Brooks picked a winner & very loyal & truthful man to be by his side. Elliott represented Ireland at the 1990 European Youths Championship with Michael Hoey, who has gone on to win five times on the European Tour (now DP World Tour). Thats where Watson had a delicate chip in the final round from the rough left of the hourglass-shaped green. He grew up with 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell and is also close friends with Ian Poulter. In October, Elliott got his first taste of tournament pressure since his days playing the mini tours when Koepka brought him as a playing partner to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in St. Andrews. Just a few holes into the year in Hawaii, a wrist injury benched his man for three months. "Obviously Rick kind of. On April 16, 2000, Edwards estranged first wife, Susan, angry at the couples pending divorce, lit the 1982 U.S. Open flag on fire. All of the bonus money is believed to be added on top of the standard salary he makes as well. Ricky Elliott, Brooks Koepka's caddie, had initially tested negative for COVID-19 before a follow-up test. Pete Bender, caddie for Aaron Baddeley, looks on during the final round of the 2019 Valero Texas Open. Ive enjoyed having other people get joy from them rather than just collecting them.. I feel like its no different than regular events. He found himself in need of a caddie when his regular caddie ran into some visa problems. "He's just so calm all the time. He has been Koepka's caddie for 6 years now. For his part, Elliot was prepared for the reception he might get from some of his fellow caddies once the tournament started. "I'm sure he heard it. Mackay was Phil Mickelsons caddie for 25 years before their split. For Phil not to follow the tradition was hugely disrespectful.. My job is to keep things light. Ive got a spot in mind, says Bones, who at press time told Golfweek the flag was at the framers and not yet on the wall. So if Elliotts rediscovering his passion for playing the game, how interested would he be in eventually getting his own caddie? I know his yardages, what he likes and doesnt like. Obviously, the crowd came out the whole weekend thinking the event was over, people not knowing golf, and all of a sudden they had a game on their hands late in the fourth quarter so they are obviously going to be hoping for the underdogs.". He stays pretty locked in, and especially since he was playing well I just tried to stay out of the way. Top 100 Courses in the U.S.: GOLFs all-new 2022-23 ranking is here! but its all in good fun.. Brooks Koepka and caddie Ricky Elliott on the third green during the second round of the 2017 U.S. Open (Getty) As of Saturday night, with the third round of the 2017 US Open coming to an. It just didnt really interest me to go out there and just play to a low standard. But Brooks said he couldnt play any better than that. Makes my job very easy.. When I won my first tournament in 1970, I didnt even think about that, says Bender, who then told a story that makes it sound as if the flag alreadywas the caddies prize at least as far back as the mid-1980s. Hell have three more days to keep up. Before he became a caddie, Elliott was considered a promising young golfer. Ricky Elliot, Brooks Koepkas Caddie: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. But he also didnt refute them. I have no idea how it started, says Elliott, who won his first major with Koepka at the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills. It was cool. Theres no pressure out there and its quite easy to club myself, Elliott laughs of his rounds today with friends. There was just something about him. Its really smart and simple.. Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. I think he's staying with them that week. Northern Irishman Elliott, from Portrush, started caddying for Koepka at the 2013 US PGA Championship and the pair have worked together ever since, during which time Koepka has won four major titles and 25million US dollars in prize money on the PGA Tour and become world number one. Earlier this week McDowell called Elliott the best junior golfer the areas ever known. Its obviously evolved with results, but hes just the same chap. Theres all these little things that he does as he prepares that now Im curious about, Greiner said. The golf world might spread itself out across multiple countries and continents, but its ultimately a tight-knit community. ago. I was just trying to keep it straight.. Its just nice to be able to have the opportunity to do that. It's been all right. I think its a little bit to do with because I was playing at such a high level, and then when I started caddying my game dropped off, I was just never really interested, because the competition had left after I was doing mini Tours. Atthat time Tiger was winning six to seven tournaments a year. Hicks, Stricklerand Cayce Kerr each mentioned him during separate conversations. (Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports). Fluff has won 23 times on Tour. The PGA Tour isn't helping Bryson with its new vow to boot spectators. Brooks Koepka and caddie Ricky Elliott are back at the Waste Management Phoenix Open this week to defend the title they won in 2021. Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Here's a look at the player/caddie pairs for this week's Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona: Ancer, Abraham Benji Thompson Even those caddies that do admit to cherishing them say that they often wind up in a tube, unframed, stuffed in a closet or in the case of Gareth Lord, who worked for Henrik Stenson during his British Open triumph in 2016, in a drawer in a one-bedroom apartment in Monaco. I dont think its really hit him yet or me what hes accomplished this year after such a dire start, he said. I guess he trusts me with all of that. If he somehow pops off the British Open at Portrush, he said, I dont think Im going to be able to work for the rest of the year. Gwk, (Note: This story appears in the December issue of Golfweek.). Get insight to top players, instructions & drills and extensive coverage of equipment, Plus tips on how to play better and interviews with the biggest names. When the pair finished their last tournament of 2018 in Shanghai, Elliott said, they shared a quiet moment, just shaking their heads in disbelief. Mark has worked in golf for over 20 years having started off his journalistic life at thePress Association and BBC Sport before moving to Sky Sports where he became their golf editor on skysports.com. Brooks Koepka and his caddie, Ricky Elliott. He makes a quick decision once we get to the ball. But not every caddie is enamored with keeping the flag at 18. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. "I've played there a lot growing up but Brooks hits the ball differently than the lines I hit it on," said Elliott, who is good friends with another Portrush native, former US Open champion. He doesnt think he has it all. Every third caddie suggested asking Williams, the most prolific winner among caddies. Its made an event like the Ryder Cup, where the United States and Europe compete against one another, slightly awkward and a unique challenge for the native of Portrush in Northern Ireland. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports). Elliott was on the bag for Dutchman Maarten Lafeber and 2003 Open Champion Ben Curtis before starting work with Koepka in 2013. Veteran hands with fresh faces serve as a reminder that on Tour, nothing is permanent. On April 16, 2000, Edwards' estranged first wife, Susan, angry at the couple's pending divorce, lit the 1982 U.S. Open flag on fire. In smaller events he does get a little bit flustered, but in majors hes unbelievably focused. He asked Nicklaus to sign one and got the signatures of Tiger Woods and Sam Snead on separate yellow flags from the Masters. Elliott came to the U.S. for college, and he attended the University of Toledo in Ohio. Read next: Koepkas coach Claude Harmon III improves your driving, Bauer Media Group consists of: Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Company number: 01176085; Bauer Radio Ltd, Company Here are your options. Hes not a very demanding guy on or off the golf course. But what is the origin of this tradition and who started it? But the 29-year-old Koepka hasnt done it all by himself. Matt Fitzpatrick, an up and coming U.S. amateur champion from Sheffield, England, was set to make his Masters debut when he suddenly found himself in need of a new caddie. Its the complete opposite of what people think. "It will be special for Ricky. Ricky Elliott: Life as Brooks Koepka's caddie Published: 08 February 2020 As Brooks Koepka goes for a third consecutive US PGA Championship, caddie Ricky Elliott, the man hoping to help his boss to more Major glory at TPC Harding Park, shares the secrets to their success. These are brothers, after all. Bender only kept a couple of flags. St. Johns County (Florida) Sheriffs investigators said the fire started in an upstairs storage room where he kept part of his collection of golf memorabilia. As a youngster watching golf tournaments on TV in Japan, I saw that it is a tradition for caddies to take home the 18th-green flag, Hayafuji says. For the most part, if golfers are able to consistently make cuts, itll be at least a decent weekly bonus for caddies. Bender, and others, directed me to Mike Fluff Cowan. You can follow him on Twitter @JohnstonGarrett. Elliot walks with Matthew Fitzpatrick and Rory McIlroy at the 2014 Masters (Getty). I guess thats why hes a fast player because we just try to shoot and run. I was there on my own, sitting beside a wee Chinese man waving the flag. Next up, I asked Joe LaCava, who started his career on the bag of his cousin, Ken Green, and went on to win a Masters in 1992 with Fred Couples and bagged a second yellow Masters flag in 2019 with Tiger Woods. Heres how it works. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2022-23 PGA Tour Tournament schedule and results, 2022-23 PGA Tour winning player and caddie pairs, Under The Strap Podcast: Caddie Aaron Flener on looking forward to 2023, caddie tips, funny stories and more, Under The Strap Podcast: Sports Analyst Jonathan Coachman on his career, friendship with Joe LaCava and more, The worlds gonna be his limit Caddie Shay Knight on Viktor Hovlands win at 2022 Hero World Challenge, Under The Strap Podcast: DECADE Golf system creator Scott Fawcett on revolutionizing golf strategy, helping pros win tournaments and more, 2023 Honda Classic Player/Caddie Pairings, 2023 Genesis Invitational Player/Caddie Pairings, 2023 Waste Management Phoenix Open Player/Caddie Pairings, 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Player/Caddie Pairings, 2023 Famers Insurance Open Player/Caddie Pairings, 2023 The American Express Player/Caddie Pairings, Copyright 2023 The Caddie Network. Koepkas coach Claude Harmon III improves your driving. Langer has won a remarkable 43 times on the PGA Tour Champions, and Holt grabbed the flag every time. He keeps it light, said the American ahead of The Open at Royal Portrush in 2019.. He knows not to talk about golf while were out there. