How do pro golf caddies make their money

Golf caddies are the unsung partners in a player's success, especially at marquee events like this weekend's Masters Tournament at Augusta National.

As Scottie Scheffler pursues his third green jacket and Ludvig Åberg makes his highly anticipated Masters debut, their caddies provide critical advice, moral support, and strategic guidance while navigating Augusta's notoriously challenging terrain.

From the inception of the Masters Tournament in 1934 until 1982, all Masters competitors had to employ an Augusta National club caddie, who by longstanding club tradition was always an African-American man. In the early decades, many of these local caddies became legends in their own right for their knowledge of Augusta’s greens. 

This rule changed in 1983 when players were finally allowed to bring their own tour caddies to The Masters.

The change marked the end of an era – for example, Jack Nicklaus won four Green Jackets with club caddie Willie Peterson on his bag. Today, players almost universally stick with their year-round caddies at Augusta, but they still honour the past: many will seek advice from veteran Augusta caddies during practice rounds.

From the iconic white jumpsuits unique to Augusta National to the potential six-figure payouts from a Masters victory, the caddie compensation world is fascinating and varied.

This article breaks down how professional caddies get paid, highlights unique traditions at the 2025 Masters, examines average earnings across different levels, and shares anecdotes of legendary caddies like Steve Williams (Tiger Woods’ Caddie from 1999–2011) and Jim "Bones" Mackay (Phil Mickelson's ex-caddie) who have turned carrying the bag into lucrative careers during golf's most prestigious tournament.

How Much Do Caddies Make at Different Levels?

A caddie’s annual earnings can vary wildly based on the success of the player they work for and their tour level.

Top-Tier PGA Tour Caddies (Elite Players’ Caddies): 

The caddies of elite golfers (think top 10 in the world or major champions) can earn exceptionally high incomes, often in the high six figures or even surpassing $1 million in a good year. In fact, some top caddies make more in a season than many pro golfers do. 

Mid-Level PGA Tour Caddies: 

A “mid-level” tour caddie – one working for a solid but not superstar player (say a golfer who keeps a PGA Tour card, makes many cuts, contends occasionally but rarely wins) – earns a comfortable living, though not the astronomical sums of the top tier. 

These caddies might make on the order of $100,000 to $300,000 per year in total. Their weekly base salaries (perhaps $1.5k–$2k) add up to around $60,000–$80,000 annually, and the rest comes from percentages of prize money. If their player manages a few top-10s and maybe a victory or two in secondary events, the caddie’s share can boost the total significantly. 

For instance, a player who earns $12 million in a season might yield roughly $120k–$200k to the caddie (depending on the mix of finishes). However, there are also years when a mid-level player slumps – if few cuts are made, a caddie could be looking at mostly base pay and maybe a small percentage here or there, barely breaking into six figures. 

Caddies on Smaller Tours (Lower-Tier Pros): 

Below the main tour level, there are caddies working on tours like the Korn Ferry Tour (the developmental tour for the PGA) or regional circuits. Here, both the prize money and the caddie pay tend to be much lower. 

A Korn Ferry Tour event might have a first prize of ~$150,000, so even a winning caddie’s 10% is $15,000, far less than a PGA Tour win would bring. Many players on these tours can’t afford hefty base salaries for caddies; some caddies might only get a few hundred dollars a week as a stipend plus a percentage. It’s not uncommon for caddies at this level to wear multiple hats – maybe coaching or scouting for other players to supplement income. 

Annual earnings for a full-time caddie on a secondary tour could be in the range of $30,000 to $70,000 if their player has a solid season. If the player earns a promotion to the big tour, the caddie moves up with them (a big break, potentially). But many in this tier do it for the love of the game and the hope of reaching the main tour, rather than for immediate financial reward.

Club and Amateur Caddies:

Not all caddies work with professionals – there’s a whole world of caddying at golf clubs, resorts, and amateur tournaments. Club caddies (for example, those at famous courses like St. Andrews, Pebble Beach or Augusta National outside of Masters week) are usually paid per round.

A typical arrangement might be a fixed fee per bag plus a tip. At a high-end club in the US, a caddie might get $100 for carrying a bag for 18 holes, and a generous golfer might tip an extra $50 on top. In the UK, a club caddie fee might be around £50-£80 per round, often with gratuities expected. 

Caddie Compensation: Salary, Percentages and Bonuses

Professional caddies are typically paid through a combination of base pay and performance-based bonuses:

Base Salary:

Most tour caddies receive a fixed weekly salary from the player to cover travel costs and provide a steady income. This base pay can range roughly from $1,500 to $3,000 per week, depending on the caddie’s experience and the player’s agreement. This stipend ensures the caddie can pay for expenses (airfare, hotels, meals) even if the player misses the cut. 

Percentage of Winnings:

On top of the base pay, caddies earn an agreed percentage of the player’s prize money whenever their player performs well. 

It’s an open secret on tour that a typical arrangement is approximately 5% of any prize money when the player makes the cut, around 7% for a top-10 finish, and about 10% for a victory. 

This sliding scale means a big week for the player is a big week for the caddie too. For example, if a golfer wins a tournament with a $1 million prize, the caddie’s share at 10% would be about $100,000. Caddies, generally, “only get a small cut of the prize money” compared to players, but that cut is their main source of income. 

Some veteran caddies negotiate slightly different percentages or minimum bonuses, but the “10% for a win” norm is widely recognised in the golf world.

Performance Bonuses: 

Many players reward their caddies with extra bonuses for special achievements. Winning a major championship often triggers a generous bonus beyond the standard 10% – it could be an additional lump sum or gift (such as a car or watch). 

