

12. John Limanti

highest paid pga tour caddies

John Limanti has a very impressive resume and has caddied for many players. Although he is currently on the bag for Adam Scott, he also worked for Kyle Stanley, Chris Kirk, Aaron Baddeley, and more.

Limanti grew up playing golf and played in college as well. Limanti is a caddie for life and loves being out on tour. He never really tried to make it on the Tour himself, instead, he chose the caddy life, and it has worked out quite well for him.

highest paid pga tour caddies

13. Terry ‘T’ Walker

highest paid pga tour caddies

Terry Walker has been caddying for over a decade, and he is currently working for Andrew Landry. In the past, he has worked for Lucas Lee and a few other players. Walker was a college tennis player that ended up pursuing a career in logistics.

He loved the PGA Tour and wanted to make it as a caddie for many years. After lots of work and plenty of networking, Walker finally made it.

14. Sam Pinfold

highest paid pga tour caddies

Cam Smith has done quite well this year with Sam Pinfold on the bag. Pinfold grew up playing golf and was quite good at it; however, he knew his game was not good enough for the PGA Tour.

Pinfold was called by an old golfing friend Brad Iles, and it kick started his career as a PGA Tour caddy. Pinfold is one of the more well-respected caddies on tour for his playing ability and respect for other players. Pinfold is an excellent caddie to have on the bag.

15. Damien Lopez

highest paid pga tour caddies

Damien Lopez is a caddie for Michael Thompson, but he has a long history of caddying on the PGA Tour. With almost twenty years on tour, Damien has worked for players including Notah Begay, JJ Henry, Stuart Appleby, and Blaine McCallister. Damien has made quite a nice living for himself on the tour.

Damien says that he loves caddying and the excitement that goes along with hit. He thinks that traveling is just an additional perk.

Being a caddie on the PGA Tour is not an easy job, but it is one that certainly seems enjoyable. If you have ever wondered if you can survive on a caddie’s salary, these guys should teach you that it won’t be an issue. Caddying certainly has its benefits if you enjoy a life on the road and you don’t mind not being the star of the show. For golfers that tried to make it on tour but didn’t quite have what it takes, caddying can make a perfect career.

highest paid pga tour caddies

Aidan Lehane is a serial entrepreneur and scratch golfer who loves to get out on the course as often as possible. Aidan loves testing out new golf products and bringing his views to the public. I am not a pro yet but my handicap is improving every year and the new equipment always helps!

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highest paid pga tour caddies

The 10 Highest-Paid Caddies On Tour

The 10 Highest-Paid Caddies On Tour

In the bustling world of professional golf, 2023 proved to be a lucrative year for caddies, with earnings soaring to remarkable heights.

Beyond the thrill of victories and top-tier finishes, a deeper dive into the financial realm reveals intriguing dynamics.

Typically, caddies receive a solid $2,500 weekly base fee, complemented by a 10% share for wins and 7% for non-win situations, not to be overlooked are additional revenue streams like endorsements.

Join us as we uncover the top looper earners of 2023.

Harry Diamond

highest paid pga tour caddies

Player: Rory McIlroy – Earnings: $2,555,000.

Best friend turned co-worker, turned wealthiest caddy on tour. Harry Diamond has been caddying for Rory McIlroy since 2017.

Player: Scottie Scheffler – Earnings: $1,650,000.

So far, 2024 has proven to be highly profitable for Ted Scott, Scheffler’s caddie since 2022. He has amassed an impressive estimated earnings of $1.4 million through APRIL putting him near his total earnings from 2023.

Sam Pinfold

Player: Cameron Smith – Earnings: $1,025,000.

Pinfold met Cameron Smith at the New Zealand Open. When Pinfold’s player missed the cut, Smith invited him to caddy. Smith’s stellar performance cemented their player-caddy relationship since 2015.

Austin Kaiser

Player: Xander Schauffele – Earnings: $985,000.

Former San Diego State Aztec teammate and buddy of Schauffele has been on his bag for the past 6 years.

Player: Patrick Cantlay – Earnings: $895,000.

LaCava, Tiger Woods’ caddie since 2011, opted to depart following Woods’ recent ankle surgery. In 2023, LaCava joined Cantlay as his caddie.

Jim “Bones” MacKay

Player: Justin Thomas – Earnings: $815,000.

While Jim MacKay caddied alongside Thomas to a lucrative 2023, they have since parted ways, just before the 2024 Masters. Now on the bag for Thomas is caddy Matt Minister.

Player: Will Zalatoris – Earnings: $760,000.

Joining alongside Zalatoris at the 2022 FedEx Cup playoffs, he has been his looper since, helping him to his lone victory at the 2022 FedEx St Jude Championship.

Travis Perkins

Player: Sam Burns – Earnings: $725,000.

Since teaming up in 2019, Sam Burns and Travis Perkins have enjoyed remarkable success, clinching five PGA Tour victories and securing a spot on the 2023 US Ryder Cup team.

Billy Foster

Player: Matt Fitzpatrick – Earnings: $640,000.

Since joining forces in 2018 after parting ways with Lee Westwood, Foster and Fitzpatrick have achieved significant success, highlighted by their victory at the US Open in Brookline, Fitzpatrick’s first Major title. Foster’s impact was evident at the 2022 PGA Championship, where Fitzpatrick credited him for patience, crucial in tough conditions.

Paul Tesori

Player: Cameron Young – Earnings: $565,000.

Tesori was on the bag for Cameron Young up until the end of the 2023 year, amassing more than half a million dollars in that time. Since, Young has brought on Wayne de Haas to take over caddie duties.

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The Golf Bandit

15 Richest Caddies in Golf

The golf bandit.

  • October 7, 2023

Golf Caddy

Who are the richest caddies in golf? How much do caddies make? 

These are good questions because caddies can make a lot of money helping their player win and score well in tournaments. 

Today we’ll help reveal the highest paid caddy ever, share more about the history of caddies, and their main responsibilities for players. 

The Best Paid Golf Caddies Today

St-Andrews

It’s not easy to determine the exact amount caddies earn as it changes with each player-caddy relationship. It’s easy to know how much PGA Tour players earn as each event has a purse and payouts listed. 

But knowing how much caddies earn is a lot more difficult than players. You might wonder, “How much does a PGA caddy make?” 

Caddies are paid two ways; weekly salaries and they receive bonuses based on how well a player does in a tournament . The better the finish, the more money for both the caddy and player. 

Here are the richest golf caddies – in no particular order – over the years.

It is estimated that a caddy can make up to $2,500 per week during the most lucrative tournaments. Most of the time, pay received will include such things as travel and out-of-pocket costs (initially these are incurred by the caddies themselves).

A good caddy in golf is highly valued. Decent professional golfers will seek out the best in the game to work for them, and will want to reward them sufficiently in order to retain their loyalty and service.

In turn, the caddy has an interest in helping the player to succeed, as both benefit as a consequence.

Data published following the PGA tour of 2020, the most recent figures available at the time of writing, shows the following caddies to be the highest paid on that year’s circuit:

Jimmy Johnson

Jimmy Johnson and Justin Thomas

Jimmy is the caddy for former world number one golfer Justin Thomas. Johnson earned more than $500,000 in one year, making him one of the highest paid in the business.

However, they parted ways a few years ago and Justin Thomas got Jim McKay to leave his broadcasting career to get back on the bag.

Jonathan Jakovac

JJ Jakovac Caddie and Collin Morikawa

Jakovac linked up with Collin Morikawa after having served Ryan Moore, and went on to see him win the PGA Championship.

Jakovac earned over $482,000 dollars in one year but likely isn’t earning as much as Colin hasn’t won in a few years. 

However, he still remains a top money leader so Jonathan is likely doing very well financially. 

Austin Johnson

Austin Johnson with Dustin Johnson

The caddy for his older brother Dustin Johnson , winner of the Masters in November 2020.

That year it’s estimated that he received close to $472,600.

DJ also took a massive payday for joining LIV Golf and it’s safe to say Austin is making even more money too.

It was rumored that he went to school for pharmaceutical sales but his career as a caddy seems to be working out quite well. 

Paul Tesori

Paul Tesori Caddie

Paul loops for Webb Simpson, the latter re-emerging as a world top ten player after triumphing at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in 2020.

Tesori scored around $420,000 for his work a few years ago and is one of the highest paid caddies in golf. 

Adam Hayes and John Rahm

Adam Hayes is the caddy for Jon Rahm who has won all sorts of tournaments in the past few years.

He also saw his player’s name at the top of the Masters leaderboard in 2023 securing his second major victory. 

2020 was also a good year for Hayes, netting him some $375,000 in earnings. Needless to say, Adam and Jon are doing quite well financially.

Tim Tucker and Bryson DeChambeau

Tim Tucker worked for Bryson DeChambeau, also known as “The Scientist” for his methodical approach.

When he won the US Open in 2020 it left Tucker with something in the region of $350,000.

Unfortunately, the partnership didn’t last and Bryson has since parted ways. He even fired him the night before a tournament while some sources say Tim quit. 

However, Tim partnered with Kurt Kitayma and helped him win at Bay Hill, beating out some big names.

He might not be making as much money as he did with Bryson but he’s still looping on the PGA Tour which is always a big accomplishment.

Josh Cassell

Josh Cassell Caddie

Served on the PGA tour card for Daniel Berger, a top American golf player whose father Jay had been a world-ranked tennis professional.

Berger picked up a check for $1.375 million after winning the Charles Schwab Challenge, with Cassell being paid $343,000.

Michael Greller

Michael Greller is Jordan Spieth’s caddy and someone that earns every penny.

If you hear him and Jordan Speith talking it’s an exhaustive process at times but it clearly works out. 

They’ve been working together since 2011 and seem like one of the best duos in golf. It’s been reported that he earns more than $600,000 per year!

Some reports even mention that his net worth is more than 10 million dollars too. 

Mark Crane - Caddy

Professional caddy to Tyrrell Hatton, an Englishman who took the 2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour.

Hatton went on to represent Europe in the 2021 and 2023 Ryder Cup. 

Crane made $287,000 for his work in 2020 and has likely done quite well since then.

Tyrrell is quite a character often shouting obscenities and talking to himself on the golf course so his caddy earns every penny.

Another rich caddie in the golf world is Ted Scott who loops for Scottie Scheffler.

Scottie has had a crazy few years winning several PGA Tour events and a major championship. 

Golf Digest published a good article on him as well. Prior to working with Scottie he helped Bubba Watson win two majors and looped for Paul Azinger as well.

Also earning $287k in 2020 was prolific caddy Limanti, who has worked for a host of pro golfers including Adam Scott, Chris Kirk, Aaron Baddeley and Kyle Stanley.

Tim Mickelson 

Another well known and high paid caddy is Tim Mickelson who caddies for his brother Phil.

After Phil Mickelson parted ways with his caddy “Bones” he linked up with brother.

Tim left his head coaching job to loop for his brother on the LIV Golf series.

He’s a big part of his team and safe to say he’s made a lot of money as Phil was rumored to make nearly 200M by joining LIV. 

Harry Diamond

Harry is the caddy for Rory McIlroy who is the face of the PGA Tour.

Rory is also one of the top earners in the game which means his caddy is doing quite well too.

Reports estimate that Harry Diamond is worth more than 15 million!

The pair have worked together since 2017 and it doesn’t seem like it’ll end anytime soon. 

Jim Bones Mackay 

Jim – who was nicknamed Bones by Freddy Couples – is arguably the most popular caddy in golf.

He was on the bag for Phil Mickelson for more than a decade and helped him win many events and several majors.

