Caddies show their value in wins on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf

With so much emphasis on money and the trickle-down effect, sometimes the greatest reward for a caddie is the public credit given by their players. Matt Fitzpatrick won a thriller at the RBC Heritage in a playoff against Scottie Scheffler. On the 18th hole, from 204 yards into a stiff wind, Fitzpatrick hit 4-iron at the flag (OK, he says he slightly pulled it) that cleared the bunker and rolled out to 13 feet for the winning birdie.

The 18th hole Sunday was the first time all week he hit 4-iron, and only the second time he had the club in his bag (he didn’t use it on Thursday). That it was there for him was due to his caddie, Daniel Parratt, because the wind was in the opposite direction from the previous three rounds.

“Great planning from Dan,” Fitzpatrick said. “Just so aware of what’s going on with the wind even before we tee off and stuff. But I knew after the one in regulation (from a waste area), I had basically hit it as well as I could, and then in the fairway it was the same story.

“I knew I could just hit it. Fortunately, I hit a great shot.”

Jon Rahm had been in a mood during his pedestrian performance in the Masters (tie for 38th), and during the early days of LIV Golf Mexico City he had no interest in sharing what part of his game had cost him. But after closing with a 64 for a six-shot victory, he mentioned a session at Augusta National the previous week with caddie Adam Hayes.

“Adam and I nearly got in a heated argument on Saturday on the putting green at Augusta when he was trying to explain something and I wasn’t fully understanding,” Rahm said. “Once it clicked what he was trying to say and what I needed to work on on that range session Saturday afternoon, it was so much better.

“Sunday at Augusta I played much better golf, and it’s only gotten a little bit easier since then.”

Pat Perez gets back into the flow: Pat Perez had a remarkable return to competition last week in the Senior PGA Championship. He was at par or better all four days at Concession Golf Club, and while he finished 11 shots behind Stewart Cink, he still tied for sixth.

It was his first time playing 72 holes of competition in nearly two years. Perez tied for 18th in the International Series Morocco the first week of July 2024.

Even more impressive? Since he left LIV Golf at the end of 2024, Perez said he went nine months without so much as touching a golf club. He spent 2025 doing television for LIV and didn’t bring his clubs with him or use them when he was home in Arizona.

“I said: You know what? I got nothing to play for,’” Perez said. “I have nothing to get ready for because again, I did not think that this opportunity would come. I thought, I’m just going to take a knee for a minute and see what happens.’”

He is suspended by the PGA Tour until 2027, so he can play the Senior PGA, US Senior Open and Senior British Open, all run by other organisations.

But Perez, who turned 50 on March 1, plans to get after it next year.

“I probably won’t miss an event next year,” he said. “From what I hear, this tour you want to hit it hard from 50 to 55. Since I’m missing 50, I’ll probably hit it hard the first three years and then kind of see where we’re at.”

Perez made nearly $14 million in prize money in his three years on LIV.

Karrie Webb is looking after Aussie players and coaches: Karrie Webb has kept an eye on Australian golf after her Hall of Fame career of seven majors and becoming the only woman to win the “Super Grand Slam” of five majors.

Her scholarship program for the last decade has brought juniors over to America for Webb to mentor, a list that includes now major champions Hannah Green, Minjee Lee and Grace Kim.

Webb also is recognizing coaches. Jade Shellback is the third winner of the Karrie Webb Coaching Scholarship, established in 2024 to provide support to female PGA professionals trying to advance their teaching credentials.

“It’s an honor to be selected, and I’m incredibly grateful. I can’t thank Karrie enough for the support,” said Shellback, who coaches at Royal Melbourne. “It means a lot be recognized and gives me real confidence that I’m on the right path.”