Who are the Top Paid Golf Caddies on the PGA Tour?

By Jocelyn Alano June 18, 2024 17:04

credit. AP Photo and Mark Lennihan

Golf caddies are crucial to professional golfers as they assist through the duration of the tournament, giving important support and wise words. We will explore the details of the Caddies of the sport of golf in this article and some of the famous caddies with whom golfers have worked closely with. We will take a dive into the world of caddie legends, their accolades, and how were they able to influence the game.

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Ted Scott

Ted Scott is a world renowned caddie in the world of golf who has partnered with several high-profile players throughout his illustrious career. Specifically, he has been a caddy of Bubba Watson and Scottie Scheffler. Among them were two Masters tournaments, so he has proven he can get his players to win (even if everyone hates him). Scott, who has been on Scheffler's bag since the end of 2021, will make an estimated $5 million after committing to the full bag.

Famous Caddies and Their Golfers

1. Harry Diamond

Player: Rory McIlroy

Earnings: $2,555,000

Background: Diamond's stint as Rory McIlroy's caddie began in 2017 after the duo wanted to see what they could do together when McIlroy and his best friend decided to switch roles.

2. Jim “Bones” MacKay

Player: Justin Thomas

Earnings: $815,000

Come Up: MacKay carried the bag for Thomas to 2023 before parting ways abruptly the week of the 2024 Masters.

3. Joe LaCava

Player: Patrick Cantlay

Earnings: $895,000

A year later, LaCava signed on with Cantlay for the 2023 season.

4. Austin Kaiser

Player: Xander Schauffele

Earnings: $985,000

A San Diego State Aztec alum and long-time friend of Schauffele, Kaiser has been toting his bag for the past 6 years.

5. Sam Pinfold

Player: Cameron Smith

Earnings: $1,025,000

Pinfold, who met Cameron Smith at the New Zealand Open, has been his caddy since 2015.

6. Ted Scott

Player: Scottie Scheffler

Earnings: $1,650,000

Scott's impressive caddying abilities have led him to two wins at the Masters with Scheffler.

Impact and Recognition

These caddies also serve critical roles in the success of their players on the course, from strategic decisions to emotional support during high-stress tournaments. What they make reflects their importance in the golf world, as many of the best caddies earn big combinations of base fees, win shares, endorsements and other revenue streams.

In short, the work of caddies in golf is instrumental, they deserve more credit and pros would not be nearly as good as they are without their bagmen. It is the experience, it is the mentorship and it's the steadfast support which make the impact in the result of the games. While we celebrate what these caddies and their players have accomplished, it's a reminder these men play an important role in the game that is golf.