After they parted ways Jim got into broadcasting and did an incredible job. But Justin Thomas lured him out of caddy retirement and has been working together ever since. 

Joe Lacava 

Another well known and well paid caddy is Joe Lacava who has worked with top players like Dustin Johnson , Davis Love III, Tiger Woods , and now Patrick Cantlay.

He was also the center of controversy at the 2023 Ryder Cup where he got into an altercation with Rory McIlroy . 

He’s done quite well for himself in the golf world with an estimated net worth of more than two million dollars. 

Steve Williams 

Tiger Woods

If you’re wondering who is the highest paid caddy in golf? It’s hard to argue against Steve Williams . Not only the richest but the most well known caddy in golf.  

He was Tiger Woods’ caddy for most of his career and helped Tiger win during his most dominant stage of his career. He’s since caddied for Adam Scott as well and helped him win a green jacket at Augusta National . 

Steve Williams net worth is in the region of $20 million during his long career! Not bad for working with the GOAT and being a part of golf history. 

The Responsibilities of a Golf Caddy

Being a golf caddy is not just about carrying a player’s golf clubs and equipment around the course. Other roles include:

  • Cleaning clubs.
  • Course management skills 
  • Helping manage their players emotions.
  • Helping read greens and determine different lies. 

And a lot more… they’re part caddy, part sports psychologist, part swing coach, and friend to players. 

Course management is also an essential responsibility of a caddy. This means being aware of the layout of each hole as well as being mindful of its general condition prior to a competition.

Masters - Caddie tradition

If necessary obstacles may be removed, and information will be relayed as to such things as putting distances and any idiosyncrasies relating to the specific venue.

In short, the caddy becomes the golf player’s eyes and ears prior to the commencement of the match.

During the round a loyal caddy will be on hand to replace divots, and also to attend to any bunkers which may require raking. Even keeping members of the public at bay who may venture too close can become the job of the caddy in golf.

On top of the practical work, there is also a pastoral role to be fulfilled by caddies.

Being on hand to take care of all the problems which might arise enables the player to focus his or her mind on the actual task ahead.

Common Questions

Is it caddie or caddy  .

It’s a good question but both are used in the golf world.

According to the experts, one is a golfer’s attendant whilst the other is a British vessel for carrying tea. But even the so-called experts concede that it is okay to use the word “caddy” to describe a golfer’s helper, and both spellings are often used. 

Where its connections with golf are concerned though the word derives from the French “cadet”, or a “trainee”.

Either way, golfers will know what you’re referring to. 

How long have caddies been around in golf?

It was in Scotland, the home of golf, that the first recorded use of caddies took place in 1817. 

Although there is some suggestion that the Duke of Albany employed the services of such an assistant at an international event at Leith Links way back in 1681.

For many years caddying remained a phenomenon exclusive to that little part of the world, but gradually it became more widely practiced amongst top-level golf clubs everywhere.

Assistance was generally “hired out” by the clubs themselves, rather than being brought along in tow by individual golfers.

It was only after the second World War that pro golfers began to employ their own personal caddies. 

Do golf caddies earn a lot of money?

It depends on the professional tour and their player more than anything else. If they’re on the PGA Tour or LIV Golf they’ll make a lot more than mini tours or the LPGA Tour (as there are higher purses). 

Typically, PGA Tour caddies will supplement their basic salary with a percentage of any winnings earned by their player. This can mean up to 10% of a successful player’s purse, reducing to about seven percent for a top ten performance.

It is estimated that a caddy can make up to $2,500 per week or more during the most lucrative tournaments.

Most of the time, pay received will include such things as travel and out-of-pocket costs (initially these are incurred by the caddies themselves).

In turn, the caddy has an interest in helping the player to succeed, as both guys will benefit.  

How much do caddies make at the Masters?

Until a few decades ago players had to use a caddy that was hired by Augusta National for the tournament. But things have changed and now players can bring their own caddies and pay them accordingly. 

Closing Thoughts 

Caddies can make a lot of money if they can help their player win or finish higher up on the leaderboard. 

While they might not get a lot of credit, they can help a player more than most people realize. Not only with getting the distances for each shot and reading greens but the mental side of things too.

Which person surprised you most on this list of highest paid caddies?

The Golf Bandit

Hi, I'm Jan. I love golf and I have been playing for a while now. I really enjoy trying out new golf clubs and equipment, and like to review them on my blog. I consider myself lucky as I have access to the latest clubs and gadgets, so I can get a feel for how they perform on the golf course. I also like to share my tips and tricks on how to improve your game, so if you're looking for help with that then look no further! Thanks for visiting, and I hope you find something useful here.

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A ranked list of the 10 highest-paid caddies in the world currently

Although some may presume a caddie's job to be somewhat unglamorous, it does come with many benefits when you think of it. Furthermore, they are equally influential in any golf game, even though they do not take apart a player. But the question, however, is who are the highest-paid caddies in the PGA tour?

Highest-paid caddies of all time

Golf caddies help make the sport more enjoyable and engaging for the players. Like a mentor, a golf caddy can make or break a round. As a result, golfers or players often take their total time before deciding who to make their caddy.

What are the responsibilities of caddies?

Each PGA tour often brings enormous sums of money to the winning golfer. And, of course, this is always great news for the caddies as they get paid too. However, why do they get paid? Here is a list of some of the duties and responsibilities caddies carry out to ensure the smooth running of the entire match or game.

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  • Making the bunkers and sand traps easier to play in by raking them
  • Measuring the distance to the pin
  • Fixing a divot
  • Removing the pins in the hole
  • Advising their golfer on which club they should use

Top 10 highest-paid caddies as of 2023

For starters, this kind of job has no fixed or basic salary, as it highly depends on the boss or, in this case, the golfer. The specified share that each caddy gets is often according to the golfer's position in the tournament. If the golfer wins the set prize money, their caddy is entitled to 10% of the amount besides the agreed salary. As per various online sources , here are some of the highest-paid caddies.

10. Albin Choi - $278,085

Highest-paid caddies on PGA Tour

Albin Choi is among the few players on the list that are not only caddies but also players a well. Currently caddying for I'm Sung-Jae, Albin is making great money. However, many golf fans and players on the PGA tour often claim that he could easily be the player making it on the PGA Tour.

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What is the best bat in the world? A list of the best cricket bats

But as said, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a step, which is the case here. Although Choi was an incredible and promising young golfer, he experienced some struggles making it on the PGA tour and ended up being a caddy.

9. Marc Kelly - $330,100

Highest-paid caddies ever

The relationship between Marc Kelly and his golfer Marc Leishman is one unbreakable bond that has lasted for over a decade. Most of the time, when a player and a caddy have such a strong relationship, then you know something is going right.

Besides, Kelly and Leishman are allies and often quality time together outside and in the field. Their unbreakable caddy-player relationship is worth envy as it is not breaking anytime soon.

8. Josh Cassell - $343,470

Highest-paid caddies as of 2023

When you spend so much time with certain people, you develop some things in common. For instance, one can start speaking like them, walking, running, and even more intriguing, some would even begin to take after one another.

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This is the case with Josh Cassell and his golfer Daniel Berger. Even though Daniel Berger is way younger than his caddy, he is undoubtedly doing a great job managing the PGA Tour. Josh has been caddying since 200 and has had the opportunity to work for other professionals like Billy Horschel, Jason Dufner, John Senden, Geoff Ogilvy, and Paul Gow.

7. Kessler Karain - $346,500

Highest-paid caddies

Although caddying for Patrick Reed may not seem like Karain's dream job, it has worked out quite well for him. However, before stepping in, Patrick Reed's wife had been caddying for him before she left to be a full-time homemaker.

Following that, Karain has since caddied for the world-class golfer Patrick Reed. However, in early 202, he got on the limelight's lousy side after being banned from the President's Cup for shoving a spectator after a heated banter.

6. Tim Tucker - $353,801

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Considering how picky and specific Bryson Dechambeau often is, it takes a particular person to caddy for him, and that is none other than Tim Tucker. Although the two professionals have also had their share of issues to the point where Tim left Bryson's bag for two years, they still found a way of coming back together.

In fact, Bryson Dechambeau claimed that Tucker was the only caddy he trusted to calm him down whenever needed—more like a stuck-together kind of relationship.

5. Adam Hayes - $374,625

Highest-paid caddies ever

If you are a die-hard golf fan, Jon Rahm's name definitely rings a bell. He is among the most decorated golfer in the world , winning numerous awards and titles thanks to his committed and consistent caddy, Adam Hayes.

He has been a vital, if not integral, part of Jon Rahm's successful career, so he is a well-respected caddy on the PGA Tour . Aside from Jon, he has also worked for professional golfers like Vaughan Taylor, Jason Duffner, Russell Henley, and Ben Crane.

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He is incredible at his job, and that is depicted by the rising Jon Rahm to the PGA Tour leaderboard. The pair has been recognised globally twice, in 2016 and early 2023.

4. Paul Tesori - $417,595

Highest-paid caddies on PGA Tour

Paul Tesori and famous golfer Webb Simpson have one of the strongest and longest player -caddy relationships. As a pair, they have won the 2012 US Open, 2018 Players Championships, and 23 PGA Tour wins.

Aside from Webb, Paul has caddied for other professional golf players like Jerry Kelly, Sean O'Hair, and Vijay Singh. However, he has stayed with Webb the longest.

3. Austin Johnson - $472,600

Highest-paid caddies ever

Well, imagine your siblings being by your side whenever things get tough, or you need further guidance. It is such a nice feeling, especially if the two of you know your way around what exactly you are doing. This is the case with caddy Austin Johnson and his brother, Dustin Johnson.

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The pair have been partners since 2013 and have remained the most successful brothers in Pro Golf. Besides, they have won nine tournaments, including Dustin's first major at the 2016 US Open at Oakmont, which crowned Austin as PGA Tour Caddie of the Year for 2016.

2. Jonathan Jakovac - $486,825

Highest-paid caddies on PGA tour

Jonathan Jakovac is the second highest-paid caddy on the list working beside the up-and-coming golfer Collin Morikawa. Collin Morikawa is a renowned athlete in the discipline, having bagged Tour victories, including the PGA Championship title.

He had no plans of being a caddy as he had such a keen interest in the sport . However, he failed to make it and instead decided to take up the role of caddying, with his first golfer being Ryan Moore. The pair stayed together for almost seven and a half years.

1. Jimmy Johnson - $502,851

Highest-paid PGA caddies

Jimmy Johnson is currently caddying for the professional golf guru Justin Thomas. One can tell from his earnings that he is one experienced sportsperson. He was bred in Dallas, Texas, and even played golf at the University of North Texas.

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Since taking up the role of caddying, Thomas has had a successful career rising to the top ranks and bagging up to 13 PGA Tour titles. Prior to working with Justin Thomas , he had also worked with other professional athletes like Adam Scott, Charles Howell, Steve Stricker, and Nick Price. As of 2023, Jimmy Johnson is regarded as one of the best caddies in the world.

Being a caddie on the PGA Tour is no mean task but it becomes enjoyable once you get used. Nevertheless, these people are as valuable as coaches, managers, and trainers in various team sports like soccer and basketball. Therefore, seeing some of these highest-paid caddies lavishly living should not be shocking.

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Phil Mickelson's brother and caddie made $200,000 for winning the PGA Championship. Here is how much PGA Tour caddies make.

  • Caddies on the PGA Tour can make some good money.
  • Former PGA Tour caddie Michael Collins revealed the standard payout caddies.
  • Collins said that caddies usually get 10% of the winnings from a win, as well as a weekly rate.

