Twice a year I call up Wentworth Golf Club and put my name down to caddy in the Pro-Ams. The Wednesday before either the PGA Championships in May or the World Matchplay in October, Europe’s Premier Club puts on a cracking day out for all who participate.
It’s always a jolly affair and gives you a chance, not only to see how it’s done by the best players in the world but the honour of being able to interact with them on the way around.
In the past, I have been out with Peter O’Malley, Eduardo Romero and Padraig Harrington – all of whom were extremely personable, informative and good fun. O’Malley hasn’t missed a fairway since ’81 which made for an easy afternoon for us caddies, Eduardo is so laid back it’s a wonder he can be bothered to hit the ball at all and Paddy, amongst other tips, gave us all a really useful chipping lesson – a trait I have adopted myself and since passed on with much gratitude from my peers.
I must, at this point admit that when you accept a job as a caddy at the Pro-Am you aren’t actually caddying for the competing Professional himself but for one of three or four select members of a team who have entered the day through a ballot and ultimately represent a company or esteemed group of individuals fortunate enough to find themselves playing 18holes with the World’s top golfers.
In 2008 I called up a few weeks before the HSBC World Matchplay and asked the concierge (the modern way of saying ‘caddy-master’ these days - apparently) and asked if my good friend, Tim and I could go out with Paul Casey. He’s a local lad to my hometown of Weybridge and went to college with Tim.
We turned up bright and early and to our joy were paired up with Casey. They hadn’t seen each other since college and Tim strategically left it until the 7th hole before reintroducing himself with a gripe at the Pro’s poor putting. It was a ‘better-ball’ scoring system and Casey missed a 3-footer to put the team under par for the first time that day. Tim then cynically pointed out that any muppet could get those in and how could he have possibly missed. I don’t think Casey is used to banter on the course and looked up in disgust only to find my friend’s Cheshire cat grin and winking eye. A hearty handshake from the man with the European Tour’s largest forearms ensued and the ice was broken.
From then on we had a cracking afternoon. Casey was in fine humour and fine form. Reminiscing with Tim seemed to relax Paul no end and receiving humorous banter for mediocre shots from the rest of us only spurred him on to produce some absolute magic.
The corporate guys we were caddying for were dreadful, which made for an extremely jovial affair and towards the end, we were taking bets as to how many shots over their respective handicaps they were going to take to get the ball in the hole rather than congratulating them for doing it in so few.
Casey’s caddy, Craig is a great guy with a typically Scottish, wicked and dry sense of humour and also one of the best caddies on tour. Even though the Pro-Ams are ultimately a PR exercise for the event sponsor and player, Craig was still pacing out obvious yardages whilst assuring his employer he had the right club in his hand and the light-hearted duo conducted themselves with dignity and professionalism throughout the day.
Paul Casey went on to win a million pounds that week. I don’t want to take any credit but he did mention, when interviewed, that he felt very relaxed all week and really enjoyed himself… you do the math.
A couple of years ago I had the privilege of a day out with Sweden’s Johan Edfors in the BMW PGA Championships on the West Course at Wentworth. This time it was a more star-studded affair with the South African cricket ‘legend,’ Barry Richards (I invert the commas purely because the tight so and so was a little frugal when it came to tipping his caddy), Setanta Sport’s Shane O’Donoghue and bringing up the rear, Jimmy Tarbuck. As you can imagine, it was a terrifically entertaining day out with Tarbuck’s wisecracks and our mutual admiration for Edfors’ length off the tee keeping us all laughing all afternoon.
Last year’s Pro-Am for the HSBC World Matchplay was by far the best I have participated in and it should never really have happened; I had left it to the very last minute and called up the concierge after a few too many light ales the night before in Weybridge – little of which I remember – at 7.30am to ask if the Pro-Am required any caddies. I was greeted with a resounding, “No – got plenty of caddies, mate.” I contemplated returning to bed but the weather was lovely and I thought, on the off chance some kid doesn’t show up, I’ll squeeze in there.
