Matt Kuchar won $1.2 million and paid his caddy $5,000. Are you on board with this?

I saw this story yesterday...

If Kuchar and the caddy agreed to an amount beforehand, then what is the issue?

From what I have read, Kuchar even tried to give him more after he won and the caddy apparently said "no".

MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:

I saw this story yesterday...

If Kuchar and the caddy agreed to an amount beforehand, then what is the issue?

From what I have read, Kuchar even tried to give him more after he won and the caddy apparently said "no".

If it was me, I would insist on giving the guy $100,000 or so. Kuchar is a multi-millionaire. Help the guy out!

If Kuchar finished last would you have demanded the caddy give him the $5k back?

Its a contract wrote:

If Kuchar finished last would you have demanded the caddy give him the $5k back?

Kuchar has maybe pocketed $100 million in tour earnings. He could bite the bullet and still pay the poor guy $5,000.

Also, something about decency. The guy helped Kuchar win $1.2 million. Who cares what the agreement was. Kuchar is a multi-millionaire and could have just given the guy $100,000. That is pocket change to him. Be nice to someone who helped you win $1.2 million. Throw the agreement out the window!

Would Kuchar still have won if I were the caddy instead of the other guy? Maybe. I'd love to be paid $5000 to walk around a golf course handing over clubs for a week. I know there is sometimes discussion between caddy and golfer about how far the shot is, slopes, grass thickness and what club to hit, but it's up to the golfer to get the job done, not the caddy. Should he tip the driver $2k for taking him to the golf course? Or give the water distributor $1k? Heck no, if he's handing out thousands of dollars to anyone he had contact with, he's have no money left. $5k was fair, and he offered more because he won big, and it was turned down. This isn't a story, just like Kuchar says.

You could argue caddy should have got minimum wage. Anyone could have been expected to perform his job the same way, whereas Kuchar was the worlds best on that tournament.

- Replacement caddy Ortiz agrees to work for $4k flat rate.

- Golfer Kuchar wins $1.3 million and offers $5k, $1k more than the agreed upon amount.

- Ortiz waits around a few months before asking for $50k.

- Kuchar offers $20k.

- Ortiz tells him to keep it.

I see this all the time in life, people with more money than they could ever spend being super tight with it. Some celebrities get it, leave big tips which make them look decent and generous, and of course positively rocks the world of the person receiving it. Too bad Kuchar didn’t show more class.

Definitely on board wrote:

Would Kuchar still have won if I were the caddy instead of the other guy? Maybe. I'd love to be paid $5000 to walk around a golf course handing over clubs for a week. I know there is sometimes discussion between caddy and golfer about how far the shot is, slopes, grass thickness and what club to hit, but it's up to the golfer to get the job done, not the caddy. Should he tip the driver $2k for taking him to the golf course? Or give the water distributor $1k? Heck no, if he's handing out thousands of dollars to anyone he had contact with, he's have no money left. $5k was fair, and he offered more because he won big, and it was turned down. This isn't a story, just like Kuchar says.

The water distributor distributed water for maybe one second. The driver spent maybe 5 minutes with him. The aforementioned caddy spend maybe 6 hours a day for 4 days with him. He aligned his putts. He discerned the wind direction. He suggested what club to use. He did many things. Again, the water distributor distributed water in like 2 seconds.

What is there for me to be “on board” with? God, I hate this social media era mindset that every interaction/transaction has to be approved by random strangers.

Both the individuals are adults. I’m sure they can decide what is fair and settle any disagreement on their own.

Definitely on board wrote:

Would Kuchar still have won if I were the caddy instead of the other guy? Maybe. I'd love to be paid $5000 to walk around a golf course handing over clubs for a week. I know there is sometimes discussion between caddy and golfer about how far the shot is, slopes, grass thickness and what club to hit, but it's up to the golfer to get the job done, not the caddy. Should he tip the driver $2k for taking him to the golf course? Or give the water distributor $1k? Heck no, if he's handing out thousands of dollars to anyone he had contact with, he's have no money left. $5k was fair, and he offered more because he won big, and it was turned down. This isn't a story, just like Kuchar says.

Tour caddies are paid 10% of winnings which would have been around $130,000 in this case. While I get the "they had an agreement" angle, Kuchar should be smart enough to recognize that the tip should have been much larger right from the get go and not wait for the story to come out.

His comment about the guy being "used to getting $200 per day so $5000 should be a great day" is beyond effin' stupid for Kuchar to make in sounding like the LetsRun board racists.

Kuchar also doesn't get to decide if it is a story. It is whether you, he or anyone else likes it.

Sally Vix wrote:

Seems a bit light to me.

https://www.si.com/golf/2019/02/14/matt-kuchar-defends-caddie-low-pay

He literally carries sticks. $5k for carrying sticks. Sign me up!

Sally Vix wrote:

MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:

I saw this story yesterday...

If Kuchar and the caddy agreed to an amount beforehand, then what is the issue?

From what I have read, Kuchar even tried to give him more after he won and the caddy apparently said "no".

If it was me, I would insist on giving the guy $100,000 or so. Kuchar is a multi-millionaire. Help the guy out!

Not true- I don't know you, obviously; but considering human nature, the likelihood that you'd do that is pretty slim. After taxes, he'll have about $700,000. A caddy doesn't need 15% of someone's winnings. That's just silly.

Both guys look like idiots. The caddie should take the $20k and go away and Kuchar should stop being such a cheap-ass.

Not to get too far off topic here, but he won $1.2m which after taxes is close to $700k. From that are expenses like travel, coaching, agent, etc, so it likely becomes about $600k. Still a lot for four days of golf in Hawaii.

Southern Hills PGA wrote:

Sally Vix wrote:

If it was me, I would insist on giving the guy $100,000 or so. Kuchar is a multi-millionaire. Help the guy out!

Not true- I don't know you, obviously; but considering human nature, the likelihood that you'd do that is pretty slim. After taxes, he'll have about $700,000. A caddy doesn't need 15% of someone's winnings. That's just silly.

Someone makes $120k doing their job that they train for, perform at, and are successful with.

$80k after taxes

$70k after expenses

Then $12k to your assistant? No way dude

Southern Hills PGA wrote:

Not true- I don't know you, obviously; but considering human nature, the likelihood that you'd do that is pretty slim. After taxes, he'll have about $700,000.

He'll have more than that left.

Top PGA caddies make seven figures. Pay is usually 8% of winnings and 10% if the golfer finishes first. Weekly salaries are $2-3k a week and caddies for top 30 golfers also get endorsement deals to be walking billboards.

Kuchar's regular caddie couldn't make the trip so he hired a local for $5,000.00. The local caddie worked the course all the time and knew the course better than anyone else out there.

Kuchar is probably worth $25 mil. He could have been a hero by giving the substitute caddie $120k. But instead, he looks like he is running a caddie sweatshop.

Perspective wrote:

Someone makes $120k doing their job that they train for, perform at, and are successful with.

$80k after taxes

$70k after expenses

Then $12k to your assistant? No way dude

You stooge, nobody is suggesting he give away 10% of his salary. If I make $500K a year and my assistant helps me out with a big project that gets me a $100K bonus, you better believe I'm giving her at least $10K.