Insider Today

The top golfers in the world competed at the PGA Championship at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island over the weekend.

The tournament boasted one of the most star-studded fields in all of golf, and included a $12 million purse to be split amongst those that made the cut. Phil Mickelson, who put together four brilliant rounds to win the tournament , took home the winner's share of $2.16 million.

But the golfers aren't the only ones with big money at stake over the weekend — the caddies carrying their bags, helping read the greens, and helping to keep the flow of a round going also have plenty of skin in the game.

Related stories

As former PGA Tour caddie Michael Collins revealed on his ESPN+ show, "America's Caddie," PGA Tour caddies all have their own deals with their respective golfers. However, there are some general rules that apply across the board.

"Every caddie gets a weekly paycheck, no matter where his player finishes," Collins said in a cheekily animated video for his show. "If the player misses the cut, the caddie still has to get a paycheck because the caddie pays for all of his own expenses — airfare, hotel, car, food, all of it."

"If the guy makes the cut, the standard is 10-7-5 — 10% for a win, 7% for a top 10, 5% for everything else," Collins said.

With Phil taking home $2.16 million, that means his caddie — Phil's brother Tim — is likely in line for a $216,000 payout.

As Collins explained, caddies also get a weekly salary negotiated with their player. Caddies can range from $1,500-$3,000 a week. However, some caddies opt for a higher weekly paycheck in exchange for a lower percentage of winnings. "No caddie and player has the same deal," Collins said. "Everyone negotiates themselves."

You can watch Collins' explainer video below.

Watch: What it takes to be a PGA Tour caddie

highest paid pga tour caddies

  • Main content

How Much Do LPGA Tour Caddies Earn?

How much LPGA Tour caddies earn depends upon the caddie and the player

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Allisen Corpuz and her caddie at Pebble Beach in the U.S. Women's Open GettyImages-1526456904

How much do LPGA Tour caddies earn?

How much LPGA Tour caddies earn depends upon the caddie and the player; in particular, on how well the player plays. Each caddie is an independent contractor, thus is self employed. As such, he or she negotiates their own deal with the player that they caddie for. There is no LPGA caddie set standard for caddie’s remuneration.

So what follows has to be a generalisation. Caddie pay is not something normally publicly talked about by either caddie or player. Indeed, it is said the reason why Tiger Woods dismissed his first caddie, Mike ‘Fluff’ Cowan was that Cowen had revealed details of his pay ($1,000 a week and bonuses up to 10 percent of Woods’ winnings in this case).

But caddies get a two-part payment. The first part is base pay for a tournament, the second part is, in effect, performance-related pay based on how the player does, with the caddie getting a cut of the player’s prize money. Caddies and players set this percentage but I have not heard of any caddie getting more than 10% and often this figure is only for when the golfer wins the tournament. Typical figures mentioned are 10% of the prize money for winning; 7% for top 5 or maybe top 10; and 5% otherwise.

Gary Player, recalled being greeted by his Augusta National caddie, Eddie McCoy at the 1978 Masters: “ Mr Player we’ve got to win , I’m in a trouble and I need a new house.” Player went on: “I don't know what kind of trouble Eddie was in, but when I came from seven shots behind to win on Sunday, you've never seen a man as happy as Eddie.”

Caddies are responsible for paying their own expenses. The base pay is money given by the player to the caddie for the caddie to use however they wish, but it provides funds for travel, accommodation and meals when getting to and from, and working at, a tournament.

Base pay rates you hear mentioned are between $1,000 and $2.500 per tournament. Typically if a caddy if not working at a tournament, he – or she, although most caddies on the LPGA tour are male – does not get paid. Tour caddies make the bulk of their money from their percentage of the prize money.

The 2024 LPGA season offers over $116 million in prize money with 10 regular tournaments offering at least $3 million and the five Majors having purses of between $5.25m and $11m. The winner of the U.S. Women’s Open gets $2million. Presuming their caddie is on a 10% share of this, that caddie will earn a $200,000 bonus that week.

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Contributing Writer Golf courses and travel are Roderick’s particular interests and he was contributing editor for the first few years of the Golf Monthly Travel Supplement. He writes travel articles and general features for the magazine, travel supplement and website. He also compiles the magazine's crossword. He is a member of Trevose Golf & Country Club and has played golf in around two dozen countries. Cricket is his other main sporting love. He is the author of five books, four of which are still in print: T he Novel Life of PG Wodehouse ; The Don: Beyond Boundaries ; Wally Hammond: Gentleman & Player and England’s Greatest Post-War All Rounder .

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11 Richest Golf Caddies in the World

Phil andrews.

  • July 31, 2022

Golf Caddy

To those unfamiliar with the sport of golf, the caddy (or caddie) is sometimes regarded as a lowly creature, dutifully carrying his master’s bags and doing the donkey work while the golfer himself or herself basks in the glory of the success which comes with victory out on the golf course.

And is true, of course, that as in any sport golf is about those who play, and win tournaments.

A golf caddy is indeed there to help the player by whom he or she is employed. That is what a caddy in golf does.

But there is much more to the role played by caddies, and pro golfers, in particular, require the services of a professional golf caddy who understands their needs and requirements.

The History of the Golf Caddy

Hole in One

The first reliable record of caddies having been used in golfing is from Edinburgh, Scotland in 1817. It is however believed that the first use of a caddie was by the Duke of Albany in 1681, also in Scotland, while playing an international contest at Leith Links.

For the 150 or so years that followed, caddying came to be associated purely with that particular club, although their use later became increasingly commonplace amongst the most prestigious and elite golf clubs.

At this time caddies were generally provided by the host club rather than by the golfers themselves.

It wasn’t until the second half of the twentieth century that golfers, by now much more highly paid, came to realize the benefits of having a personal caddy who was known to and familiar with the player.

What Does a Golf Caddy Do?

At its most basic, caddies are charged with the responsibility of carrying their player’s bags about the course, keeping their clubs clean and in the best condition and organizing their equipment and other belongings.

They might also keep an eye on the condition of the course, removing any obstacles and advising on putting distances and suchlike.

It is this latter function that reveals the true importance of a good caddy to any professional golfer.

Masters - Caddie tradition

Because additional to acting as a porter and bag carrier he or she is also the eyes and ears of their player, replacing divots and raking bunkers as well as keeping tabs on events around the golf course and, occasionally, fending off over-enthusiastic supporters who might inadvertently encroach upon the game.

It is not just about being a bag-man (or woman), a good caddy also brings insight, inspiration and logistical assistance.

There is also a psychological role played by caddies. Helping with everyday tasks and just being around helps the player to relax and to concentrate.

One of the many understated roles of the golf caddy is to help maintain the player’s morale and focus, which ultimately can make the difference between success and failure.

For reasons of both personal loyalty and self-interest, the caddy is deeply invested in the success of the player.

How Much Does a Caddy in Golf Earn?

Sunshine on the Golf Course

It is because of their importance to professional golfers that caddies, whilst obviously not in the same financial league as the players themselves, are often well remunerated for their services.

Usually, for PGA tour caddies a base salary will be supplemented with a percentage share of any winnings achieved by the golfer.

In the event of a golfer winning a tournament, the caddy may take as much as ten percent of that player’s earnings.

Typically this reduces to seven percent for a top ten performance, or five percent if the player misses the top placings.

A caddy can make between $1,500 and $2,500 per week during golf tournaments, according to Forbes .

For most caddies, pay will also include any travel or out-of-pocket expenses incurred whilst at work. This is important because in the first instance it will be the caddies who incur their own expenses in preparation for a game.

Titleist ProV 1

A caddy in golf is part of a team, serving as partner, trainer, advisor and confidant to their player who is thereby left to concentrate on the task ahead, which is winning the tournament.

When a player wins, their assistant benefits financially. Theirs is very much a mutually advantageous relationship.

Good caddies are a priceless resource and a much sought-after commodity.

Richest Golf Caddies in 2020

According to data from the PGA tour in 2020, the following caddies were the highest paid on the circuit in that year, the last year for which we presently have information:

Jimmy Johnson

Jimmy Johnson Caddie

Caddying for US golfer and former world number one Justin Thomas, Johnson netted over half a million dollars in that one year alone making him officially the biggest earner amongst his kind.

Nevertheless, they parted ways following that tournament, Johnson saying that we wished to pursue new interests.

He was replaced by English-born American Jim “Bones” Mackay.

Jonathan Jakovac

JJ Jakovac Caddie with Collin Morikawa

Having carried clubs for fellow American Ryan Moore, Jakovac teamed up with Collin Marikawa who went on to win the PGA Championship.

The following year Marikawa won the Open Championship on Jakovac’s 39th birthday, directing the crowd in an enthusiastic rendition of “Happy Birthday to You”.

Jakovac earned nearly $483,000 dollars in 2020.

Austin Johnson

Austin Johnson with Dustin Johnson

Caddy for Dustin Johnson , one of the best golfers in the game, won the Masters in November 2020 with his younger brother at his side. Consequently, Austin Johnson found himself among the ranks of top caddies boasting six-figure salaries.

In his case, his earnings in 2020 amounted to $472,600.

Paul Tesori

Paul Tesori

Served Webb Simpson in 2020, when the latter re-entered the world’s top ten after winning the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Tesori took home not very far short of $420,000.

Simpson believes theirs is a partnership brought together by God.

Adam Hayes and John Rahm

Jon Rahm was the golfer employing this top-rank caddy, only the second Spaniard (after the legendary Seve Ballesteros) to be rated the number one golfer in the world.

In 2020, with Adam Hayes at his side, Rahm won the Memorial Tournament and the BMW Championship.

Hayes stepped out of that memorable year with a cool $375,000 in his pocket.

Tim Tucker and Bryson DeChambeau

Provided caddying services for Bryson DeChambeau, known as “The Scientist” for his analytical approach to his sport.

He won the US Open in 2020 and Tucker went home with around $350,000.

Related Article: Uncovering Tim Tucker’s Net Worth: What We Know So Far

Kessler Karain

Kessler Karain - Patrick Reed's caddie

Was sidesman for American pro golfer Patrick Reed on the 2020 PGA tour when the latter won the WGC-Mexico Championship, propelling him into the elite league of PGA caddies pay with $346,500.

Josh Cassell

Josh Cassell Caddie

Caddy on the PGA tour card for Daniel Berger, a top US golfer whose father Jay had been a world-ranked tennis pro.

When Berger (junior) won the Charles Schwab Challenge he received a check for $1.375 million.

As his caddy, Cassell had to settle for $343,000.

Marc Kelly

Like most PGA tour caddies, the 2020 tournament ensured him a hefty yearly payout.

Working for Australian Marc Leishman, who won the Farmers Insurance Open, Kelly banked $330,000 in 2020.

Mark Crane Caddie

Professional caddy to Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, who triumphed in the 2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA tour.

Hatton played in the 2021 Ryder Cup, representing Europe alongside many professional golfers from various countries.

Crane made $287,000 from assisting in his employer’s success in 2020 alone.

Albin Choi with Bob Vokey

South Korean professional golfer Im Sung-jae won the Honda Classic in March 2020, earning Choi $278,000.

Other Top Earners

At the time of writing 2020 may be the most recent year in which the incomes of PGA caddies have been listed, but there are many others who have earned big from PGA tours.

One of the most well-known is Steve Williams, who has served many professional golfers, most recently Jason Day.

He has also been Tiger Woods’ caddy as well as having worked for Adam Scott and Peter Thomson.