In one famous case, Phil Mickelson’s caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay was eventually paid $800,000 of owed FedExCup bonuses after a dispute.

Sponsorship and Endorsements: 

Caddies can also earn income from sponsors, especially when working with top-ranked players who enjoy TV time. It’s increasingly common to see logos on a caddie’s hat, shirt, or even the towel. 

On the PGA European Tour, caddies struck a deal in 2020 to wear sponsored logos (on caps, bibs, etc.) to boost their income. For example, a caddie might be paid to wear a particular hat brand or logo. 

While a star golfer might have multi-million sponsorships, a caddie’s deals are modest by comparison – perhaps a clothing sponsorship or equipment company paying a few thousand pounds/dollars for the exposure. 

Still, for “bagmen” further down the rankings, every bit helps. The European Tour Caddies Association noted this programme was aimed at those “working lower down the world rankings” to supplement the relatively meagre earnings those caddies get​. 

In short, beyond salary and winnings, savvy caddies treat themselves as a brand, leveraging visibility for endorsement income.

Traditions at Augusta

At The Masters – perhaps the most tradition-soaked tournament in golf – caddies have a special place in tournament lore. Augusta National has its own customs that affect caddies, both in attire and in how the job works:

Every caddie at The Masters must wear the club’s signature uniform – a white jumpsuit with the player’s surname on the back and a green Masters cap​. This makes Masters caddies instantly recognisable on TV. 

Each caddie also wears a number on the suit: the defending champion’s caddie is always No. 1 (similar to the defending champion of the Tour De France), and all other numbers are assigned based on the player’s order of sign-up for the tournament. It’s a unique dress code not seen at other majors. The sight of caddies in white overalls lining the fairways is as much a Masters tradition as the blooming azaleas.

From Carrying Bags to Careers: Case Studies of Top Caddies

While many caddie-player relationships are short-lived, some caddies have forged decades-long careers and become minor celebrities in their own right. Let’s look at two of the most successful caddies in modern golf – Steve Williams and Jim “Bones” Mackay – and how their careers developed:

Steve Williams (Tiger Woods’ Caddie 1999–2011): Hailing from New Zealand, Steve Williams exemplifies the caddie who built a fortune and legacy at the very top of the sport. Williams started caddying as a child – by age 10 he was carrying 36 holes on weekends and preferred caddying over playing golf.

He quit school at 15 to become a full-time caddie in Europe, eventually working for stars like Greg Norman and Raymond Floyd in the 1980s. But his career skyrocketed when Tiger Woods hired him in 1999. During Williams’ tenure with Tiger (1999–2011), Woods dominated the sport, and Williams was by his side for 13 of Tiger’s 15 major championship victories. 

The financial rewards were huge: Williams estimated he would earn about $12 million during his years caddying for Woods​ (and two books published so far).

Williams became a familiar face on TV, often wearing Nike gear and famously celebrating Tiger’s wins with fist pumps (and sometimes aggressively defending his player – he once grabbed a camera from a photographer mid-tournament). After Tiger, Williams continued caddying at a high level – notably, he was on Adam Scott’s bag when Scott won the 2013 Masters, giving Williams yet another major win on his résumé. Now, Williams is regularly on the broadcast being interviewed before and during tournaments. He’s published two books, with the recent book “Together we roared” focusing on his career with Tiger.

Jim “Bones” Mackay (Phil Mickelson’s Caddie): Bones Mackay parlayed skill and loyalty into a long, prosperous career. Born in England and raised in the U.S., Mackay got his start in the late 1980s after college, when he pestered 1987 Masters champion Larry Mize for a job and finally got a two-year caddying stint​. 

His big break came in 1992 when Phil Mickelson – then a young hotshot turning pro – hired him, thus beginning a partnership that lasted 25 years. As Mickelson’s caddie, Bones was part of 41 PGA Tour wins including 5 majors.

Through the decades, the Mickelson-Mackay duo became iconic, known for their marathon pre-shot discussions and the trust between them. Mickelson once said, “Bones is the only guy on the golf course that wants me to play well… He’s the only guy trying to work his tail off for me.”

This level of trust and chemistry is a big reason why some players stick with one caddie for so long. In terms of earnings, Bones certainly did well – while exact figures aren’t public, a 25-year run with a top player who won over $80 million in career prize money suggests Bones earned many millions himself in salary and bonuses.

Other Notable Caddie Careers: Many other caddies have remarkable stories – from Mike “Fluff” Cowan (who caddied for Tiger Woods in his early years and is still on tour in his 70s, now caddying for Jim Furyk) to Fanny Sunesson (Nick Faldo’s former caddie, one of the few female caddies to win majors, including multiple Masters titles in the 1990s). 

Being a professional golf caddie is far more than just carrying clubs – it’s part science, part psychology, and part business partner. 

The way caddies get paid reflects this: a blend of steady pay and entrepreneurial risk-reward, where a big win can make a season (or a career) while lean times require scrappiness and budgeting. 

At The Masters, we see the rich history and unique traditions that have defined the caddie’s role, from the days of local caddie legends in Augusta to modern tour caddies wearing the white jumpsuit with pride. Across the tours, the earnings of caddies scale with the success they help create – a top caddie can earn millions, while others grind out a living in the shadows, hoping for that one breakthrough week.

Well, that was volume 7 of Winning Formula, a deep dive into a question I asked myself while watching some golf! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed getting into it.

I’ve added some excellent articles I found during research, but had nowhere to include them in the article! Check them out!

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‘Til next time,

👋 Will

Further reading:

The Masters: Let’s Not Forget Augusta National’s Ugly Past

The Riveting History of Augusta National’s Caddie Corps

The Masters: Let’s Not Forget Augusta National’s Ugly Past