Ever watch a PGA Tour event and see a player and caddie deep in conversation before a critical shot? More than just a bag carrier, a professional caddie is a strategist, psychologist, and confidant, all rolled into one. This raises a fascinating question: for that level of expertise and pressure, what do professional golf caddies actually make? This article will break down the complete pay structure for Tour caddies, from their weekly base pay to the high-stakes world of performance bonuses and the hidden costs that come with the job.
Unlike a traditional job with a set salary, a Tour caddie's income is a blend of a guaranteed base and a high-variance, performance-based commission. It’s a model built on risk and reward, where a player’s success is directly shared with the person on their bag. Let's break down the three main components.
First, caddies receive a weekly base fee or stipend from their player for every tournament they work. This isn't just pocket money, it's the financial foundation for the week. The stipend covers the caddie's essential travel and living expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars, and meals. This fee is paid regardless of how the player performs - whether they win the tournament or miss the cut on Friday.
So, how much is it?
The exact amount depends on the player's status and the agreement they have with their caddie. A top-10 player in the world might pay a higher base fee than a player who is just starting out or fighting to keep their Tour card. Think of this stipend as the safety net that ensures the caddie doesn't lose money just for showing up to work.
This is where the real earning potential lies. The performance bonus is a pre-negotiated percentage of the player's prize money from the tournament. While the weekly stipend covers expenses, the percentage of winnings constitutes the caddie’s actual profit and long-term income. This tiered system is an industry standard, often referred to informally as the "5-7-10" rule:
If the player misses the cut, they earn no prize money, and therefore, the caddie receives no percentage. They only walk away with their weekly stipend.
To understand the impact of these percentages, let's look at a couple of tangible examples from a standard PGA Tour event with a $10 million purse.
This structure motivates the caddie to be deeply invested in every shot, as their earnings are directly tied to each putt and every strategic decision.
While the jumbo purses of the PGA Tour generate headlines, caddies work professionally across various other tours. The pay structure is generally similar - a base stipend plus percentages - but the numbers are significantly different.
While the numbers can sound astronomical, it's important to remember that most caddies operate as independent contractors. Their weekly stipend is gross income, not pure profit. Out of that base pay comes a long list of expenses:
A caddie grinding it out on tour might spend anywhere from $75,000 to $120,000 per year on these expenses alone. This reality underscores the financial pressure of the job, especially for those whose players aren’t consistently making cuts.
The top tier of caddies earns life-changing money, placing them in the top 1% of income earners worldwide. While their exact earnings are private agreements, we can estimate their income based on their players' success. Caddies for perennial superstars like Scottie Scheffler (Ted Scott), Jordan Spieth (Michael Greller), and Justin Thomas (Jim "Bones" Mackay) have earned millions over the years.
When Scottie Scheffler won The Masters and THE PLAYERS Championship in the same year, his caddie, Ted Scott, likely earned over $2 million from those two victories alone. These caddies aren't just along for the ride, they are highly skilled professionals whose insights directly contribute to their player's success. Their compensation reflects that value.
The relationship between a player and caddie is one of the most unique partnerships in sports. It's a high-stakes, pressure-filled job where financial success depends entirely on performance. While the top earners post staggering numbers, most caddies are grinding it out, week after week, hoping for that one big finish that can change a season.
The earnings of a professional golf caddie are a unique mix of a modest weekly guarantee and the massive upside of performance bonuses. While the allure of seven-figure years is real for the game's elite loopers, it's a high-risk, high-reward profession where a player's missed cut means a financial loss for the one carrying the bag.
A top caddie's value lies not in carrying clubs, but in providing expert strategic advice under pressure - advice most of us can only dream of. The goal with an on-demand golf expert in your pocket like Caddie AI is to bring that same level of course management and strategic thinking to every golfer, helping you navigate tricky lies, select the right club, and think your way around the course like a pro.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