New Zealander Steve Williams’ net worth is believed to be in the region of $20 million. He is also said to have been given up to ten vehicles which were won by Woods at tournaments.

It is worth remembering that the richest caddy, like the richest golfer, is not always the one who earned the most the previous year, but more often the one who has acquired the most during a long and fruitful career.

The wealthiest golfer of all time is Tiger Woods.

Even Rory McIlroy, one if the world’s top ten golfers in the earnings league, has yet to come anywhere close to emulating Tiger Woods’ financial success.

Caddie or Caddy?

Meanwhile, this remains the $64,000 question. According to the authoritative Grammarist , one is a golfer’s attendant whilst the other is a (primarily British) vehicle for holding tea.

But it isn’t quite that simple. Even the purists acknowledge that it is legitimate to use the word “caddy” to describe a golfer’s helper, and indeed both spellings are frequently employed, sometimes interchangeably.

In its golfing context the word, however spelled, derives from the French “cadet” , meaning a trainee.

Whichever the correct way to spell the word, the importance of the caddy (or caddie) to professional golfers cannot easily be overstated.

Phil Andrews

Phil Andrews is an English-language article writer and author of the 1970s nostalgia fiction novel The Best Year Of Our Lives. His special interests are current affairs, economics and sport - in particular soccer, boxing and golf.

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How much do caddies really earn? The answer might surprise you

highest paid pga tour caddies

For golf fans, being a looper for a professional golfer sounds like the most ideal job in the world; however, the going salary has always been a source of speculation.

Joel Dahmen’s caddie, Geno Bonnalie, began looping for his man back in 2015 when Dahmen earned his Korn Ferry Tour status (Web.com at the time) and has been on the bag of the 33-year-old ever since.

Over the weekend, Bonnalie went in-depth on the common question of ‘How much does a caddie make?’, taking to Twitter to reveal all in a series of tweets on his story that begun with him pursuing his dream by leaving his $50k a year desk job.

Check out Bonnalie’s thread below on what it’s like to caddie for a pro on the Korn Ferry Tour, including how he believes he made a loss for that first year.

highest paid pga tour caddies

@genobonnalie

highest paid pga tour caddies

Fascinating insight from Geno who you can follow on Twitter here.

Would any WRXers be willing to give up their day job to chase the dream of caddying for a pro? Let us know in the comments!

highest paid pga tour caddies

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Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected] .

highest paid pga tour caddies

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Vincenzi’s liv golf singapore betting preview: course specialist ready to thrive once again.

highest paid pga tour caddies

After another strong showing in Australia, LIV Golf will head to Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore looking to build off of what was undoubtedly their best event to date.

Sentosa Golf Club sits on the southern tip of Singapore and is one of the most beautiful courses in the world. The course is more than just incredible scenically; it was also rated 55th in Golf Digest’s top-100 courses in 2022-2023 and has been consistently regarded as one of the best courses in Asia. Prior to being part of the LIV rotation, the course hosted the Singapore Open every year since 2005.

Sentosa Golf Club is a par 71 measuring 7,406 yards. The course will require precise ball striking and some length off the tee. It’s possible to go low due to the pristine conditions, but there are also plenty of hazards and difficult spots on the course that can bring double bogey into play in a hurry. The Bermudagrass greens are perfectly manicured, and the course has spent millions on the sub-air system to keep the greens rolling fast. I spoke to Asian Tour player, Travis Smyth, who described the greens as “the best [he’s] ever played.”

Davis Love III, who competed in a Singapore Open in 2019, also gushed over the condition of the golf course.

“I love the greens. They are fabulous,” the 21-time PGA Tour winner said.

Love III also spoke about other aspects of the golf course.

“The greens are great; the fairways are perfect. It is a wonderful course, and it’s tricky off the tee.”

“It’s a long golf course, and you get some long iron shots. It takes somebody hitting it great to hit every green even though they are big.”

As Love III said, the course can be difficult off the tee due to the length of the course and the trouble looming around every corner. It will take a terrific ball striking week to win at Sentosa Golf Club.

In his pre-tournament press conference last season, Phil Mickelson echoed many of the same sentiments.

“To play Sentosa effectively, you’re going to have a lot of shots from 160 to 210, a lot of full 6-, 7-, 8-iron shots, and you need to hit those really well and you need to drive the ball well.”

Golfers who excel from tee to green and can dial in their longer irons will have a massive advantage this week.

Stat Leaders at LIV Golf Adelaide:

Fairways hit.

1.) Louis Oosthuizen

2.) Anirban Lahiri

3.) Jon Rahm

4.) Brendan Steele

5.) Cameron Tringale

Greens in Regulation

1.) Brooks Koepka

2.) Brendan Steele

3.) Dean Burmester

4.) Cameron Tringale

5.) Anirban Lahiri

Birdies Made

1.) Brendan Steele

2.) Dean Burmester

3.) Thomas Pieters

4.) Patrick Reed

5.) Carlos Ortiz

LIV Golf Individual Standings:

1.) Joaquin Niemann

2.) Jon Rahm

4.) Louis Oosthuizen

5.) Abraham Ancer

LIV Golf Team Standings:

1.) Crushers

2.) Legion XIII

4.) Stinger GC

5.) Ripper GC

LIV Golf Singapore Picks

Sergio garcia +3000 (draftkings).

Sergio Garcia is no stranger to Sentosa Golf Club. The Spaniard won the Singapore Open in 2018 by five strokes and lost in a playoff at LIV Singapore last year to scorching hot Talor Gooch. Looking at the course setup, it’s no surprise that a player like Sergio has played incredible golf here. He’s long off the tee and is one of the better long iron players in the world when he’s in form. Garcia is also statistically a much better putter on Bermudagrass than he is on other putting surfaces. He’s putt extremely well on Sentosa’s incredibly pure green complexes.

This season, Garcia has two runner-up finishes, both of them being playoff losses. Both El Camaleon and Doral are courses he’s had success at in his career. The Spaniard is a player who plays well at his tracks, and Sentosa is one of them. I believe Sergio will get himself in the mix this week. Hopefully the third time is a charm in Singapore.

Paul Casey +3300 (FanDuel)

Paul Casey is in the midst of one of his best seasons in the five years or so. The results recently have been up and down, but he’s shown that when he’s on a golf course that suits his game, he’s amongst the contenders.

This season, Casey has finishes of T5 (LIV Las Vegas), T2 (LIV Hong Kong), and a 6th at the Singapore Classic on the DP World Tour. At his best, the Englishman is one of the best long iron players in the world, which makes him a strong fit for Sentosa. Despite being in poor form last season, he was able to fire a Sunday 63, which shows he can low here at the course.

It’s been three years since Casey has won a tournament (Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2021), but he’s been one of the top players on LIV this season and I think he can get it done at some point this season.

Mito Pereira +5000 (Bet365)

Since Mito Pereira’s unfortunate demise at the 2022 PGA Championship, he’s been extremely inconsistent. However, over the past few months, the Chilean has played well on the International Series as well as his most recent LIV start. Mito finished 8th at LIV Adelaide, which was his best LIV finish this season.

Last year, Pereira finished 5th at LIV Singapore, shooting fantastic rounds of 67-66-66. It makes sense why Mito would like Sentosa, as preeminent ball strikers tend to rise to the challenge of the golf course. He’s a great long iron player who is long and straight off the tee.

Mito has some experience playing in Asia and is one of the most talented players on LIV who’s yet to get in the winner’s circle. I have questions about whether or not he can come through once in contention, but if he gets there, I’m happy to roll the dice.

Andy Ogletree +15000 (DraftKings)

Andy Ogletree is a player I expected to have a strong 2024 but struggled early in his first full season on LIV. After failing to crack the top-25 in any LIV event this year, the former U.S. Amateur champion finally figured things out, finished in a tie for 3rd at LIV Adelaide.

Ogletree should be incredible comfortable playing in Singapore. He won the International Series Qatar last year and finished T3 at the International Series Singapore. The 26-year-old was arguably the best player on the Asian Tour in 2023 and has been fantastic in the continent over the past 18 months.

If Ogletree has indeed found form, he looks to be an amazing value at triple-digit odds.

LIV star splits with swing coach after working together for 14 years

highest paid pga tour caddies

After fourteen years together, LIV Golf’s Adrian Meronk has decided to part ways with his swing coach, Matthew Tipper.

On Monday, Tipper announced the split via social media.

pic.twitter.com/Q6klxxgyW0 — Matthew Tipper (@Matthew__Tipper) April 29, 2024

“After 14 years sometimes things just come to an end. Last week Adrian decided he wanted to go a new way and I have to respect that decision. I’m proud of everything we achieved together.

“I knew in 2010 he was a great talent and he has only gone to prove that all over the world. To Pietro Gobinho and Stuart Beck, thank you for being amazing caddies when Adrian needed you. Your support and co-operation has been invaluable and I thank you both.

“I want to publicly thank Adrian for allowing me to sit in the best seat in the house for 14 years.

“It’s now time to start my new chapter in the USA alongside my mentor James Sieckmann and I’m excited to go to my first Korn Ferry Tour event later next month. As always tomorrow we begin again.”

Meronk is having a poor season by his standards on LIV. The reigning DP World Tour player had some solid finishes early in the year, finishing T9 and T6 at LIV Las Vegas and LIV Jeddah, but missed the cut at the Masters and has failed to crack the top-10 in his past three LIV starts.

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LET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you

highest paid pga tour caddies

On Friday morning, Ladies European Tour player, Hannah Gregg, took to social media to share her weekly expenses playing on the LET.

Expenses of my first week on Ladies European Tour: Flights: $2600 Work Visa: $350 Food: $377 Caddie: $0 because I have an amazing Fiancé Hotel: $0 because @GregChalmersPGA sorted me host housing for the week! ? Rental Car: +0 because the Tour Tee guys GAVE me their car ??… — Hannah Gregg (@hannahbggg) April 26, 2024

“Expenses of my first week on Ladies European Tour: Flights: $2600 Work Visa: $350 

  • Food: $377 
  • Caddie: $0 because I have an amazing Fiancé 
  • Hotel: $0 because   @GregChalmersPGA  sorted me host housing for the week!  
  • Rental Car: +0 because the Tour Tee guys GAVE me their car  
  • Entry Fee: $130 
  • Lounge Pass for caddie: $50 
  • Yardage book: $0 
  • Total expenses: $3672 

Made cut, finished 54th, total earned: $1244 Factor in 35% tax on earnings. To break even, needed to finish 24th. To make money, 21st. Guess we have our goals laid out for next event!”

When factoring in Gregg’s free housing, free caddie and free rental car, it’s evident that most LET players would have to finish well inside of the top-20 to make any money.

With ridiculous amounts of money being thrown around in professional golf these days, it’s important to remember the other side of the coin as well. There are countless professionals out there who struggle to get by on their golf salary.

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How Much Do Golf Caddies Make? PGA Caddy Facts & Duties

how much do golf caddies make salary and responsibilities

Have you ever wondered  how much golf caddies make  on the PGA Tour? Looking for a possible career change? Look no further as we will outline exactly what caddies are making on the PGA Tour and at amateur courses.

We will also explain what exactly a caddie is and  10 key golf caddie responsibilities  out on the golf course.

Learn about some of the most popular golf caddies of all time, including the partners for Tiger Woods , Adam Scott, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, and more.

