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Kuchar defends caddie payment: “For a guy who makes $200 a day, a $5,000 week is a really big week” (Update: Kuchar to pay $50K)

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UPDATE: 2/15, 5:10 p.m. 

Following his opening round at the Riviera Country Club for the Genesis Classic, Matt Kuchar announced he has reversed course and will pay fill-in caddie David Ortiz $50,000 for his services during last year’s Mayakoba Classic.

Kuchar issued that statement below, via PGATour.com.

“This week, I made comments that were out of touch and insensitive, making a bad situation worse. They made it seem like I was marginalizing David Ortiz and his financial situation, which was not my intention. I read them again and cringed. That is not who I am and not what I want to represent. My entire Tour career, I have tried to show respect and positivity. In this situation, I have not lived up to those values or to the expectations I’ve set for myself. I let myself, my family, my partners and those close to me down, but I also let David down. I plan to call David tonight, something that is long overdue, to apologize for the situation he has been put in, and I have made sure he has received the full total that he has requested.

“I never wanted to bring any negativity to the Mayakoba Golf Classic. I feel it is my duty to represent the tournament well, so I am making a donation back to the event, to be distributed to the many philanthropic causes working to positively impact the communities of Playa del Carmen and Cancún.

“For my fans, as well as fans of the game, I want to apologize to you for not representing the values instilled in this incredible sport. Golf is a game where we call penalties on ourselves. I should have done that long ago and not let this situation escalate.”

End update. 

Earlier this week, Matt Kuchar’s stand-in caddie for last year’s Mayakoba Classic spoke about how he felt he was “taken advantage of” after receiving a payment of $5,000 following Kuchar’s win in Mexico, which carried with it a $1,296,000 winners prize. On Wednesday, Kuchar vehemently defended what he sees as a fair and just payment to David Ortiz.

In an interview with Golf.com, Kuchar claimed that he was up front and honest about the arrangement prior to the event, and Ortiz had accepted the terms, which reportedly were $1,000 if Kuchar missed the cut, $2,000 if he made the cut, $3,000 if he had a top-20 and $4,000 if he had a top-10. The reason for Ortiz’ dissatisfaction with the payment post-event? That’s something Kuchar put down to outside influences.

“I kind of think someone got in his ear. I was very clear and very upfront on Tuesday (of the event). And he said, ‘OK.’ He had the ability, with bonuses, to make up to $4,000.

The extra $1,000 was, ‘Thank you — it was a great week.’ Those were the terms. He was in agreement with those terms. That’s where I struggle. I don’t know what happened. Someone must have said, ‘You need much more.’”

Ortiz previously stated in an interview with Golf.com how he had been offered an additional $15,000 but had refused the offer believing it to be substantially short of his $50,000 evaluation.

On Wednesday evening, Kuchar confirmed Ortiz’ story, saying “that was the agency”, and when questioned who would have paid the additional sum had Ortiz accepted, he stated, “It’s not coming out of Steinberg’s pocket.” Referring to his agent Mark Steinberg.

Kuchar will return to Mexico next week for the WGC-Mexico Championship for the first time since his victory in Mayakoba, and for the 40-year-old, the pay dispute is now over. Further explaining why he feels his payment to Ortiz for that week in Mayakoba had been fair, Kuchar stated

“For a guy who makes $200 a day, a $5,000 week is a really big week.”

 

 

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Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

411 Comments

411 Comments

  1. Tom

    Mar 6, 2019 at 12:44 am

    Matt picked Ortiz up at a home depot parking lot? Told David he was going to be laying some sod….

    • JP

      Mar 6, 2019 at 4:46 pm

      No need to exaggerate the story. It was an agreement that the two men made and agreed to. Sadly, only one upheld his end and paid a $1,000 bonus to the other. The other party made a big stink over getting his agreed upon wages PLUS a bonus and used the media and social media to strong arm Mr. Kuchar into an extortion style payment well above and beyond what was agreed upon. It’s truly a sad situation.

      • Tom

        Mar 11, 2019 at 2:43 pm

        Its called “taking unfair advantage” of someone, bad show, bad show!

        • Funkaholic

          Mar 25, 2019 at 12:15 pm

          Nonsense.

        • Pendejo

          Mar 28, 2021 at 5:57 pm

          THERE’S A NEW MOVIE OUT CALLED

          “$50,000 TO JUAN”

          i side with kuchar. deal is a deal. he didn’t have to caddy. give him 50,000 pesos and say que pasa joto pendejo.

