Fanny Sunesson, the most successful female caddie in modern golf history retired from caddying in October 2011, she has remained busy, developing her career as an all-round golf coach. Her knowledge and experience of working with world class golfers, such as Nick Faldo, Martin Kaymer and Henrik Stenson is legendary and inspirational to the young players who are just beginning their careers on the LET. In this interview, LET discuss her hands-on approach to the tournament and what she learned from 26 years as a top caddie on the men’s PGA European Tour. 

What was your biggest lesson as a caddie?

In the first year, I learned that I would always say what I believed as a caddie and what I thought, even if it wasn’t the same as the player. One other thing that I realise now is that I paid a lot of attention to the state of mind of the player and I tried to help them stay in the best state of mind for performing. After taking coaching courses I realise now the importance of this but in the beginning I did it automatically by feel. Finding the right state of mind is an individual thing and so it’s through experience and getting to know the person that you find out what works for that player.

What was the highlight of your caddying career?

Three things: The Ryder Cup at Oakhill, The Open at St Andrews 1990 and the Masters 1990: those three were really special.

What was it like being a woman caddie in a man’s world? Were there any other women caddying on tour?

No; not many at all. Right now there is one girl on the European Tour: Janet, who caddies for Jeev Milkha Singh. It’s always been great. From the start no-one wanted me as a local caddie - but after I got my first bag, I didn’t have a problem getting a player to work for. There was one player, who, the sponsor didn’t want to have a girl caddie. That was the only time.

Would you recommend caddying as a career for other women?

It is a great career, so absolutely. I was very lucky and I got to work with some great players and met fantastic people, travelled to interesting places. I’m very grateful for a brilliant career. I worked hard but had a lot of fun. I would absolutely recommend it! How could I not when I enjoyed it so much?

Note: The Sölvesborg Ladies Open hosted by Fanny Sunesson is taking place at Sölvesborg Golf Club in Sweden on May 22-24. Source LET 

If you pass by Beijing make sure you visit Tianjin city only 30 mn away, thanks to the 300 km/per hour bullet Train. The Tianjin train station is quite impressive and more over looking 19th century Gustave Eiffel JieFang Bridge with more ancient bulding nearby. Unfortunatly the China Open course is about 45mn away so not too many players got to see this historical places. The Pete Dye course is by the sea a links type where the wind can be devestating and more the hole 12, a tricky par 5 with the a narrow green on a mount where I have witnesses back an forth wedges and chips.

I was staying with active participant of my research from France tour Player Christian Cevaer who is trying to find his game back after a elbow injury. Christian and I shared some great golf moments.  I was also happy to meet my old Coco Beach Florida buddy Danny Sharp (note: in the 80's Danny and I were winter practicing in Royal Oak FL, Home of the Canadian PGA and legendary Player Moe Norman). Today, Danny is a world class Caddie for LPGA Lorie Kane and European Tour Thomas Aiken. Danny is the first tour caddie using my putting research, as one of my goal this year is also that her player Lorie Kane will reach her 100 top 10, hopefully before the Evian Masters so we can celebrate there.

I was also in close contact with some of the 30 Chinese Players (only 3 made the cut) among them Zhang and Li where I used my findings stats to analyze their performances my biggest surprise of the week was to be invited to seat next to Caddie legend Fanny Sunesson who was there as a Volvo Speaker. Fanny shared my same believe on performances and more on course management, she then send me a nice email later surely we will meet again.

After a last range practice session on saturday with Christian Cevaer, the Volvo Limousine drove us to the airport where we said “Goodby and Courage" I stayed a few more days in Beijing to meet more people toward my Olympic Quest.

Stephane Barras

I just spend 3 month in Sanya, Island of Hainan on the China see, where I was launching (World Premier) my putting master class in Yalong Bay Golf Club home of the LET Sanya Open. 

During the same time working with Matt from PeaceofCode to developp my long time thoughts performance application that you are seeing now. This beta version application is the first step of  my long time research research in my quest to continuously improve to game of golf. During my golf life I have been extremly lucky to be able to be close to the best the game of golf has ever produce.

I have caddie for Tony Jacklin, play with Miguel Angel Jimenez, knew Moe Norman, learn from Bill Strausbough, teach Severiano Ballesteros, guide Todd Hamilton, coach Zhang Lian Wei, wrote a golf Manuel, was a Invited Speaker at the European Teaching Summit, was a Speaker at the World Scientific Congress of Golf after Dave Pelz, got the “Strokes Gained Putting” application from Mark Broadie, and my research was publish in the International Journal of Golf Science. Together I combine 35 years of Golf Experiences at the Highest Level.

Today all this knowledge and more importantly their findings are available to the world of Golf. This application is one tool that I have been thinking about for quite sometimes. Especially in China where I am since 2009. China is the country where you have the most caddies in the world, I guess about 50'000. I have learned from them too.

I am currently in Shanghai a guest coach in DongJiang School and on my way to the China Open in Tianjin city where I will meet many caddies and players and share with them further knowledge about the game of golf and continue to improve my quest.

Stephane Barras