PGA Caddy Pay Breakdown

How much do amateur caddies make at golf clubs, groove sharpener, divot repair tool, premium golf club towel, carry clubs, clean clubs and golf balls, understand course layout and provide tips, read the green break, tend the pin, understand the rules of golf, fix divots and ball markings, hand clubs to their golfer, rake sand traps, count the clubs, steve williams, fanny sunesson, jim “bones” mackay, jimmy johnson, how much do pga caddies make.

PGA Caddies don’t all make the same amount, although there are a few standard rules across the board that apply in most cases. All caddies get a standard weekly salary and this is a fixed amount.It doesn’t matter if the caddie’s professional golfer makes the cut or not.

The reason for this is because caddies still have to pay for their own expenses when at a tournament, including:

If their golfer makes the cut, makes top 10 or even wins the tournament, it is a different story. Each caddie negotiates a deal with the golfer, so the payouts can all be different. There is however a standard 10-7-5 rule that most caddies have negotiated.

The 10-7-5 rule means they will receive 10% of the prize money if the golfer wins, 7% of the payout if the golfer finishes in the top 10, and 5% of the payout for everything else.

how much do golf caddies make?

Each weekly base salary can be different for caddies, but the standard across the board is between $1,500 to $3,000 per week. Some caddies may opt for a higher weekly fixed amount and take less winnings, but it all depends on what they work into their contract.

There is a 10-7-5 rule that most caddies will follow for winnings, which means they will take home 10% of the winnings if their golfer wins, 7% of the winnings if the golfer finishes top 10, and 5% of the winnings for everything else.

Some caddies may also work out a deal with the golfer to have some of their weekly expenses covered such as hotel room, rental car, food, or travel expenses for the week. Caddie pay used to be very cut and dry, but recently everything is more individualized between the caddie and golfer.

Lastly, caddies can also earn money from sponsorships. It would not be as lucrative as the sponsorship deals that the PGA golfers get, but caddies can earn money by wearing certain hats or logos on their shirt that represent different companies. These deals are worked out on a case by case basis and can really inflate how much a golf caddy makes.

Quite a few golf country clubs around the world will actually hire amateur caddies to come out for the day on tournaments and other events being held. On these days, amateur caddies will make anywhere from $20 to $30 an hour at a club, or around $160 to $270 if they have a full 8 hour shift.

This actually isn’t too bad compared to other part time jobs and it also gets you out on your feet and active for an entire day!

If you have a passion for golf it is a great idea to get your name out there at your local golf club while you make a bit of money. It could also get you free or reduced green fees and connect you with other passionate golfers.

Key Tools and Equipment For Golf Caddies

Golf caddies carry around a few tools which make their life easy:

Clean grooves are essential for adding maximum spin to a golf ball. All good caddies carry this  groove sharpener  to help keep the clubs clean.

HIFROM Groove Sharpener with 6 Heads - Golf Re-Grooving Tool and Cleaner for All Irons Pitching Sand Lob Gap and Approach Wedges and Utility Clubs Red Color

Pro golfers tend to make serious divots on the green every hole. All golf caddies carry this  divot repair tool  in their pocket to keep the greens in good condition.

Mile High Life All Metal Foldable Golf Divot Tool with Pop-up Button & Magnetic Ball Marker (Gray Fish)

Caddies need to keep clubs and balls clean for the next shot. This premium golf towel is a large size and good quality.

E9 GOLF Caddy Towel - Large 22' x 44' Caddie Style Golf Towel Design, Use The Same Golf Towel That Tour Players Use, Simple, Clean Design, Black with White Stripes

10 Golf Caddie Responsibilities

For anyone who has watched a PGA Tour event on television, you see that caddies have a wide range of roles while out on the course. Below we will go over the many roles of a golf caddie.

On the PGA Tour, golfers must walk for the entirety of their round as power and push carts are prohibited. Walking a 4 and a half hour golf round is tiring enough, but your energy would be more drained if you had to carry your clubs as well.

It is a caddie’s job to carry their golfers clubs the entire round for them.

Another job of the caddie is to ensure that their golfer’s clubs and golf ball are shiny and clean for every single shot. Anyone who has played golf before knows that clubs and balls can become quite dirty hitting out of rough, dirt and sand.

The grooves on the club are what provides spin so if the grooves are dirty, the ball will not do what the golfers wants it to do. Golfers will mark their ball on the green and have the caddie wipe the ball clean to ensure a perfect roll when putting as well.

Most professional golf tournaments will start on Thursday and conclude on Sunday, but the golfers participating in the tournament will arrive there much sooner to walk around the course and play some practice rounds. The role of the caddie is mark yardages in the golfer’s yardage book so that they know exact yardage from every spot on the course during the tournament.

Unlike amateur courses, there are no markings for 200, 150, and 100 yards on a professional course.

The caddie will also study each hazard and the best spots to put the ball on the course to give the golfer the best chance at succeeding.

On the green, the caddie will also help their golfer read the break and offer advice on where to hit the ball and where to aim. Good putting can often be the difference between a win and a loss, so a reliable set of second eyes on the green is a big help for a golfer.

While helping the golfer read the greens, the caddie is also responsible for tending the pin during shots. They will ask the golfer if they want the pin in or out and will hold it until the hole is concluded, before placing it back and heading to the next hole.

Caddies must understand the rules of golf so that they can offer insight on different scenarios, should they happen while playing. In most professional tournaments, there are PGA rules officials walking throughout the course to help out, but they might not always be around.

The caddie must know the rules so they can advise the golfer if something needs to be done such as hitting a second ball or dropping rules near hazards.

Another job of the caddie is to repair all of the divots in the fairway that their golfers may make. PGA Tour players will usually take big divots when using wedges on short approach shots. It is up to the caddie to put the divot back and ensure that the course stays in great condition. Caddies will also repair ball markings on the green from approach shots.

Part of building a good relationship, golf caddies need to hand clubs to their golfer. Most times, caddie’s will know what club should be used without needing to ask. This skill helps to reduce stress on the golf course and keep a golfer in the zone.

Even the most successful players sometimes find a bunker to hit out of. If they do, it is a golf caddie’s job to rake sand traps and bunkers for their pro.

A major responsibility of golf caddie’s is to make sure that they bring and keep all of the golf gear and clubs in the bag in order. This means packing the clubs up at the end of the round and making sure they go where they need to next (hotel, airport, etc).

Overall, golf caddies make the lives of their players easier. Their job stretches out much further than an 18-hole round of golf. Good and experienced golf caddies have been around for a long time and understand all the nuances of the PGA tour.

Most Famous Golf Caddies

There are a lot of caddies out there as PGA Tour events are a quite big in size and every golfer has one. Caddies are usually chosen by having a personal relationship with specific golfers and also by being really good at their job.

That being said, there are a few famous caddies that almost everyone knows about in some way.

steve williams golf caddy

Arguably the most famous golf caddie of all time, Steve Williams was the caddie for Tiger Woods throughout his prime. It is believed that Steve Williams earned over $12 million dollars while caddying for Tiger.

Steve Williams was on the bag for more than 12 years and helped Tiger win 63 times on the PGA Tour, including 13 Majors. After Tiger Woods, Steve Williams caddied for Adam Scott as well. In his early days, Steve worked with Greg Norman as well.

fanny sunesson golf caddy

Considered the one of the first great female caddies, Fanny was on the bag for Nick Faldo during his 4 Major victories. After that, she had short stints with Fred Funk and Sergio Garcia before concluding her caddie career with fellow countrymen Henrik Stenson.

Fanny’s career earnings are unknown, however her net worth is believed to be around $1.5 million.

jim bones mackway golf caddy

Bones was on the bag for Phil Mickelson for over 25 years and the duo have one of the most famous player-caddie relationships of all time. Both Phil and Jim are very vocal people, so their exchanges on the course over the years showed the public the exact nature of what caddies do and how they provide input. Bones is retired from caddying and now provides on course analysis for CBS during tournaments.

joe lacava golf caddy

Joe LaCava spent more than 20 years being the caddie for Fred Couples. After that, he was briefly with Dustin Johnson and then in 2011 he was the caddie for Tiger Woods. Joe has been around for many years and hasn’t showed any signs of slowing down yet.

jimmy johnson golf caddy

Jimmy Johnson is the golf caddie for Justin Thomas. He is one of the most popular golf caddies today. Before Justin, Jimmy worked with Collin Morikawa as well.

Golf caddies play a vital role in the game of golf and it is important to know their responsibilities and duties. They help players improve their game and make sure everything goes smoothly during a tournament. Many golfers choose a caddie because they want someone who will look after them and keep them calm when things get tense.

In conclusion, golf caddies usually earn a base salary of around $100,00 year year. Then, they can earn as much as 10% of a golfer’s earnings on the PGA tour. Amateur golfers make a lot less, but often build up connections that could lead to bigger and better things.

Who is your favorite golf caddy? Comment down below and let us know.

Ryan William

Ryan William

With over 25 years hands-on experience in the golfing world, Ryan is not just an avid golfer but a topical authority. His journey has had him delve deep into the nuances of the sport, from mastering the swing to understanding new golf technology. As an entrepreneur, Ryan is at the forefront of the latest golf trends, reviewing all new clubs, accessories, and training aids. His insights and expertise are backed by a prolific writing career, with over 1000 articles published across various platforms. Ryan's commitment is clear: to guide and inform the golf community with unparalleled knowledge and passion.

Last update on 2024-05-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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highest paid pga tour caddies

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10 Highest Paid Golf Caddies 2024 (PGA Tours)

The PGA Tour features best golfers in the world who earns a lot of money. Here we present the highest-paid Golf caddies in 2024 based on the last season’s PGA Tour.

A golf Caddie is a golfer’s sidekick for our fellow readers who don’t know what a Caddie or Caddy means. A Caddie basically is the person who carries a player’s bag and clubs and gives useful advice and moral support to the golfer.

A good caddie has thorough knowledge regarding the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played. A good Caddie will also suggest the best strategy in playing on a particular Golf course, pin placements, and even club selection for shots. 

Caddies are similar to and as valuable as managers, coaches, and trainers in various team sports like football, cricket,etc., Thus they are also paid very well.

10 Highest Paid Golf Caddies

A professional golf caddie earns an averagely $2,500 -$2000 weekly wage according to (Forbes Magazine and Pro Caddies). Caddies also earn from brand endorsements and bonuses.

10. Albin Choi 

Albin Choi

Albin Choi was a Caddie for Korean Golfer Im Sung-Jae. They both share a solid friendship as Im won his first-ever PGA Tour event last year. Albin has quit as a professional Caddie to become a Professional Golfer.

Albin’s PGA Tour Purse is $158,085, along with that, he also earns a base salary of $120K, making it $278,085 in overall payouts as a Caddie.

9. Matt Kelly

Matt Kelly

The Australian pair Matt Kelly and Marc Leishman have been partners since teenage as both found a liking to Golf. Matt has been a Caddie for Marc for a long time.

Marc also won the 2009 Rookie of the Year award on the PGA Tour. Matt Kelly’s PGA Tour Purse is $210,100, along with that, he also earns a base salary of $120K, making it $330,100 in overall payouts as a Caddie.

8. Josh Cassell

Josh Cassell

Josh Cassell is currently caddying for Daniel Berger, who performed well in 2024 and shot up in the PGA Tour Rankings.

Josh has been caddying since 2000 and has carried the bag for professionals like Geoff Ogilvy, Billy Horschel, Jason Dufner, John Senden, Paul Gow, and Aaron Baddeley.

Cassell’s PGA Tour Purse is $223,470, along with that, he also earns a base salary of $120K, making it $343,470 in overall payouts as a Caddie.

