What’s it like looping for a struggling golfer? Caddie opens up

Pro golfers might hit all the shots on the course, but they’re not alone inside the ropes. Every week, their caddies are next to them every step of the way.

There have been many famous player-caddie duos over the years. Tom Watson and Bruce Edwards. Phil Mickelson and Jim “Bones” Mackay. Tiger Woods and Steve Williams. Jordan Spieth and Michael Greller. Scottie Scheffler and Ted Scott. The player might hit all the shots, but the bagman is an invaluable part of the equation.

Golf is not all sunshine and rainbows, though. There are peaks and valleys every golfer goes through, and the caddie is by his payer’s side through it all.

“When it’s goin’ good, it’s the greatest job in the world,” pro looper Aaron Flener said on this week’s episode of GOLF’s Subpar. “[But] when your guy is struggling, it’s awful. You feel like you can’t do anything to help him … People look at it and think it’s glamorous and fun all the time, but that’s just not the case.”

Luckily for Flener, his man, J.T. Poston, has had more good years than bad. Since Flener teamed up with his man in 2017, Poston has made over $17 million on the PGA Tour.

Not that the money is the most important thing for Flener, though.

“I think I have a different perspective than some,” Flener said. “Because I’ve worked ‘real’ jobs for a while. So even bad weeks for me are — I don’t even feel like I worked. I’m just hanging out on the golf course with some of my buddies making money.”

Not a bad gig if you can get it.

Check out the full episode of Subpar below.

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.