So I pulled up to Europe’s Premier Club around 9am, went straight to the concierge office and joined the lengthy queue. Caddying is a strange hobby/career and attracts all sorts of employees. It pays quite well for 5 hours work and requires no contract and no time or date restrictions and subsequently attracts all manner of differing people from very differing backgrounds – not all of whom have a clue about golf or caddying but seem to have made a career out of the profession all the same.
The queue dispersed and eventually, I reached the front. I looked at the list and noted most of the names and places had been taken and feared I may have wasted my time. After an awkward delay, I was handed a caddy bib and a name on a Wentworth complimentary slip - standard procedure. I was thankful to get a job for the day but when the Head Concierge said, “You’re out with Monty, Henman and the CEO of HSBC, Giles Morgan.” I knew I was in for a good day.
Having caddied at Wentworth for many years now you start to recognise the officials, scorers and greens staff every time. I caught up with a few I’d been out with before, had a chat and a coffee and waited for the teams to turn up.
It’s always a shotgun start at the Pro-Ams as the sheer volume of players couldn’t possibly go off from the first tee in one day. All 24 teams with one competing pro and four amateurs are escorted to their respective starting blocks in various Toyotas - HSBC’s partners - whilst us mere caddies have to walk. Thankfully for me, only one hole back.
As a keen, if not slightly obsessive follower of the game I knew that Colin Montgomerie had drawn the surrogate local boy, Ernie Els in the first round of the matchplay tournament the following day but I didn’t know Monty was in the team behind the big South African and both starting from the same tee - this was going to be interesting.
Ernie has lived on the Wentworth Estate for many years now and, having won the World Matchplay six times, naturally, is an honorary member of the club. He lives just off the 16th fairway and has contributed considerably to the design of the new course introducing an influx of bunkers and additional length the West Course has received in the last few years and was clearly favourite for the match-up.
In fact a few years ago whilst playing the West Course Ernie wandered out of his garden gate and armed with a driver in one hand and half a dozen balls in the other asked if he could borrow a tee. I naturally obliged the big South African and watched him clout them a million miles the wrong way up the 15th fairway.
The shotgun was due to fire at noon and at ten to, Ernie ambled up the 18th fairway as only he can and pulled out one of Callaway’s new square-headed drivers. His practice swing was, as ever, inspiringly effortless whilst also creating some sound-breaking club head speed. As he waited for his cue, Monty rocked up to a hearty welcome from us all, and the two Goliaths of European Golf shook hands with obvious mutual respect.
Ernie was due to depart the 18th tee first and after the sound of a flare in the direction of the clubhouse, duly pounded his drive miles away out of sight. He looked around for a sign of trepidation from Monty but you don’t win The European Tour Order of Merit eight times without knowing how to deal with your opponents. The 'Big Easy' was met with a sharp intake of breath and, “Ooh, just slipped in the bunker, Ernie…” and a wry grin of course.
Our gang of disciples acquainted themselves and departed the 18th tee shortly after Mr. Els. I was carrying Giles Morgan’s bag – an old battered set of sticks, the brand of which, even Monty hadn’t heard of. Thankfully it was a small carry bag with a half set within and weighed next to nothing – perfect. I’ve had lead-lined tour bags before with more than the requisite 14 clubs and eight different sets of water-proofs, not to mention two umbrellas and several dozen golf balls – this was, literally, going to be a walk in the park.
When starting at the 18th you naturally get to the 1st tee fairly sharply and the awaiting crowds with cameras at the ready were anticipating the company I had the pleasure of being amongst. The Master of Ceremonies introduced Colin, Tim and the rest of the amateurs, which allowed me to associate their names with their roles. Every team entered either has an affiliation with the Sponsors, Club or has entered their team through a ballot. My ‘boss’ for the day was Giles Morgan, the Director of Sponsorship for HSBC International. He was going to be a busy man this weekend.
