Let’s talk about the bag. Not your gym bag—the PGA Tour caddie’s bag. It’s heavy, it’s sweaty, and it’s full of money. Seriously, how much do these walking yardage books actually make?
The answer? It depends. Hugely. Like, "I can afford a used Honda" to "I just bought a yacht" depends.
The Base Pay: Not Exactly Glamorous
Most caddies don’t get a salary. They get a weekly stipend. Think $1,500 to $3,000. That’s for schlepping the bag, dodging rain, and carrying a player’s ego.
Must Read
But wait—that’s just to show up. If the player misses the cut? Ouch. The caddie gets the stipend and a plane ticket home. No bonus. No glory.
That’s the reality. You can make $50,000 a year if you scrape by. Or zero if your player hits like a broken toaster.
The Real Money: The Percentage Play
Here’s where it gets fun. Every caddie negotiates a cut. Standard deal? 10% of the winnings if the player makes the cut. That’s the baseline.
Win a tournament? The number jumps. 15% to 20% is common for a victory. A major championship? That’s a whole different planet.
Picture this: Scottie Scheffler wins the Masters. That’s $3.6 million. His caddie, Ted Scott, likely pockets over $600,000 for four days of work. Four days. That’s more than most people make in a decade.
Caddy Salary Pga at Andrew Rhone blog
The Quirky Math
But here’s a weird twist: caddies don’t get paid for the FedEx Cup bonus. That’s the player’s private piggy bank. The caddie gets a smaller piece of the smaller pie.
And if the player wins a car? The caddie might get a “thank you” or the keys if they’re lucky. No rule book for that. It’s all handshake and hustle.
Some caddies are on a flat weekly rate. No percentage, no risk. That’s the “safe” route. Boring, but reliable. Like ordering a plain sandwich.
The Superstars vs. The Grinders
Let’s zoom in. The top caddies work for the top players. Jimmy Johnson, Justin Thomas’s caddie? He’s made millions. Joe LaCava, who carried for Tiger Woods? He’s a legend with a bank account to match.
These guys earn $1 million+ a year on average. Sometimes double that. They fly private, stay in luxury hotels, and eat steak every night.
How Much Do Caddies Earn From PGA Tour Career Money? - The Golf Xpert
Now look at the other end. A caddie ranked 100th on the tour might make $60,000 to $80,000 a year. That’s before travel costs, which they pay themselves. Flights, rental cars, hotel rooms. It adds up fast.
There are caddies sleeping in their cars. Seriously. They park at Walmart, pray for a top-10 finish, and eat gas station sandwiches. It’s romantic and brutal at the same time.
Funny Fact: The "Caddie Tax"
Here’s a quirky detail: caddies pay their own expenses. Every single trip. A missed flight? That’s on them. A lost golf glove? They buy it. A player gets mad and fires them? They’re homeless in a strange city.
One caddie once told me he spent $40,000 a year on travel. That’s before he made a penny. It’s like paying to work. Only in golf.
And if a player wins a tournament? The caddie buys the celebratory drinks. Always. That’s tradition. A $600 bar tab for the victory party. Ouch.
Caddie Pay On Pga Tour at Jesse Banks blog
The Legendary Paydays
Let’s talk wild numbers. When Tiger Woods won the 2019 Masters, his caddie Joey LaCava got a reported $400,000. For four days. That’s a year’s salary for most folks.
Then there’s the all-time record. Phil Mickelson’s caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay, earned over $1.5 million in a single year. Bones was so rich he retired from caddying—only to come back as a TV analyst.
Imagine that: carrying a bag makes you a TV star. Golf is weird. Beautifully weird.
The Unspoken Cash
There are side hustles. Some caddies get paid for sponsorship deals. A hat logo, a watch on their wrist. That’s extra. A few thousand extra a year.
Others make money by selling their caddie bibs. Yes, really. A signed bib from a major win can fetch $5,000 on eBay. That’s pocket change for the elite, but a lifeline for the grinders.
How Much Does A Tour Caddy Make at Linwood Morales blog
And let’s not forget the tips. Wait, are there tips? No. Golfers don’t tip their caddies. It’s a professional relationship. But sometimes, a player will buy the caddie a new suit for the gala. Classy.
Why This Topic Rocks
This is fun because it’s unpredictable. A caddie’s income swings wildly. One week you’re a hero, the next you’re broke. It’s a financial rollercoaster with a bag of clubs.
Compare it to a pro basketball player. They sign a contract. Boom. Millions. Caddies? They have to win to eat. That’s drama. That’s storytelling.
Next time you watch a golf tournament, look at the caddie. He’s not just a guy holding a towel. He’s a gambler, a psychologist, and an unpaid accountant. He’s walking toward either a mortgage payment or a free meal.
So, how much do caddies make? Anywhere from $0 to $1 million. And that’s exactly what makes it so fun to talk about. Bet on the bag, but never bet on the paycheck.