Who has caddied in a PGA/USGA/SENIOR/EUROPEON golf tournament?

[HoganApexBlades]

I was fortunate enough to caddie in the '75 U.S. Open at Medinah CC for Phil Rodgers. I still have my caddie badge and the letter documentation from Medinah when I was chosen as one of the lucky club caddies whose badge number would be put into the "lottery" jar for a pro to pick out of. It was the thrill of a lifetime that I'll never forget!

[twidener]

I caddied in the 1970 PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa. I caddied for Lee Elder. He missed the cut by a shot, but it was fun. The highlight of the week was on Monday. Mr. Hogan had decided to try and play in the championship and was playing a practice round on Monday. When I got work that Lee Elder was not going arrive until Tuesday, I got to watch Tony Jacklin and Mr. Hogan play 12 holes. I was playing in college then, but watching Mr. Hogan play was a lesson in course management. Unfortunately, he decided not to play the championship due to the heat and the difficult walking conditions.

[snookybusby]

From someone who has never had that opportunity, it sounds amazing! I was just wondering whether they guys ya'll caddied for were personable or enjoyed talking a la lee trevino or was it all business?

[twidener]

Lee Elder was business. Back then the player's regular caddie could not caddie in the PGA Championship. Local caddies were used, however most all of the players brought their own caddies with them to the tournament. Even though we had yardage sheets, Lee Elder's regular caddie would get all of the yardages for him during practice rounds, write them down in a notebook and got the pin placements each day. He would give the notebook to Lee before the round. I was pretty much a bag carrier. He was very nice but seemed like he did not really want to be in Tulsa at that time. After he missed the cut I was able to get into the rest of the tournament for free and watched. Jack Nicklaus was really nice and would talk to my friend and I as he waited to tee off on some of the holes. His fade was really a straight shot or it might move about two yards left to right. He also was able to get about 20 more yards on his tee shots when he needed it. I have seen lots of great players over the years, Snead, Palmer, Player, Nicklaus, Watson, Norman, Faldo, Woods and others, but Mr. Hogan's ball striking was just different than anyone else I've seen. His iron shots made a different sound when they took off and his driver was a boring shot that seemed to hang in the air forever and would just drop very softly.

[snookybusby]

That's cool. What an experience. And really interesting about Hogan.

[HoganApexBlades]

[quote name='twidener' timestamp='1392406400' post='8668735']
I caddied in the 1970 PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa. I caddied for Lee Elder. He missed the cut by a shot, but it was fun. The highlight of the week was on Monday. Mr. Hogan had decided to try and play in the championship and was playing a practice round on Monday. When I got work that Lee Elder was not going arrive until Tuesday, I got to watch Tony Jacklin and Mr. Hogan play 12 holes. I was playing in college then, but watching Mr. Hogan play was a lesson in course management. Unfortunately, he decided not to play the championship due to the heat and the difficult walking conditions.
[/quote]

Congrats to you! I guess you and I belong to a somewhat elite club of non-tour caddies who were able to work 2 different Major championships. Do you still have your badge?

Wow! Tony Jacklin and Ben Hogan in the same group? What a thrill that must've been for you!

[HoganApexBlades]

[quote name='snookybusby' timestamp='1392860510' post='8705581']
From someone who has never had that opportunity, it sounds amazing! I was just wondering whether they guys ya'll caddied for were personable or enjoyed talking a la lee trevino or was it all business?
[/quote]

Phil Rodgers was not a very talkative type at all. He was frustrated with his play on day 1 after hooking his way to an 82 and was lucky to shoot 72 on day 2. Unfortunately, 154 after 36 was no where near the cut line.

[twidener]

I still have the gold colored jumpsuit, cap, and players name that went on the back of the jumpsuit. It was around 100* that week and those jumpsuits were so hot. Jacklin had won the 1969 Open Championship and the 1970 U.S. Open, but Hogan shot a lower score that day. And outdrove Jacklin on a few holes. The whole week was a great experience as I am sure your week at the U.S. Open was also. I played in the sectional qualifying for the 1975 U.S. Open. Played 36 holes that day and shot 4 over. To my surprise the low score was even par, and the alternates were at 2 over. I do remember Crenshaw had a good chance to win that year.

[freddiec]

I caddied in the 1984 US Women's Open and 2002 US Senior Open for nobody you would have heard of , but wow, was it an awesome experience. We played a practice round with Patty Sheehan, who at the time was very young and a very strong player. Her ball striking with Ram blades and an old Byron Nelson Mac driver was just pure awesome. Both were at Salem CC in Mass.

[HoganApexBlades]

I thought I'd add some documentation to my thread for all to see and get a laugh out of...

[attachment=2138193:Caddiebadge.jpg]

[attachment=2138195:2014_03_24_15_26_280003 (1).jpg]

[attachment=2138197:USOpendocumentation.jpg]

[HoganApexBlades]

[attachment=2138279:2014_03_24_15_59_020001.jpg]

[attachment=2138281:2014_03_24_15_59_020002.jpg]

[attachment=2138283:2014_03_24_15_59_020003.jpg]

[guisician]

HoganApexBlades,

All that and free sneakers from Sears too! The documentation really brings it back in technicolor, I'm sure.

Thanks for recounting these memories for the rest of us, guys.

[HoganApexBlades]

And at a base of $20.00 a day too!!! Fortunately, Phil paid me $150 in cash for my efforts so all was good!