PGA Tour caddie exposes how much they really earn

There has always been an element of mystery to the life of a PGA Tour caddie.

While the players hog the limelight, the loopers usually prefer to live under the radar in jobs that can often be as taxing as they are rewarding.

As a result, there is still plenty of intrigue about player-caddie relationships away from the fairways.

It is the consensus in professional golf that the standard cut for caddies is 10 per cent of a winner’s cheque and between 5 and 7 percent based on a player’s finish.

Seldom, however, have we had insight into caddie earnings quite like this.

Bryan Kopsick, who loops for PGA Tour player Ben Silverman, has taken to social media to tell golf fans his exact season earnings for 2024.

Kopsick revealed on X that he takes home eight per cent of Silverman’s earnings. That means from his $1,262,599 in official prize money across 24 events, Kopsick banked $101,007.92.

He also earned an extra $2,000 for every event Silverman played in, taking him to $149,007.92. That figure does not include travel expenses, which he estimates at a further $50,000.

Life on tour isn’t for everyone and Kopsick also revealed that he has had to do 16-hour round trips to Monday Qualifiers for PGA Tour events. He conceded he does get lonely but has a good support network of caddies around him.

The earnings of caddies can, of course, differ drastically between those looping for the rank-and-file and the money-spinning elite.

Based on Scottie Scheffler’s on-course earnings of $62million this season alone, it is estimated his indispensable bagman Ted Scott has banked $5.2million.

That eye-watering figure is unprecedented for a caddie in a single season.

On a recent appearance on thePardon My Take podcast, Scheffler revealed he does not keep tabs on his earnings and has someone who delegates his bills for him.

“It’s been a fun year, I don’t really think about the money that much,” the world No.1 said.

“We have a girl that helps us pay bills basically because I’m a child and I can’t keep track of all that stuff.