Ted Scott – caddie by profession – has earned more than world number two Rory McIlroy on the PGA Tour so far this year, which takes bag-carrying for a living up to a completely new level.
Even, given the enhanced purses these days, beyond the Stevie Williams-Tiger Woods share-out.
The usual take for a caddie on the circuit is 5 per cent for making a cut, rising to 7 per cent for a top-10, and 10 per cent for a win.
Which makes Scott – the bagman for Scottie Scheffler – something of a walking ATM thanks to pretty much every step he has taken in his man’s winning efforts at Bay Hill, Sawgrass, Augusta National and, now, Hilton Head.
The bird-shaped obsession that drives James Crombie, one of Ireland’s best sports photographers
Leona Maguire slips back the field in CME Group Tour Championship second round
Golf lowdowns: Leona Maguire looks to turn fortunes around at LPGA Tour Championship
Dave Hannigan: Behold a version of golf that’s fun and weirdly cool - but still ludicrously expensive
Scheffler has earned $18,693,235 in winnings this year on the US circuit, with the various percentages working out for Scott as a payout so far in bonuses of $1,776,880.
McIlroy (not counting his early season pay-days on the DP world Tour with back-to-back events in Dubai) has won $1,715,172 on the PGA Tour this year, earning $106,667 for his tied-33rd placed finish in the RBC Heritage (Scott’s pay-day from the Heritage amounted to $360,000.)
In continuing his policy of keeping a busy playing schedule, McIlroy is in action again on the PGA Tour this week – his ninth event stateside this year – when he teams up with Shane Lowry in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a two-man team event.
Other limited-edition hybrid golf shoes may be available
YouTube golf influencer Rick Shiels has, quite literally, left his imprint in a collaboration with Ecco for a limited-edition golf shoe.
Shiels has almost three million subscribers to his YouTube channel which covers all things golf and the Rick Shiels Edition BIOM C4 shoes are exclusively available online, limited to 500 pairs.
“I was lucky enough to visit Ecco Golf headquarters in Denmark earlier this year and witness first-hand everything that goes into designing and crafting every pair of shoes that the company makes. It was absolutely mind-blowing,” said Shiels, with his sneaker-style hybrid shoe coming in white with red and black accents and a design that also incorporates Shiels’s logo on the heel and tongue.
Word of Mouth
“I do have fairly high expectations for myself, and when I show up at tournaments, I try to do my best. I’ve talked a lot about kind of the preparation and what it takes for me to show up on a first tee ready to go, and I feel like I’ve been putting in the work and been playing some good golf, and it’s nice to be seeing some results for that with wins. At times last year I felt like I was playing some good golf and wasn’t winning, and so now it’s nice to be sitting here winning some tournaments.” – Scottie Scheffler on clocking up those Ws, after backing up his win in the Masters with victory in the RBC Heritage Classic. Scheffler has also won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players this year.
“I had always dreamed about it but I didn’t know that I was actually capable of doing it ... I just set myself small goals during the round, so I didn’t get comfortable and I think that worked out really well.” – rookie Chiara Tamburlini, of Switzerland, after sealing a maiden win on the Ladies European Tour with a seven-strokes winning margin in the Johannesburg Open. Tamburlini moved up to second behind Bronte Law in the updated LET order of merit.
By the Numbers: 5
Nelly Kora’s win in the Chevron Championship gave her five straight victories on the LPGA Tour this season, the first time the feat has been achieved by an American since Nancy Lopez in 1978. The latest victory gave world number one Korda a second career Major title. “It’s everything that I’ve always wanted as a little girl, to lift that Major trophy,” said Korda.
On this day: April 23rd, 1995
England’s Laura Davies – a prolific winner around the globe, with 20 career wins on the LPGA Tour and 45 on the Ladies European Tour – felt very much at home in the weather-plagued Chick-fil-A-Charity Classic in Stockbridge, Georgia.
Persistent rain proved a dampener during the three tournament days but Davies – with rounds of 67-67-67 for a total of 15-under-par 201 – was a comfortable four-strokes winner over runner-up Kelly Robbins, with Kristy Albers a shot further back in third.
Davies, at the time, was the longest hitter on tour with drives averaging 268 yards and broke the tournament low record with her three consecutive 67s, grabbing the initiative in the final round with an eagle and three birdies on the front nine.
X-Twitter Twaddle
“2nd place is still pretty neat. Congrats @BillyHo_Golf Heck of a 63 in those condition” – Wesley Bryan proving a good sport after his runner-up finish to Billy Horschel in the Corales Puntacana Championship. It was Bryan’s best finish on the PGA Tour in seven years.
“Super shoutout to the volunteers at the @Zurich_Classic being at the airport until 1.30am to give the players their courtesy cars. Fun fact: before covid they used to just do a straight driver service where volunteers would give rides anywhere anytime you needed. 4.45am pickup from hotel to the course? No problem. The absolute best – Michael Kim on one of the benefits of pro life on tour.
“5 wins in a row for Nelly! Incredible golf & consistency” – Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald appreciating the winning streak of Nelly Korda on the LPGA Tour.
In the Bag: Billy Horschel (Corales Puntacana Championship)
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees)
3-wood: Titleist TSi2 (15 degrees)
5-wood: Titleist TSi2 (18 degrees)
Irons: Titleist T100 (3, 5) Titleist 620MB (6-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46, 52, 56, 62 degrees)
Putter: Ping Sigma 2 Tyne 4
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x+ prototype
Know the Rules
Q: In stroke play, a player’s ball in a bunker moves due to their removal of a loose impediment in the sand trap. They replace the ball on its original spot. What is the ruling?
A: The player gets one penalty stroke under Rule 15.1b for causing their ball to move. If a player’s removal of a loose impediment causes their ball to move, the ball must be replaced on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated).