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Elliott told his man to hit a 5-iron. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/lists/18th-hole-flag-becoming-caddie-trophy/, Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic islands, Central America, Top 50 Classic Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, Top 50 Modern Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, PGA Tour approves radical schedule changes, reducing fields in elevated events and ending cuts, Drivers used by PGA Tour pros ranked in the top 10 in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, Best irons for 2023 for every handicap and playing style. He doesnt have the flag from his first win in 1980 nor does he have many of his other victories. Joe was good on positive reinforcement and thats my only real pet peeve from a caddie.. And I love the guy to death.". In any case, with regards to Koepka, he has $20 million dollars of net worth starting in 2020. He finally got there as a caddie, which is not unusual . "Ricky Elliott, who caddies for Brooks Koepka, was a guy I looked up to when I was about 12 or 13 because he was pretty much the best junior player here in Portrush," McDowell said. He said, Go down there and grab the cup out of the green and that will be your souvenir. So, I did, and I use that cup in my house all the time to practice my putting. His estimated net worth as of 2020 is still under review. I knew that they had done it, obviously. The Williamstown, Mass. 1s, took it upon himself to investigate my question and called around trying to piece the puzzle together. He shot three-under 69. (Some say this is where the saying Winner, winner, chicken dinner was coined.). Ill be getting plenty of good needle, he said at the time. Not long after Mickelson and Bones parted ways, Shipnuck reports that Mickelson mailed him the flags from his majors. The 42-year-old eventually moved into caddying and worked for the likes of 2003 Open champion Ben Curtis before the job opportunity which would change his life at the 2013 US PGA. He is only a stroke behind the current leader, Brian Harman. That year, the 18th-hole flag at the Open commemorated Arnold Palmer, its 1960 champion, with a silhouette of him flipping his visor in the air as he famously did after clinching the title. Obviously were social distancing and taking the whole thing seriously, its just good for the mind to get out there with a little fresh air, Elliott said. Greiner is on loan from Max Homa for the week; he got the call after Schauffeles usual caddie Austin Kaiser came down with the flu. Not every player lets his caddie keep the flag. "We made the cut and then Claude said at the end of the week, 'do you fancy doing a few more?' Thats the biggest joke, he says. After Edwards, Nick DePaul, who caddied for Seve Ballesteros from 1982 to 87, claimed flags from the 1983 Masters and 1984 British Open. His best guess on how the flags took off? The most qualified fill-in for Thursdays opening round was Xander Schauffeles caddie Joe Greiner. Apart from that one tee shot on 12 (at the Masters) that he would have loved to have had back, he didnt hit a bad shot in the last round. I didnt get the flag, but I got the cup.. Tiger Woods talks with his caddie, Mike Fluff Cowan, before teeing off during the final round of the 1998 PGA Championship. Brooks Koepka and his caddie-slash-brother Chase. Share Tweet Pin Email I get all the numbers and do all the book work. I know the deal., Just keeping up, he said. Koepka is now a LIV Golf player, of course, and the American has enjoyed a profitable time so far on the new circuit, winning the event in Jeddah in October 2022 to claim the $4 first prize. What about the Masters flag from 1997 with Tiger Woods? Koepka ended up finishing tied for 50th in the tournament, but hey, it could have been worse. Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports. The Glendale, Arizona, location is the seventh PopStroke in the U.S. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images). Following Koepkas second US Open victory, in an interview he gave to ESPN, he said of Koepka: He's just a real strong mental guy, he's unflappable. At the Masters and The Open, he didnt putt well all week. Next to every great player walks a great sidekick and over the next five decades, Bender shouldered the bag for Hall-of-Famers Raymond Floyd, Jack Nicklaus and Lanny Wadkins as well as Greg Norman during his run at World No. "Claude Harmon was coaching Brooks and he said he needed a caddie for Oak Hill," Elliott added. One truly great guy with even a better attitude. 1s. His most cherished flag, which some believe started this craze, was used to set his home ablaze. He was always willing to play with our kids @ Stone Oak & it was nice to see him again at Crooked Stick couple yrs. "It was worrying. There are some caddies who think they won the golf tournament. The latest Tweets from Ricky Elliott (@RickyElliott): "The Open coming back home to Portrush. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA Wire Koepka's record in majors this season is written in. 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Im curious about, Greiner said by himself thats where Watson had a delicate in! Times on the PGA Tour Champions, and i use that cup in my house all time... Stays pretty locked in, and Holt grabbed the flag took it upon himself to investigate my and!