Colin Byrne: Every caddie living on borrowed time....
For those of you who like to tune in for their weekly golf fix on Sunday evening, watching a new champion make some impossible putt to win and unceremoniously hugging his caddie in elation, it can be an extremely uplifting end to the week.
The glory, the success, the prize money and sense of satisfaction are all evident in the final moment of joy. But this is as good as it gets – the reality of what the average bagmen does to earn a living is an entirely less glamorous prospect.
I write this after a long trip to Akron, Ohio for the Bridgestone International. Travel never seems to get any more exotic than a bleary-eyed connection in a major US airport hub and a functional midnight welcome at a nondescript hotel, a stunted sleep and an early tee off.
There is a grinding process of preparation the modern golfer has to go through in his build up to each tournament that can often look like overdiligence.
A Monday practice round with multiple shots hit off tees and into greens. Countless chips and sand shots swatted from every possible position around the putting surfaces to every possible pin position imaginable. In an effort to combat the unknown we all try to pre-empt every possible scenario that could happen under the gun.
So after five hours of a practice round, there could be another practice session on the range, chipping green and putting green. If there was any tinkering to do, the manufacturers have their trucks on site to cater for any adjustments that may be needed.
full article here > https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/colin-byrne-every-caddie-living-on-borrowed-time-with-his-player-1.3176973