Golf’s Most Legendary Caddies

Ask any great golfer their most trusted ally in the sport and the answer is unequivocally their caddie.  There have definitely been some colorful characters on the bag over the past couple hundred years of the sport yet they remain the eyes and the ears, the unsung heroes, of some of golf’s greatest champions.

Caddies are “independent contractors” that not only carry a golfer’s clubs, they also provide advice on the course including yardage, pin placement, and obstacles while perhaps most importantly providing moral support.  Even with large crowds surrounding the fairways, it can get pretty isolated on the golf course and caddies serve as a voice of reason to snap a golfer back into reality.  From keeping camera shutters quiet while their golfer swings to making sure the practice green is prepped for a pre-round practice session the caddie’s contributions should never be taken for granted.

That said, let’s take a moment to highlight a few names that have stood above the rest as the most successful, notable, and winningest caddies of all time.

Angelo Argea

Argea was one of the most iconic caddies of all-time, he was also easily recognizable by his trademark gray afro.  Of course, toting the bag for Jack Nicklaus for over 20-years also made him one of the most winningest caddies golf has ever seen.

Argea looped for 44 of Nicklaus’ 73 career PGA wins and he was perhaps the best example of the type of moral support that caddies provided.  Argea did not read greens, select clubs, or even walk off yardage, instead his job was to 1.) remind Jack he was the best golfer in the world and 2.) let him know there were plenty of holes left.

Closeup of Jack Nicklaus with caddie Angelo Argea during practice,…

Closeup of Jack Nicklaus with caddie Angelo Argea during practice, 3/22/1981 Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

Argea was inducted into the Caddie Hall of Fame in 1999 and died in 2005 at age 75.

Herman Mitchell

If Argea and Nicklaus had one of the first “bromances” that golf had ever seen, the relationship between caddie Herman Mitchell and Lee Trevino had more of a Ralph and Alice feel.  The 300-lb pound Mitchell was often seen grumbling and grumpy as he toted Trevino’s bag.  The Merry Mex once told Mitchell he was the worst caddie in the world to which the looper responded something to the tune of, “well isn’t that a coincidence.”

Los Angeles Open, Closeup of Herman Mitchell caddie of Lee Trevino…

Los Angeles Open, Closeup of Herman Mitchell caddie of Lee Trevino smoking cigar, Los Angeles, CA Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

Despite their “married couple” bickering, the duo had plenty of success winning 6-majors over their 19+ year partnership.  It just goes to show that caddies and golfers need each other no matter the dynamic of their relationship.

JP Fitzgerald

“shut up…. You’re a commentator and a failed golfer, your opinion means nothing!”  Those fighting words weren’t overheard in a squabble between Trevino and Herman Mitchell, it was Rory McIlroy defending his caddie in a tweet to BBC Commentator Jay Townsend, who suggested the golfer should fire his bag man JP Fitzgerald.  In less than 140 characters McIlroy showed not only the loyalty of a golfer has towards his caddie, but also how important a bag man could be to keep the emotions of a young Tour pro in check.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks alongside his caddie J.P….

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks alongside his caddie J.P. Fitzgerald on the eighth hole during the first round of the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola at the East Lake Golf Club on September 11,… Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

Fitzgerald has been on the bag for McIlroy since 2008 when he was the 200th ranked in the world and has been with him the entire way on his rise to his eventual OWGR top spot.

Tip Anderson

James “Tip” Andrews was born in St. Andrews and that’s where he died in 2004.  In between he taught golfers the ins and outs of the Old Course, offering “tips” that would eschew his own nickname.

Anderson worked with Arnold Palmer for over 30 years and helped him to two wins at St. Andrews.  When Arnie couldn’t make the trip in ’64 his friend Tony Lema needed a caddie and subsequently won the Claret Jug with Tip by his side, astonishingly after only playing the course twice over two practice rounds.  If that doesn’t tell you how important a good caddie can be nothing will.

Jim Mackay

Jim “Bones” Mackay is one of the two most famous caddies in golf, toting the bag for Phil Mickelson since 1992.  The partnership formed when Lefty’s ASU coach was searching for caddies as Phil went pro, picking the brain of Mackay, who was working for another golfer.  When Bones’ player showed up he had to cut the conversation short, leaving the coach a hand written note apologizing for having to leave and scribbling his phone number to continue the talk later.  Phil appreciated the loyalty Mackay had to his player and had found his caddie moving forward.

Phil Mickelson and caddie Jim Mackay talk on the 13th hole during the…

Phil Mickelson and caddie Jim Mackay talk on the 13th hole during the Pro-Am of the 2016 Honda Classic held on the PGA National Course at the PGA National Spa and Resort on February 24, 2016 in Palm… Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

The note proved to be quite lucrative for Mackay as he has gone on to make a reported $5 million+ working with Mickelson, becoming a legendary pair in the sport together.

Steve Williams

Of all the rock star caddies out there it’s hard to argue against Steve Williams topping the list as the “world’s most famous caddie.” Of course, being on the bag for Tiger Woods during his remarkable run from 1999 to 2011 is enough to put anybody squarely into the spotlight.

Whether he was making radio appearances or giving magazine interviews, Williams definitely made the most out of his time in the public eye.  Questions remain about just how the Tiger / Williams split went down, but banking $12 million in earnings while caddying over a 12 year span doesn’t make for a bad career.  Regardless of controversy seeming to follow him everywhere, Williams has proven himself as a bright golf mind as evidenced by his looping for Adam Scott in the Aussie’s 2013 Masters victory.

Tiger Woods walks off the 18th green with his caddie Steve Williams…

Tiger Woods walks off the 18th green with his caddie Steve Williams during the final round of the 2011 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2011 in Augusta, Georgia. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

Love them or hate them, caddies play an important part lore of the sport, always there to provide motivation and advice for critical questions like when a golfer asks if he or she can reach the green with a five iron.

To which the caddie simply replies “…eventually.”

Cover Photo by Kieth Allison on Flickr