7. Kessler Karain

Kessler Karain

Kessler Karain is the caddie to the world-class golfer Patrick Reed. Last year Kessler came into bad light after being banned from the President’s Cup for shoving a spectator after a heated banter.

Karain is actually the brother of Justine Karain, the wife and former Caddie of Patrick Reed. Kessler’s PGA Tour Purse is $226,500, along with that, he also earns a base salary of $120K, making it $346,500 in overall payouts as a Caddie.

6. Tim Tucker

Tim Tucker

Tom Tucker carries the bag as a Caddie for the 26-year-old Bryson DeChambeau, who has had a successful start to his career so far.

Tucker’s PGA Tour Purse is $233,801, along with that, he also earns a base salary of $120K, making it $353,801 in overall payouts as a Caddie.

Highest Paid Football Managers in the World

5. Adam Hayes

Adam Hayes

Jon Rahm has risen to the top of the PGA Tour leaderboard to become one of the best professional golfers globally. It is also partly with insightful help from his Caddie Adam Hayes. The pair went pro in the 2016 U.S. Open and then became world number one in 2024.

Adam is one of the most respected caddies in the circuit and bagged a $254,625 in his PGA Tour Purse and also earns a base salary of $120K, making it $374,625 overall payouts.

4. Paul Tesori

highest paid pga tour caddies

Paul Tesori and Pro Golfer Webb Simpson have one of the strongest and longest player-caddie relationships. Together they have won the 2012 U.S. Open, the 2018 Players Championship and 23 PGA Tour wins.

Tesori’s PGA Tour Purse is $297,595, along with that, he also earns a base salary of $120K, making it $417,595 in overall payouts as a Caddie.

3. Austin Johnson

highest paid pga tour caddies

Austin is Dustin Johnson’s Caddie and younger brother; they have been together since 2013 and one of the most successful brothers in Pro Golf. Dustin and Austin together have won nine tournaments, including Dustin’s first major at the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont, which crowned Austin as PGA Tour Caddie of the Year for 2016.

Austin’s PGA Tour Purse is $352,600, along with that, he also earns a base salary of $120K, making it $472,600 in overall payouts as Dustin’s Caddie. According to Forbes Magazine, Dustin was the second highest-earning caddie on the 2017 PGA Tour.

2 . Jonathan Jakovac

highest paid pga tour caddies

Jonathan Jakovac currently carries the bag for young star golfer Collin Morikawa, who has bagged three PGA Tour victories, including the PGA Championship title. Jakovac himself was a golfer a long time back but couldn’t make it big and was a caddie for fellow American Ryan Moore for seven and a half years. Jakovac’s PGA Tour Purse is $366,825, along with that, he also earns a base salary of $120K, making it $486,825 in overall payouts as Collin’s Caddie.

1. Jimmy Johnson

immy Johnson - Highest Paid Golf Caddies

Jimmy Johnson has been carrying the bag for one of the world’s best professional golfer Justin Thomas. Thomas has had a great career so far and has risen to the top ranks quite often in the past years.

He has managed to win 13 PGA Tour titles. Johnson is one of the most experienced and respected caddies and has been caddying since 1995 for almost 25 years.

Jimmy’s PGA Tour Purse in 2024 is $382,851, along with that, he also earns a base salary of $120K, making it $502,851 in overall payouts as a caddie.

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How Much Do Caddies Make? You Might Be Surprised

If you excel, PGA Tour caddies can rake in around $5,000 per tournament. Their base pay is $1,500-$3,000 weekly, but they earn between 5 to 10% of the prize money of their golfer. In general, you’ll make more if you work at more exclusive clubs and with better golfers. 

Amateur caddies earn an average of $17.71 per hour , with a range from $9 to $32 per hour , according to Zippia . But you can make $61K to $112K , according to Glassdoor .

I’ve hired caddies online from associations or in parking lots, so let me share what they typically earn.Anyone interested in getting paid to work as a golf caddy will want to understand the various salary ranges so you can plan your path to success.

How Much Are Caddies Paid at Country Clubs?

How much money do the top pga tour caddies make, how much do professional lpga caddies make, how do the pros select a caddie, time and education requirements to become a caddie, what are the duties of a caddie, closing thoughts, do caddies make a percentage of the winnings, how much do pga tour caddies make, who is the highest paid caddie on the pga tour, how much does tiger woods pay his caddie, do caddies get paid if player misses the cut, do caddies pay their own expenses, how much does a pga caddy make on the lpga tour.

A golf caddy at a country club makes more than most amateur caddies at around $30 per hour . However, it can go as high as $75 an hour, making for a lucrative professional caddie salary (albeit much less than PGA Tour caddies!)

This job is popular for junior golfers as a local golf course caddy. Nowadays, most public golf courses do not have a caddie program, but most country clubs do have caddie services.

However, it can be great for all ages and whoever wants to get their foot in the door in the caddying space.

Read also: Country Club Membership Cost

How Much Do Caddies Make on the PGA Tour?

how much do caddies make

PGA Tour caddies typically earn between $1,500 to $3,000 weekly , with their total income comprising base pay, a percentage cut of the golfer’s winnings, and bonuses. The exact amount a caddie earns varies as each negotiates their own deal with the golfer.

In terms of the percentage cut, it’s usually 10% of the winnings for a tournament win, 7% for a top-ten finish, and 5% for making the cut . For example, a caddie for a golfer who wins a $1 million prize would earn $100,000. Considering the average PGA Tour golfer makes about $1.5 million annually, a caddie could earn around $75,000 per year from this percentage cut alone, assuming a 5% share.

Based on these earnings and factoring in their weekly salary, t he average PGA Tour caddie can make about $5,000 per tournament . This calculation assumes participation in around 25 events yearly, combining the weekly base pay and the average prize money cut. Therefore, while the top caddies for leading golfers earn significantly more, even an average PGA Tour caddie earns a respectable income.

So now we know how much the average PGA Tour caddie makes, but what do the top pro caddies make?

As it stands, the highest-paid caddie in 2024 is likely Ted Scott. He caddies for Scottie Scheffler, who has accrued the most on-course earnings this year at $18.5 million. Of course, Scheffler has won many tournaments this year, but even taking the low-end figure across the board of 5% gives Scott $925,000 in prize money .

While Jordan Spieth’s caddy, Michael Greller, made $900,000 in 2015 after Jordan’s Master’s win and big season.

Read More: Who Is the Richest Golfer in the World?

922px-2008_LPGA_Championship_-_Natalie_Gulbis_with_her_caddie_(1)

LPGA caddies make a weekly base salary of around $1,200 , a little less than the typical caddie for the PGA Tour. Yet it’s the percentage cut where they miss out on income compared to PGA caddies. You see, the prize pool for LPGA events is much less.

The average winner’s share for a professional golfer on the LPGA Tour is around $300,000, much less than the average men’s winnings, which are around $2 million. A typical LPGA caddie could easily double their salary if their golfer is one of the most successful players on the tour. 

But given the smaller prize pool, LPGA caddies rely more heavily on their base salary. But it is sometimes not enough as they have to cover expenses such as travel and stay.

Read More: How Do Golfers Get Paid?  

Jack_Nicklaus_and_caddie_Angelo_Argea_during_the_1980_Memorial_Tournament_-_DPLA_-_restored (1)

Every PGA and LPGA Tour pro has their preferences for caddies, and they will choose one with that criteria. First, professional golfers often look for those dedicated to caddying well. They will look for an experienced and knowledgeable caddie. 

Joe LaCava , for example, is a longtime caddie, having worked for 67 years. Jimmy Johnson is another respected caddie who has worked for 26 years since 1996. If a caddie doesn’t have the years behind them, having experience with other PGA or LPGA Tour pros may float them to the top of the list. 

Sometimes, it has more to do with knowing golfers well than caddying skills. Rory McIlroy’s caddie, Harry Diamond, is the best friend of McIlroy. In another example, Phil Mickelson’s caddie, Tim Mickelson, is his younger brother. 

Other professional golfers choose a caddie based on nonsensical reasons. For instance, Seve Ballesteros chooses his caddies for being British — weird, we know!

If you want to know how to get a job as a caddie for a pro, you may want to dedicate yourself to the art and pick some promising amateurs. Many caddies who work for the pros built a strong relationship with them before they went pro. 

Caddies_posing_at_the_Brisbane_Golf_Club_Championship_Tournament_at_Yeerongpilly_Links_1910_(13749920344)

You don’t need special education to caddie in golf. An estimated 79.1% of caddies earned their bachelor’s degree, and 4.2% of golf caddies earned a master’s degree. While it’s true many may have a bachelor’s degree, plenty are educated to a GED level.  There are no education requirements for the profession.

Caddies must simply immerse themselves in all aspects of golf to learn the trade. They need to make connections with people at the country clubs. Most caddies can expect seasonal work. 

The Professional Caddies Association (PCA) offers training and apprenticeship programs for those interested. You learn the basics of the trade at your own pace. How long it takes to learn depends on you. Once you learn the basics, you must continually hone your skills. Many dedicated caddies spend a lifetime doing this. 

Read More: Ever wondered Why There Are 18 holes in Golf?  

Great caddies must take responsibility for several things on the golf course, including:

  • Cleaning clubs and equipment
  • Understanding the golf course
  • Handing clubs to the golfer
  • Knowing the distance to the green
  • Raking sand traps and bunkers
  • Tracking the ball and its distance
  • Advising about the club needed
  • Removing the pin from the golf hole and placing it back in 

An excellent caddie will understand all the duties highlighted above. But the best caddies understand that their responsibilities go above and beyond the limited tasks we have outlined thus far. 

As a caddie, you must do everything you can to help your golfer perform. This can even be in keeping them calm — we all know having a level head improves the standard of play. 

Besides assisting with performance, caddies must also stay professional at all times. They must know where to stand to remain out of the way and silent as the golfer takes his shot. Even something as easy to overlook as your shadow needs considering — don’t let it block the putting line. 

You may also need to wear a uniform. Most golf clubs require appropriate clothing, such as dress slacks and a golf shirt, at the least. 

How much do caddies make?  Well, it’s a broad question and depends completely on who you are caddying for. The lowest-paying caddies work at country clubs. These caddies make anywhere from $30-$75 per hour. Caddies for the LPGA Tour make considerably more. Often around $1,200 per week as a base salary, and 5%, 7%, or 10% of the winnings depending on where their golfer finishes.

Yet it’s caddies on the PGA Tour who make the big bucks. Their base weekly pay is $1,500 to $3,000. They too earn the same cut of prize money as the LPGA Tour caddies, however, as the prize pool is much bigger on the PGA Tour, they earn far more. As a low average, PGA Tour caddies earn around $75,000 from prize money per year.

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Frequently Asked Questions

It is an industry-standard for caddies to cut the winnings. This usually follows the proportion of 10% for a win, 7% for a top-ten finish, and 5% for other placements.

Like the LPGA, PGA Tour golfers give their caddies a weekly pay of around $2,000 in most cases. The pay can fluctuate because there is no rule for caddy pay. Some might be more, and some are less.

Jimmy Johnson is the highest-paid caddie on the PGA Tour, earning around $502,851 annually. His base salary started at $120,000 per year, but he had an overall payout of $502,851.

Tiger Woods’s caddie, Joe LaCava, started caddying for Woods in 2011, earning around 10% of Woods’s earnings on top of a base salary. How much he earns may vary, and no one knows how much, but LaCava has an estimated net worth of $1 to $2 million, which should give you an idea. 

Because a caddie must cover his expenses like travel, food, car, and hotel, caddies still earn a wage if the player misses the cut. Along with a base salary, they earn 10 percent on top of the base salary from the player's winnings if he wins.  

