In a year that witnessed conquests and collapses of magnitude its been a good year for the caddie. From first time bag toters claiming majors to seasoned loopers reaping the reward for their tenacity, there have been many satisfying results.
April saw an emotional victory for Jose Maria Olazabal in Augusta. Later in the year at an equally fervent Brookline, we witnessed the stoicism of the Basque as the American players decided to celebrate their Ryder Cup victory somewhat prematurely. s Chema's crooked drivers will probably have fonder memories of Boston C99 1999 than if they had witnessed a victory.
His caddie Brendan will undoubtedly have considered 1999 a vintage year. It saw him onto s Jose's bag through the cv route, which was a first, I believe, in a normally less sophisticated job selection process.
The victor of the year is Jean Van de Velde. Loser you mean. No, winner. The man is a hero and a household name after his Carnoustie exploits. He had the ordinary golfer sitting in their easy chairs dreaming the impossible for a whole weekend. As the light faded on the dramatic play-off so did the dream. But not the resilient Frenchman. He arrived in the US, a month later, to a receptive American audience, to the amazement of most observers of American sport. Welcoming a loser? I suppose he was at least a foreign loser and he t didn't hang his head in shame.
Cristophe, his ill-fated bag handler did not enjoy such a celebrated "Apres Open". Having been unceremoniously sacked some weeks after, he was last sighted on the Paris metro, heading for Chateau Orleans d'Orleans stroking his goatee beard and mumbling "Jeane, I zink u hit zee wedge non, and not zee doo i-ron in zee wa-ter." Another caddie eventually bore the brunt of a bad day on the links. I wonder how many good decisions Christophe had made that week that went unnoticed?
Of course the champion of that week was local lad Paul Lawrie. Not to forget his Irish caddie, Paddy, who had been catapulted from a delivery van to the trophy room quicker than the rough grew at Carnoustie last summer. The losers of the week were the R & A.
In their ignorance they set up a course that favoured chance over skill. Down in the caddie shack at the end of the season the final tally has been calculated. The question most ask is if we have had a good enough season to warrant a complete break until the tour starts up again. Those who find that the balance sheet t doesn't afford such luxury as two months work free, ply our wares at other forms of employment.
So, who are the other caddies at the end of 1999 who are likely to be relaxing for a couple of months without worrying about running out of funds in the process? With 12 first-time winners on the European Tour this year there are as a result 12 caddies who can afford some extra free-time over the winter. "Sponge", Michael s Campbell's caddie is definitely a winner. He was faced with the dilemma at the start of the year of working for Stephen Leaney or Campbell. t hadn't been showing much form. Leaney, on paper seemed like the best choice for earning power. But "Sponge" had made an arrangement and he was sticking with it. His loyalty and patience was rewarded with a victory in Taiwan with Campbell in November.
"Hopper", Retief s Goosen's cad will be enjoying converting some of his earnings into rand in his native city of Durban. This partnership is flourishing after a lengthy relationship of over four years, fifth in the order of merit is a position that should ensure some overtime at the pool-side.
Dave MacNeilly, who started looping for Padraig Harrington this year, will probably not be feeling the need to resume his winter post as deck-chair attendant at Belfast Loch.
On reflection of the past season, I have come to the conclusion that all of us caddies are winners. Any golfer willing to put up with us at their side for eight months of the year, and pay us as well, it appears to me that there could be only one winner out of that scenario.
