Golf Caddie Costs and Earnings Revealed by PGA Tour Veteran Jim 'Bones' Mackay
Legendary caddie Jim 'Bones' Mackay details the significant annual expenses and variable income associated with working on the PGA Tour.
Jim 'Bones' Mackay, the long-time caddie for Phil Mickelson, has revealed the substantial financial commitment required to be a caddie on the PGA Tour, including annual expenses and the structure of their earnings.
Mackay, who was Mickelson's caddie for 25 years and accompanied him for most of his major championship wins, stated that caddies typically cover all their own expenses, which can amount to $40,000 to $50,000 annually. These costs include travel, accommodation, and other day-to-day necessities.
The caddie profession operates on a week-to-week basis, with no long-term contract security for the caddie. Despite this, many player-caddie relationships span many years, indicating a strong partnership.
"When I talk to people about caddying, one of the things that surprises them is the caddies pay for all their own expenses. So it costs [about] $40,000-50,000 a year to do what caddies do," Mackay told Front Office Sports. "There are no contracts in terms of the ability of a caddie to stay with a player [long-term]. You're literally week to week with those guys."
Mackay also highlighted the significant input caddies have in a player's game, citing Scottie Scheffler and his caddie Ted Scott as an example of a successful player-caddie team where decisions are often made collaboratively.
Caddies typically earn a base pay ranging from $1,500 to $3,000 per week, plus a percentage of their player's winnings. The percentage varies, with 10 percent common for a win, and seven to eight percent for high finishes. However, if a player performs poorly or misses the cut, the caddie's earnings can drop significantly, sometimes receiving only their base rate or nothing at all.
Given Mickelson's career earnings of over $117 million across various tours, Mackay would have earned millions during their partnership. However, Mackay noted that this level of financial success is not typical for all caddies, especially those working with players who are not consistently winning.
Mackay, who also caddied for Justin Thomas after his time with Mickelson, now works as an on-course reporter for NBC Sports.