Caddies fall under the self-employed classification, and as an independent contractor, they must pay for their own expenses like travel, car, hotel, and food. This marks out most circumstances, but PGA Tour Pros will pay the expenses of their caddies. However, this isn’t common. 

LPGA Tour caddies earn $1,5000 to $3,000 per week as a base salary, just like those on the PGA Tour. However, as the event prize pool is much smaller, their cut is worth much less. For an average win, a caddy will earn around $30,000.

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Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.

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Jim Furyk, caddie Mike ‘Fluff’ Cowan split amicably after 25 years

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One of golf’s longest-running teams has signed off.

Jim Furyk and caddie Mike “Fluff” Cowan have officially split, Golfweek reported Thursday. The duo first started working together at the 1999 Masters, with highlight moments including the 2003 U.S. Open title and a PGA TOUR-record 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship.

Cowan, 76, now caddies full-time for PGA TOUR pro C.T. Pan. Cowan and Pan began working together at this year’s Sony Open in Hawaii; THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson marks their ninth event together. Furyk, 53, encouraged his longtime looper to work for Pan full-time, he told Golfweek. Cowan initially hesitated but eventually obliged.

“Love the guy,” Furyk texted Golfweek. “I’m still struggling with injuries and I pushed him to work for C.T. full time … (Fluff) was hesitant. Because he’s a great person at heart. But I pushed and we both knew it was best for him and his family.”

Jim Furyk talks about "Fluff" before Travelers

“He’s pretty amazing,” Furyk said in 2019. “He loves what he does for a living. He likes coming to work. Everyone likes Mike, and he never changes. Whether I'm shooting 80 or shooting 65, he was the same person on the bag, and you can't ask for any more than that.”

Cowan’s storied career has also included stints with Tiger Woods, Fred Couples and Peter Jacobsen. The Maine native, who was an assistant golf professional in Maine before becoming a caddie, was inducted into the Maine Golf Hall of Fame in 2005.

Peter Jacobsen and Mike “Fluff” Cowan reminisce on final walk together at Pebble Beach

Furyk, a 17-time TOUR winner, now plays mostly on PGA TOUR Champions, although he has made just three starts in 2024 due to injuries. Furyk also hosts the Champions Tour’s Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS each October in his adopted hometown of Jacksonville, Florida.

“It’s hard to part ways after 25 years,” Cowan told Golfweek. “Sometimes the right thing to do is staring you right in the face and you’ve got to have the guts to do it.”

After striping a 7-iron on the 72nd hole to clinch the 2003 U.S. Open at Olympia Fields, Furyk waited for Cowan so the two could share the walk to the green, basking in the well-earned glory. The duo hugged after Furyk putted out for a three-stroke win in Chicagoland. Tears welled in the eyes of both Furyk and his caddie, amidst a shared dream.

Earlier this year, Cowan was asked about the key to happiness. He paused for a few seconds before offering a simple yet profound response.

“Doing what you enjoy,” he said. “Pretty simple as that in my mind. Money is a wonderful sidelight, but money is not what makes you happy. You have to do things that you enjoy, and let the bad times roll off your back. Just continue to continue. Just keep on keeping on.”

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson

TPC Craig Ranch

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Golf's 50 highest-paid players

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To compile the latest edition of this list—which covers the calendar year 2022—we combined information from official sources, previously reported information, data from aggregators like Spotrac and estimates from dozens of players, agents and industry insiders. On-course income includes prize money earned on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, LIV Golf, LPGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions and other pro tours.

Off-course income includes estimates of money earned from sponsors, performance and licensing fees, appearance fees and profits from business ventures. Bonus money includes in-season and season-ending performance money (e.g., FedEx Cup, Aon Risk Reward, Comcast Business Tour Top Ten), Player Impact Program awards for 2022 and sign-on payments for players who joined LIV in 2022. LIV bonuses are estimates pro-rated for the estimated or reported length of a player’s contract and have been treated as if that money is not offset by prize money earned in tournaments. Money paid into a deferred compensation program is not included.

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The Golf Digest 50

We elected not to include former players who did not earn on-course money in 2022, like Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman. Nicklaus made an estimated $35 million in licensing, architecture and appearance earnings, and Norman’s salary from LIV has been reported to be $50 million. Arnold Palmer died in 2016, but his licensing and real estate businesses still generate more than $20 million a year. We also didn’t include potentially lucrative investments in ventures like Tiger Woods’ and Rory McIlroy’s TMRW Sports—which hasn’t produced revenue yet—and Justin Thomas’ and McIlroy’s investment in fitness tracker Whoop. Those moves reinforce the adage that you can get only so rich being an employee. The real money comes from being an owner.

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highest paid pga tour caddies

This tournament offers Tour wives and caddies impressive perks

L ast year, the PGA Tour announced it was upping its game in terms of player hospitality from the likes of courtesy car programs , player dining , wellness facilities and more at each tournament.

For at least one event, it seems like that’s going to carry over to players’ caddies and families, too.

While the Travelers Championship, the last of the PGA Tour’s eight $20 million Signature Events on the schedule, has a limited field of 70 to 80 players now thanks to the PGA Tour’s new schedule model, the tournament announced it would still have the same 156 courtesy cars as it would for a full field.

“So we decided that the caddies deserve some recognition and some help, and we’re giving them cars, too,” Travelers executive vice president and chief administrative officer Andy Bessette said at the tournament’s media day this week. “That’s pretty cool.”

Players are used to the benefits of courtesy cars when traveling to PGA Tour events. In fact, last year, the PGA Tour outlined that all events would be required to give players cars for the week.

But caddies receive no such perk, typically. The last PGA Tour event to offer caddies a courtesy vehicle was the 2023 BMW Championship, which only had a 50-player field.

“We want to be the best Signature Event of all of them that are out there,” said tournament director Nathan Grube. “We’ve gone to all the other Signature Events so far. We’ve looked at what they’ve done, how they treat the players, the caddies, the media, the fans, and we’ve said, okay, we are going to raise the bar in every single one of those places.

“The media, you will notice a difference when you come on property this year. Caddies will notice a drastic difference. Players will notice a difference. Our fans, they will notice a difference walking on property.”

The Travelers isn’t just stopping there. They’re also going to convert TPC River Highlands’ ladies’ locker room into a wellness space for players’ wives for the week.

“The wives can go in during the day when they’re out here with their husbands and watching them, if they get tired and they want to go sit down or whatever, so I said to Nathan today, we should give every wife a locker, too,” Bessette said. “How cool would that be? So they have a locker. Now the wives are going to feel so engrossed.”

Bessette even recalled how players’ children are taken care of by having the tournament chef prepare chicken tenders, mac and cheese and tater tots for them.

“You know who the first 60 people in line were for that kids’ food? The players,” he said.

Defending champion Keegan Bradley said these were the kind of decisions to enhance players’ family hospitality that makes the tournament so successful.

Last year, the tournament was in an odd spot, being on the complete other side of the country from the 2023 U.S. Open in Los Angeles the preceding week. Yet, many of the PGA Tour’s top stars were required to play.

This year, the tournament is still the week after the U.S. Open, but the year’s third major is on the same coast this time in North Carolina. There’s no requirement to play, but the PGA Tour’s new structure and its $20 million purse incentivizes the eligible players to add it to their schedule.

“You talk about how the caddies are going to have cars this year,” Bradley said. “That’s not going to help their viewers. That’s not going to help their bottom line of the tournament; in fact it’ll probably hurt it. But that’s just a small decision that they make that affects the outcome of how we feel when we come here.

“These are just small examples that the public wouldn’t even know, and I was always so proud to convince players to come play here back in the day.”

The post This tournament offers Tour wives and caddies impressive perks appeared first on Golf .

This tournament offers Tour wives and caddies impressive perks

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These are the top 20 in pga tour champions career prize money payouts, share this article.

highest paid pga tour caddies

In 1978, the first Legends of Golf was held at Onion Creek Country Club in Austin, Texas.

Two years later, the Senior PGA Tour had its first two official tournaments. Don January and Arnold Palmer won those first events.

From there, the circuit grew and in 1990, Lee Trevino became the first golfer to win $1 million in a season. In 2002, the tour was rebranded as the Champions Tour. In 2015, it took on its current name, the PGA Tour Champions.

Bernhard Langer became the winningest golfer in Champions history in 2023 when he got to No. 46, breaking a mark long held by Hale Irwin. Langer is also the top money-winner all-time on the tour.

He’s one of three players to reach the $20 million mark. Six players on this list have surpassed the $15 million mark. There are 31 at $10 million.

As you make your way through this list, keep in mind:

  • Gary Player is 90th all-time with $6,049,029
  • Jack Nicklaus ranks 147th with $3,372,207
  • Arnold Palmer is 211th with $1,765,795

There are 649 names listed in all, with Mike Balliet bringing up the rear with $736 in career tour earnings.

Check out this list of the all-time money winners on the PGA Tour Champions. Updated through the 2023 Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Source: PGATour.com .

20 Colin Montgomerie – $12,414,158

2023 World Champions Cup

Team Europe’s Colin Montgomerie tees off at The Concession Golf Club. (Photo: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports)

19 Jeff Sluman – $12,808,605

2024 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai

Jeff Sluman tees off the second hole during the first round of the 2024 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai Golf Club. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

18 Fred Funk – $12,843,703

2024 Mitsubishi Electric Classic

Fred Funk plays his shot on the second hole on the first hole during the first round of the 2024 Mitsubishi Electric Classic at TPC Sugarloaf. (Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

17 Jerry Kelly – $12,850,136

2024 Galleri Classic

Jerry Kelly plays his shot from the sixth tee during the third round of the 2024 Galleri Classic at Mission Hills Country Club. (Photo: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

16 Fred Couples - $13,280,234

2024 Galleri Classic

Fred Couples at the 2024 Galleri Classic pro-am in Rancho Mirage, California, at Mission Hills Country Club. (Photo: Andy Abeyta/Desert Sun)

15 Allen Doyle - $13,401,250

2008 Principal Charity Classic

Allen Doyle watches a tee shot during the first round of the 2008 Principal Charity Classic at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo: G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images)

14 Tom Lehman - $13,495,032

Tom Lehman

Tom Lehman and his son Thomas at the 2020 Charles Schwab Cup Championship. (Photo: Elise Tallent/PGA Tour Champions)

13 Loren Roberts - $13,642,664

2016 Chubb Classic

Loren Roberts hits a tee shot on the seventh hole during the second round of the 2016 Chubb Classic. (Photo: Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

12 Tom Jenkins - $13,821,866

2012 Insperity Championship

Tom Jenkins at the 2012 Insperity Championship at The Woodlands Country Club. (Photo: Darren Carroll/Getty Images)

11 Jim Thorpe - $13,936,083

2013 SAS Championship

Jim Thorpe hits a shot during the first round of the 2013 SAS Championship at Prestonwood Country Club. (Photo: Michael Cohen/Getty Images)

10 Miguel Angel Jimenez - $14,265,321

Cologuard Classic 2022

Miguel Angel Jimenez poses with the conquistador helmet after winning the 2022 Cologuard Classic at Omni Tucson National. (Photo: Todd Kelly/Golfweek)

9 Larry Nelson - $14,637,172

2019 Mastercard Japan Championship

Larry Nelson hits a tee shot on the second hole during the first round of the 2019 Mastercard Japan Championship at Narita Golf Club. (Photo: Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

8 Bruce Fleisher - $14,878,986

Bruce Fleisher

Bruce Fleisher hits his tee shot on the fifth hole during the second round of the 2018 Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge. (Photo: Michael Cohen/Getty Images)

7 Dana Quigley - $14,898,463

2010 Ensure Classic

Dana Quigley hits a tee shot on the 18th hole during the final round of the 2010 Ensure Classic at the Rock Barn Golf & Spa in Conover, North Carolina. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

6 Tom Watson - $15,074,227

2019 Senior Open

Tom Watson during the final round of the Senior Open played at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. (Photo: Phil Inglis/Getty Images)

5 Tom Kite - $16,303,747

Tom Kite

Tom Kite has 19 PGA Tour victories and 10 PGA Tour Champions wins. (Photo: USA TODAY)

4 Jay Haas - $19,922,514

Bridgestone Senior Players

Jay Haas watches his shot down the fairway on the 13th hole during second round of the Bridgestone Senior Players at Firestone Country Club. (Photo: Akron Beacon Journal)

3 Gil Morgan - $20,631,930

Gil Morgan

Gil Morgan tees off on the seventh hole during the first round of the Champions tour in 2012 in Blaine, Minnesota. (Photo: Getty Images)

2 Hale Irwin - $27,158,515

Hale Irwin

Hale Irwin hits his tee ball at No. 1 during the first round of the Father/Son Challenge at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando. (Photo: Getty Images)

1 Bernhard Langer - $35,989,514

Charles Schwab Cup Championship 2021

The Charles Schwab trophy shows Bernhard Langer during an interview after the conclusion of the final round of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship golf tournament at Phoenix Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

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  1. The Highest-Paid Caddies on the PGA Tour

    highest paid pga tour caddies

  2. The Highest-Paid Caddies On The PGA Tour

    highest paid pga tour caddies

  3. How Much Do Caddies Make? Highest Paid PGA Tour Caddies

    highest paid pga tour caddies

  4. The Highest-Paid Caddies on the PGA Tour

    highest paid pga tour caddies

  5. How Much Do PGA Tour Caddies Earn?

    highest paid pga tour caddies

  6. How golf caddies became some of the highest-paid men in sports

    highest paid pga tour caddies

COMMENTS

  1. How Much Do PGA Caddies Really Make? Plus, Richest Caddies 2022

    According to Top Rank Golf, caddies make a base salary of $1,500-$3,000 per tournament. Along with a salary, caddies also make a percentage of winnings — 10 percent for a win, 7 percent for a ...

  2. Earnings of a PGA Tour Caddy: Salary Plus Winnings

    A caddy's pay is a combination of a weekly stipend plus a percentage of a player's winnings. While every player/caddie agreement is different, generally speaking, most PGA Tour caddies make a base of between $1,500 and $3,000 per week. Based on a player's finish, a typical caddie rate is around 5% of the winnings for any finish outside the top 10.

  3. Who is the richest caddie on the PGA Tour? 5 current ...

    Salary: $135,000. 2023 earnings: $315,000. Matt Fiztrpatrick's caddie Billy Foster made $315,000 in 2023, making him one of the world's richest caddies. Fitzpatrick won the US Open last year, and ...

  4. The Highest-Paid Caddies on the PGA Tour

    The highest-paid caddies on the PGA Tour. Many parts of a caddie's job seem unglamorous, but it comes with a lot of benefits. Caddies for the most successful players make a great living. There isn't much data on their salaries, but 2017 figures give context to the type of money that top caddies earn.

  5. 15 Richest Golf Caddies Of All Time

    1. Jimmy Johnson. Jimmy Johnson is currently caddying for Justin Thomas, but he has a successful history on tour. Johnson worked for Charles Howell, Steve Stricker, Nick Price, and Adam Scott. Certainly, this is a great lineup of players. Johnson grew up in Dallas, Texas, and played golf at the University of North Texas.

  6. The 10 Highest-Paid Caddies On Tour

    The 10 Highest-Paid Caddies On Tour In the bustling world of professional golf, 2023 proved to be a lucrative year for caddies, with earnings soaring to remarkable heights. Beyond the thrill of victories and top-tier finishes, a deeper dive into the financial realm reveals intriguing dynamics. Typically, caddies receive a solid $2,500 weekly base fee,

  7. A PGA Tour caddie was talked out of retirement and now makes more than

    Andrew Redington/Getty Images. World's top golfer Scottie Scheffler set a record this year with more than $21 million in earnings. Based on typical pay, Scheffler's caddie has taken home at least ...

  8. 15 Richest Caddies in Golf

    Josh Cassell. Served on the PGA tour card for Daniel Berger, a top American golf player whose father Jay had been a world-ranked tennis professional. Berger picked up a check for $1.375 million after winning the Charles Schwab Challenge, with Cassell being paid $343,000.

  9. The Highest-Paid Caddies On The PGA Tour

    A PGA Tour caddie needs to read the greens, provide yardages and play psychologist. ... Full List: The PGA's Top-Earning Caddies. Full List: The Highest-Paid Golfers 2015. Follow me on Twitter or ...

  10. How Much Do PGA Tour Caddies Earn?

    PGA Tour caddies tend to earn around $2,000 per week plus a percentage of winnings. Golf Monthly ... Get insight from top players, instructions & drills and extensive coverage of equipment ... I've heard $1,500 a week to be paid to caddies and I don't know how you survive on that sort of money. Nine times out of ten these guys are wanting the ...

  11. 5 richest golf caddies in 2024 ranked based on their ...

    Scottie Scheffler 's caddie Ted Scott is one of the richest golf caddies in the world. His estimated net worth, as per Southampton Golf Club, is around $1 million to $4 million. He has been ...

  12. A ranked list of the 10 highest-paid caddies in the world currently

    But the question, however, is who are the highest-paid caddies in the PGA tour? A ranked list of the 10 highest-paid caddies in the world currently. Photo: Morsa Images (Modified by author) Source: Getty Images. Golf caddies help make the sport more enjoyable and engaging for the players. Like a mentor, a golf caddy can make or break a round.

  13. How Much PGA Tour Caddies Make, According to a Former Caddie

    As Collins explained, caddies also get a weekly salary negotiated with their player. Caddies can range from $1,500-$3,000 a week. However, some caddies opt for a higher weekly paycheck in exchange ...

  14. Who Is The Highest Paid Caddie On The PGA Tour?

    If you've ever wondered who the highest-paid caddie on the PGA Tour is, the answer might surprise you. As of 2023, Ted Scott holds the title of being the top earner among caddies. Ted Scott is a seasoned caddie who has been working with Scottie Scheffler, the former Masters champion since 2021. Working alongside Scottie Scheffler, Ted Scott ...

  15. How Much Do LPGA Tour Caddies Earn?

    Tour caddies make the bulk of their money from their percentage of the prize money. The 2024 LPGA season offers over $116 million in prize money with 10 regular tournaments offering at least $3 million and the five Majors having purses of between $5.25m and $11m. The winner of the U.S. Women's Open gets $2million.

  16. 11 Richest Golf Caddies in the World

    Good caddies are a priceless resource and a much sought-after commodity. Richest Golf Caddies in 2020. According to data from the PGA tour in 2020, the following caddies were the highest paid on the circuit in that year, the last year for which we presently have information: Jimmy Johnson Credit - Instagram

  17. How much do caddies really earn? The answer might surprise you

    In an interesting turn of events, a group of PGA Tour caddies have signed an endorsement deal with an underwear company. Geno Bonnalie (Joel Dahmen), Aaron Flener (J.T. Poston), John Limanti (Akshay Bhatia) and Joel Stock (Will Zalatoris) and John Ellis (Wyndham Clark) have signed a deal with the underwear brand, SAXX.

  18. How Much Do Golf Caddies Make? PGA Caddy Facts & Duties

    Quite a few golf country clubs around the world will actually hire amateur caddies to come out for the day on tournaments and other events being held. On these days, amateur caddies will make anywhere from $20 to $30 an hour at a club, or around $160 to $270 if they have a full 8 hour shift.

  19. 10 Highest Paid Golf Caddies 2024 (PGA Tours)

    The PGA Tour features best golfers in the world who earns a lot of money. Here we present the highest-paid Golf caddies in 2024 based on the last season's PGA Tour. A golf Caddie is a golfer's sidekick for our fellow readers who don't know what a Caddie or Caddy means. A Caddie basically is the person who carries a player's bag and clubs and gives useful advice and moral support to the ...

  20. How Much Does A PGA Tour Caddie Make?

    The average PGA Tour player plays between 20-30 events per year, so it would make sense to assume that the average salary would range from $20,000-$45,000. Bonuses: The real money for caddies ...

  21. How Much Do Caddies Make? You Might Be Surprised

    PGA Tour caddies typically earn between $1,500 to $3,000 weekly, with their total income comprising base pay, a percentage cut of the golfer's winnings, and bonuses. The exact amount a caddie earns varies as each negotiates their own deal with the golfer. In terms of the percentage cut, it's usually 10% of the winnings for a tournament win ...

  22. Who is the richest caddy on the PGA Tour?

    As of 2023, the highest-paid caddy on the PGA Tour is Ted Scott. Ted has been working as a caddy for professional golfer Scottie Scheffler since 2021. It is ... However, this is not the only source of income for caddies on the PGA Tour. Caddies often receive a percentage of their player's earnings, which can significantly boost their income ...

  23. There's a new leader in Forbes' list of highest-paid golfers, and the

    There's a new leader in Forbes' list of highest-paid golfers, and the raises for most are eye-popping. By Tod ... as it was when the PGA Tour countered by raising its total purse pool for 2023 by ...

  24. Jim Furyk, caddie Mike 'Fluff' Cowan split amicably after 25 years

    Cowan, 76, now caddies full-time for PGA TOUR pro C.T. Pan. Cowan and Pan began working together at this year's Sony Open in Hawaii; THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson marks their ninth event together.

  25. Golf's 50 highest-paid players

    Golf's 50 highest-paid players. By Matt Rudy. March 28, 2023 ... On-course income includes prize money earned on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, LIV Golf, LPGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions and other ...

  26. Scottie Scheffler is dominating the PGA Tour. This rising star is ...

    Joe Skovron, caddie for Ludvig Aberg, joined this week's Subpar podcast to talk Scottie Scheffler's brilliance, Aberg's promise and more. The post Scottie Scheffler is dominating the PGA Tour.

  27. 16-year-old Kris Kim makes PGA Tour history at Byron Nelson

    In his first-ever PGA Tour start Kim at 16 years, 7 months and 3 days became the fifth youngest player to make the cut on the PGA Tour after he opened the CJ Cup Byron Nelson with rounds of 68 and 67.

  28. Jim Furyk, caddie Mike "Fluff" Cowan amicably split after 25 years

    Furyk, who has been dealing with injuries that sidelined him for much of last season, is 53 and has been able to make only limited starts on PGA Tour Champions. "We play for $2 million. They play for $8-, $20-, $25-million," Furyk said.

  29. This tournament offers Tour wives and caddies impressive perks

    The last PGA Tour event to offer caddies a courtesy vehicle was the 2023 BMW Championship, which only had a 50-player field. ... Yet, many of the PGA Tour's top stars were required to play.

  30. PGA Tour Champions: Top 20 all-time in career prize money payouts

    In 2002, the tour was rebranded as the Champions Tour. In 2015, it took on its current name, the PGA Tour Champions. Bernhard Langer became the winningest golfer in Champions history in 2023 when he got to No. 46, breaking a mark long held by Hale Irwin. Langer is also the top money-winner all-time on the tour.