Caddies take center stage at US Open at Winged Foot

The way I see it, Miles Byrne (Ian Woosnam and the 15th club) and Christopher (Jean Van de Velde and the driver on 18 at Carnoustie) have company in the caddie hall of shame. They can now hold chairs for Monty’s looper and Bones MacKay, who could have should have would have, but didn’t, say something meaningful at the proper time.

There he was, ready to claim the major title that had long eluded him. Long birdie putt on 17, fairway-splitting drive on 18, and Monty had a little shot into the green. After waiting with the proper club in his hand, he changed his mind, switched irons, decelerated, and hit the shot fat and right, into the gunga. One pitch and three putts later, he had fallen to fourth. And his caddie? Silent.

No more than 30 minutes later, Phil came to the 18th tee with a one stroke lead over Geoff “Paul Lawrie Ben Curtis” Ogilvy. Ignoring the wayward tee balls he had launched on 16 and 17, Phil reached for one of his two drivers and bombed yet another one into the uncharted. Five poorly played shots later (and one fried egg bad break), his Slam and Open are gone. All that is left for Phil is the NY Tribeca Trifecta…2nd place at three different metro NYC venues. And Bones? Them bones didn’t rattle a sound.

Yes, elite athletes are arrogant owing to their excellence. Monty showed his humanity by simply messing up. Phil showed his elite status by never doubting that the next one would have found the fairway. I have not doubt that, had he reached a playoff with Ogilvy, his strategy would not have changed.

Still, you wonder at what point the caddies speak up.