  2. Tom

    Mar 6, 2019 at 12:40 am

    Don’t upset Gianni, or he will go full “beast mode”!

  3. Tom

    Mar 6, 2019 at 12:38 am

    Kuch did his reputation a lot more damage than the money he shorted his Mexican caddie.

  4. NW

    Mar 2, 2019 at 8:54 pm

    That same week his wife caddied for zach Johnson. How much did Zach pay mrs. Kooch? And what if Zach won and threw kooch’s wife only $5000? Ooohhh wait she negotiated $10000 win or lose. Poor Juan.

  5. James

    Feb 26, 2019 at 10:34 am

    Time to fire Scheister Steinberg. Regardless of the original agreement, Matt was taking advantage of cheap Mexican labor, certainly through the advice of his agent. Too much Steinberging others is not healthy for one’s professional reputation and tends to get one ostracized from hundreds of countries since the time of Christ.

  6. Jack

    Feb 24, 2019 at 10:51 pm

    Matt made a mistake.He has made it right.

    Wish this story could be let go by GolfWrx

    • JP

      Feb 25, 2019 at 11:57 am

      What mistake did he make? He held up his end of their agreement PLUS gave the caddie an extra $1,000. Don’t you wish your employer would do that every weekend?

      • Nate

        Feb 25, 2019 at 11:22 pm

        Matt Kuchar – career earnings $46,000,000+
        PGA tour events played – 464 and counting
        Avg career earnings per tournament played – $100,000
        Winning week avg earnings – $1,000,000
        Winning week earnings 10 x Avg weekly earnings.

        I think it would be fair that Matt extends the same common courtesy that the tour passes to him when it comes to determining what is a Big week. Just give him 10 x his standard weekly earnings.

        • Jeremy

          Mar 23, 2019 at 3:08 pm

          It’s an agreement. It doesn’t change because the internet gets whiney. Having to pay up was extortion.

        • JP

          Mar 25, 2019 at 4:40 pm

          How did I overlook this stat?!? If Kuchar earns an average of just under $100k per tournament, this temp caddie got 5 times Kuchar’s normal caddie’s average earnings per tournament once the extortion took place! I hope nobody ever ever works with this social media extortionist again.

    • Bill

      Feb 25, 2019 at 4:57 pm

      Have not been following this story at all and don’t really want to research it; however, has anyone made mention as to what a caddy in a tour event actually makes? First of all, if he was not a professional caddy (professional as in he does it for a living) I don’t think Matt would have taken him. Tour caddies used to be critical to players and many could save a player 4-5 strokes in an event. Most of today’s caddies are friends, relatives or ex-team mates…NOT professional caddies. There are still a few out there, but most of the young players (of which I would include Matt) do not understood how to use them. Times change, just look at how the equipment allows these guys to swing with all their might (even jumping up in the air like an 8 year old swinging his dad’s cut-down old clubs that are far too heavy for him) and still hit it reasonably straight!

      A caddy at a professional event typically receives a weekly salary–usually a minimum of $1,500 (out of this they pay all of their own expenses which can almost be a wash). They also receive a percentage of the purse earned (which is really what they work for)–typically 5%, bumped up to 7% for a top 10 and 10% for a win. This would mean Matt’s caddy should have received a salary plus around $120k. This is most likely what Matt is used to paying his regular caddy, so the mere mention of a discounted deal because the guy was a local is a bit out of sorts–perhaps Matt was unsure of how helpful he was going to be. The fact the guy, undoubtedly, helped Matt win would make one think Matt would be extremely grateful–or should have been. I don’t know Matt at all, but I do know he has been out on tour for quite a while and knows the protocol. As you can deduce, $50k is rather light. Now, to add to this, when another caddy fills in for a player’s regular caddy, he usually gives something to the regular caddy as a thank you. Understand, it does not matter where the caddy lives or what he is used to making. Do you think Spieth’s ex-school teacher caddy ever made anything close to what he has made with Jordan? This guy helped Matt win as a professional caddy–Matt is used to paying the going rate. $50k is light.

  7. 8thehardway

    Feb 22, 2019 at 2:22 pm

    Years ago in NY a little old lady went to the same convenience store every week and played the same lottery number. One week she didn’t show up but the clerk bought the ticket and set it aside. It won and was worth over $100 million. Next week she came in and the clerk hands her the ticket and tells her she won. She gave him the dollar, took the ticket and he never saw her again.

