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

Smelly, Smelly the Brit wrote:

Free Advice wrote:

Who originally released the amount that the caddy was paid? The caddy? If so, that was kind of jerky.

Why is it anyone's business how much you pay your employees? That should only be between the employer and the employee.

Journeyman pro golfer Tom Gillis first circulated a rumour he heard going around. It picked up steam.

Kuch will never shake this. The Kooch chant will morph into something else, mark my words.

This’ll be forgotten in about 3 1/2 weeks

Sally Vix wrote:

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!

If a rich famous person had to deal with every human transaction as an obligation to be a philanthropist that would get really old and exhausting really quickly. An economic transaction was entered into and fulfilled. End of story.

Surprised there hasn't been a gofundme set up and the caddie eventually receiving more than Kuchar got for the win.

Bib #1 wrote:

Sally Vix wrote:

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!

If a rich famous person had to deal with every human transaction as an obligation to be a philanthropist that would get really old and exhausting really quickly. An economic transaction was entered into and fulfilled. End of story.

+1

there should have been karma wrote:

Surprised there hasn't been a gofundme set up and the caddie eventually receiving more than Kuchar got for the win.

lol, true

It seems like jobs like this where there is a lot of money involved should have pay tied to winnings. You should get more if your golfer does well and there should be a minimum regardless of finish. These guys are doing well enough once they get to this point that they can pay it. When you win $1.2 million, you can do better than $5k.

This is one of the problems with minimum wage type conversations. People won't just do the right thing if given the opportunity. You need something to come in and set fair standards. Good Caddy's have real skills. Kuchar made a calculated move in getting someone with local knowledge when his regular caddy couldn't make it. After you work together & get to a big pay day like that, Kuchar should be able to do a little bit more for the guy.

Exactly. He offered the guy an additional 15k after winning as well. For those that think the caddie is doing so much, these golfers are professionals. They don't need someone on their bag to help them. During the practice rounds (M-W) do you honestly think they aren't lighting up the course, understanding where to hit it, how the greens roll, etc?

Also, for those pointing out his winnings, he is not taking home 1.3 million. Even at current taxation rates that is about 800k or so depending on state they live in. He has made roughly 46 million in earnings, but has probably take home closer to 30m. He then has to pay his agent, his caddie, his mortgage, etc. I am sure if he does have money, it is probably in the 5m-10m range in actual cash/equity. So 120k right off the bat for that is certainly something he can afford, however it is not as if it isn't a huge portion of his cash holdings.

If the caddie would have just taken 5k agreed upon and then the additional 15k he would have gotten 20k for 1 week of work (or less). Who wouldn't take 20k, let alone 5k for 1 week?

Hey Knucklehead, 46 million in earnings and you think he has money in the 5-10m range???? Not even close, ever hear of investing??? He's got way more than that.

The point is showing extra gratitude because he won. That caddy is from there and new that course better than Kuchar himself did. Doesn't matter what their initial agreement was, it's called being grateful for someone's help and giving them more than they expected because he won sooooo much. $800,000 after taxes, yeah, that's not too much at all.

Bib #1 wrote:

If a rich famous person had to deal with every human transaction as an obligation to be a philanthropist that would get really old and exhausting really quickly. An economic transaction was entered into and fulfilled. End of story.

This really is more about publicity rather than value added caddying or some economic transaction. This will have staying power because it smacks of Kuchar thinking he can pay the guy less because he's Mexican. What I'd really like to know is; has Kuchar hired American substitute caddies when his full time caddie wasn't available in the past? If so, what did he pay them. If it was the same, then I agree, this is a non story. If he paid the American more then it is a story that will have staying power.

From what I read, it was the other tour pros who leaked the stiff to some reporters, when they got a hold of it, they found the caddie (who up to that point was keeping quiet) and confirmed the amounts paid. After the win Kuchar tipped him $1,000 bringing the total to $5,000. The caddie asked for $50,000 (much less than a tour caddie but maybe more than a substitute caddie?). Kuchar declined. After word started to get out the $15,000 tip amount was offered by Kuchar's agency, not Kuchar, in a vain attempt at damage control. The caddie told them to keep their money - probably because it came from them and not Kuchar.

There is no philanthropic theme to this story, Kuchar could have paid $50,000 and kept his brand intact or he could pay $5,000 with the risk of diminishing his brand. So either Kuchar or his agents are idiots for not preserving his brand.

All this dirty laundry with Kuchar's name associated with it is bad for Kuchar and the game of golf.

I'm so inspired by this thread I'm going to tip my secretary with a high school diploma 20k for answering phone calls.

Bib #1 wrote:

Sally Vix wrote:

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!

If a rich famous person had to deal with every human transaction as an obligation to be a philanthropist that would get really old and exhausting really quickly. An economic transaction was entered into and fulfilled. End of story.

This post is by a 2nd grader with no logic or ability to decipher simple comprehension for a very simple topic.

We are talking about a pro golfer and his caddy, aka his job and a helper to the pro golfer, NOT every human transaction that a rich person makes. Duh!!!!!!

How many people win that tournament each year? Helpful hint: ONE

Philanthropist? This situation has nothing to do with Philanthropy. It has to do with a rich golfer being cheap and not being appreciate to the help given to him by the caddie to win the tournament. The caddie new the course and knew it well.

BiB#1>>>stay on the sidelines and be quiet, you obviously need to listen more versus speaking.

Ooooh. Someone got triggered.

Let me know when Bill Gates goes back and compensates his kindergarten teacher appropriately for setting him up to become the richest man in the world.

When the warriors won the championship, i wonder how much kevin durant gave to the towel boy

The guy knew the course better than any other caddie. He was integral. You are an elitist, trying to defend Kuchar the douchar.

Please, this isn't a high skilled job. Kuchar wins if you took an Uber driver off the street and used him instead. He hasn't made half a billion because he just had the right caddies.

it could go all the way wrote:

Stick to what you know wrote:

The guy knew the course better than any other caddie. He was integral. You are an elitist, trying to defend Kuchar the douchar.

Please, this isn't a high skilled job. Kuchar wins if you took an Uber driver off the street and used him instead. He hasn't made half a billion because he just had the right caddies.

Isn't Kuchar an independent contractor? He could written off a larger amount as an expense.

ustooge wrote:

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.

UPDATE: Matt Kuchar must have been reading LetsRun - he is now pledging $50,000 to the caddy ...

https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Kuchar-apologizes-pledges-50-000-to-Mayakoba-13620924.php

Sally Vix wrote:

UPDATE: Matt Kuchar must have been reading LetsRun - he is now pledging $50,000 to the caddy ...

https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Kuchar-apologizes-pledges-50-000-to-Mayakoba-13620924.php

Money well spent.