USGA's Reaction To Golf Digest Survey; SI's Take On The Story

The “USGA Confidential” oral survey by Golf Digest’s John Huggan and Brian Wacker undoubtedly added some meetings to the Far Hills agenda this week. And definitely made Jason Gore’s hiring look like a great idea, but publicly, the USGA is taking the high road. The Forecaddie’s assessment, including team McIlroy chiming in.

SI’s Daniel Rapaport took issue with several of the player and teacher remarks, but highlighted the purse griping and this caddy complaint as signs that pro golfers have lost the plot.

CADDIE FOR MULTIPLE PGA TOUR WINNERS: The USGA official with every group always patronizes the caddies on the first tee: “Make sure you've got 14 in there—count your clubs.” That's insulting. That's not their job; it's mine. And if I have 15, it's my fault. I heard a caddie say once, “Don't worry, I've got this. I do it every week of the year. It's only you guys who do it once a year.” That statement applies to so much of the U.S. Open.

If that’s not the definition of being mad simply for being mad’s sake, then I don’t know what is. The official this caddie speaks of is simply being courteous. He’s trying to avoid any penalty. One could argue he’s doing the players and their caddies a favor. To view that as “patronizing” and disrespectful betrays just how sensitive many of the players/caddies are.

The last two years, the first tee starter has been Seminole pro Bob Ford. It’s hard to imagine him patronizing a caddy that way, and if he did, the intent was with only good intentions. Or worse, the caddy was simply making up the anecdote.