The first tee at Wentworth Golf Club is probably the most daunting you can experience on the European Tour; with the MC stopping traffic on either side of the tee – usually Astons and Ferraris that instantly recommend anything but a shank or a snap-hook - the haunting castle-like clubhouse looming behind you and the hoards of spectators watching your every move, I think the amateurs were thankful to biff one away down the fairway.
HSBC took this opportunity to photograph the teams in front of the esteemed clubhouse and, drivers in hand, the boys looked great. It was only halfway down the first fairway when Monty’s caddy approached me with an outstretched hand and a wide smile, and said, “Chris, isn’t it?” it had only just occurred to me that Paul Casey’s caddy had been snatched by Monty earlier in the year. It was nice to be remembered as we’d had a good laugh with Craig this time a year ago.
The beautiful thing about the day was how relaxed Monty was. He was laughing and joking with all of us and interacting with the spectators following the group too. Every time he hit a good drive he’d ask whether we thought Ernie, up ahead, might have seen it and every time he hit one in the trees, he’d ask, hopefully, if Ernie was looking the other way. Occasionally when we had to wait for Els to move out of the way, Colin would wait to see whether he’d hold the finish after the ball had been hit – if so, it was a good’un and not good for Monty’s match the following day. He held his audience well and had them eating out of the palm of his hand.
Monty even found time between signing autographs to give us a few tips on how to hit out of the legendary Wentworth rough and demonstrated why he was using a large grip putter (for those who care it allows both hands to rest on the grip opposing each other thus limiting wrist movement). All of which was conducted with humour, laughter and total professionalism.
Throughout the afternoon I had the opportunity to ask Monty about all manner of interesting things; I am a golf geek at heart and questions like, “Why do you use graphite shafts, Colin?” “How’s life back in Scotland?” and “How’s Craig, your new caddy coming on?” were answered courteously and fascinated me. Caddies often get a bit of a cold shoulder at these dos but not this time - it was nice to see the former European Tour Number 1 so comfortable and chatty when talking to a mere caddy like me. In fact, all the guys treated me with respect and seemed as interested in me as I was in them.
Tim Henman is an extremely nice guy who appeared to have no inhibitions when talking to anyone and seemed to be enjoying retirement enormously. He plays off +2 and was consistently out-driving Montgomerie (and hitting far more fairways too). Giles Morgan is also a really nice guy and even though he was no doubt in high demand over the day, he gave his full attention to the proceedings never once looking at his mobile phone.
We had a lovely retired couple volunteering as marshalls and a scorer on hand with her Blackberry to keep us up to date with the scores the other teams were achieving. By the 13th hole we were in joint 23rd place – last. Monty then chipped in from off the green with a glorious ‘Mickelson-esque’ flop shot to hearty applause and a welcome birdie was entered on the Blackberry. We thought we were on the way back until Monty struck two out of bounds on the notorious 17th but he just smiled, made a few wisecracks to the crowd and inimitably strode on with his head held high and dignity intact.
Tim Henman had struck two mammoth woods to the front of the green and duly birdied one of golf’s most difficult par fives, making it a great way to finish and a check at the scores revealed we had made up some ground over the final few holes finishing 14th at 6 under par.
The relationship between Montgomerie, Craig, Giles, his two colleagues, Henman and myself was fantastic and it seemed a shame to shake hands at the end of the 17th.
It’s not every day you spend an afternoon with two British sporting legends and have a genuinely good time in their revered company. I was lucky enough to not only be there but get paid for the privilege.
Colin Montgomerie was the consummate professional and everyone thoroughly enjoyed his company throughout the day. If this new temperament of his can last until the final Sunday of the Ryder Cup in October I can almost guarantee his troops at Celtic Manor will bring Sam Ryder’s Cup to the right side of the Atlantic - where it should be.
Chris Keeping
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