    The reason her story and Kuchar’s story made the papers is they both ignored the relatively small cost to significantly improve the circumstances of someone who’s actions made a big difference to them… and in Kuchar’s case he could have deducted the cost from his taxes on the winnings.

    I don’t think it would have made any difference to Kuchar if the prize had been 1.2 million instead of 1.3 but once he got his hands on it he couldn’t let any of it go… ok legally, but totally lacking in empathy. So sad.

  8. Tom

    Feb 19, 2019 at 12:08 pm

    Kuch wants the balance of the $130,000 he should have paid (10%) used to fund building the wall….

    • JP

      Feb 19, 2019 at 6:02 pm

      “Should” have paid? He paid what was agreed upon PLUS an extra $1,000. Not sure what you’re trying to say here. They made an agreement and it seems as only one of them upheld it and acted professionally.

      • Tom

        Feb 20, 2019 at 7:17 pm

        The job of winning caddy is worth the standard 10%, don’t take advantage of a guy just because he is a Mexican JP! That’s not right….

        Kuch took advantage of this guy from the negotiating get-go.. beating the poor guy down to $4,000…. disgraceful!!!

        • JP

          Feb 20, 2019 at 9:10 pm

          How do you know how the negotiations went between them?!? What were other caddies paid? Were you there while they came to an agreement? Did EVERY local caddie get 10% of the players winnings? Are you calling out ALL caddies that didn’t pay that?
          .
          Why does this keep turning into a racial thing? It doesn’t matter what nationality either of them are. What matters is they BOTH agreed to a financial arrangement and ONLY ONE of them refused to uphold said agreement. THAT imo, is what is disgusting here.

        • Kevin

          Feb 24, 2019 at 9:08 am

          I have to side with you here. Morals come into play here. Should kuch made a better deal upfront? Maybe, but should the caddie upheld his end of the deal maybe., All these should’ve would’ve could’ves. yet in the end he’s doing the right thing. His agent said you need to make this go away. For it will tarnish your name. And so it will remain kuuuuuuuch…. And not boooooooooo!!

        • Jacob McCain

          Feb 27, 2019 at 5:20 pm

          I can’t help but feel like “JP” is Matt Kuchar. I only read through like 20 of these comments and he replied to every single one of them defending him. Who cares about Matt Kuchar that much? I understand where he’s coming from about the deal. I really do. But you also have to take into account the world we live in. Cancel culture, he’s a straight male GOLFER that has made 50 million while being pretty good but not great his whole career. He’s not on the best foot to start with, especially with the outrage brigade smelling blood. He certainly didn’t help himself by saying “He makes 200 dollars a day. He should be happy with 5% of what a regular caddy makes”. That just made him sound like an arrogant aloof douche. I honestly think he did his reputation more harm by doing that than by screwing over the caddy in the first place.

  9. Banks

    Feb 18, 2019 at 10:06 pm

    Kuchar deserves no respect from now on. He’s cheap, stupid for not realizing he did wrong, and can’t be trusted to do the right thing on the first try.

    • Mike

      Feb 18, 2019 at 11:34 pm

      They had an agreement and he adhered to it, what about that don’t you understand?

      • Dixon

        Feb 21, 2019 at 4:53 pm

        Some people are jealous of successful people and want them to pay the way for everyone else.

      • Bill

        Feb 25, 2019 at 5:40 pm

        Mike, it is the making of “agreement” in the first place that shows his character. There is a protocol out there. If matt was truly the stand-up guy we all thought he was, he would have paid/offered/made a deal for the going rate. After all, he most likely never expected the guy would help him win, so what’s the big deal in paying the going rate of $2-10k to make the cut.

        Just want you millennial and entitled geners to know the highly moralled man-of-his-word is revered and respected for a reason. Theirs is a heavy cross to bear at times. More often than not, maintaining the highest levels of integrity (in actuality there is only one level–you are or you aren’t) can be costly or even injurious. It is not a 99% of the time thing. Yes, what Matt did by negotiating a deal to save a buck in his regular caddy’s absence does reveal a lot about his character. It also shows how the newer generations of players do not respect or appreciate what a professional caddy can actually do for them. The real ones (not many left) don’t just tote the bag and wipe the clubs.

        The caddy fee and percentage comes off the top–before taxes. If Matt were a true class act like a Gary Player, Arnold Palmer or Jack Nicklaus, he would pay the $50k his agent has recommended he pay and then secretly gift the guy and his family $70-80k more in presents so the poor guy doesn’t get chased down by the Mexican govmt. