Building a team means having an agent, a caddy, a swing coach and, eventually, a physical trainer. Of course mom and dad are still involved and want some input into the process. A rookie on tour is going to experience a lot of new things in his first year or two. He may want a little stability in his life. He may not want to change everything. Stability may come from keeping his old equipment, keeping his old swing coach & hiring a buddy to caddy for him. While we can understand the desire not to “change everything” there are pros and cons with each of these decisions. Let’s go through the first two.
Agent
First and foremost a good agent will help the player a) understand the whole process of being in the spotlight and playing on the PGA TOUR, b) help him set his schedule, c) help get him into some events, and, d) get him some outside income via endorsements. This income can cover living expenses and travel expenses so the player isn’t so pre-occupied with winning enough money to remain solvent. The agent can also help make travel arrangements and make sure the bills are paid while the player is on the road.
Selecting an agent is different for each player. They usually want a group they are very comfortable being around, who they trust and who will treat them as if they are their most important player. We all want to feel loved. Any one agent isn’t right for every player.
Caddy
Many young players will want to travel with a buddy and let him caddy for them. They view their first year on TOUR as an adventure and they want that certain degree of comfort they can gain traveling and spending time with a friend they know well. The idea of adding a veteran caddy that they do not know to their team often adds to their angst. The more comfortable choice would be picking a buddy to caddy for them. However, their buddy may not know entirely what it takes to caddy on the PGA TOUR. First, the veteran TOUR caddy knows the courses and he knows the terrain & typical weather patterns etc. to help the player select the 20-30 events he should play in to maximize his chances of playing well and keeping his card. Second, the TOUR caddy will know how to control the emotional swings between great shots and horrible shots. Third, the TOUR caddy knows how to say things in the most encouraging way to give the player confidence. For example:
Player: “Can I get a 7 iron back to that pin?”
Veteran Caddy: “Yes, a 7 iron is the perfect club for this shot. The fade is your bread and butter shot. Start this ball in the middle of the green and fade it toward the flag like you have done for years.”
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Player: “Can a get a 7 iron back to that pin?”
Rookie Caddy: “Yeah, I think you can hit a 7 iron that far, try that club.”
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In which situation would you be more comfortable swinging a 7 iron on the shot?
Another great example of a veteran caddy helping out a young player happened right here at the 2011 Nelson. Keegan Bradley was playing in his rookie season on the TOUR and decided he wanted the help of a veteran caddy. Almost by accident he and Steven “Pepsi” Hale became a team. While deciding which events to play that Spring, Pepsi talked Keegan into playing the Nelson because he had a feeling that course fit him very well. Keegan did enter the tournament and finished it with his first career victory!
Tim Gamso
Member
Salesmanship Club of Dallas
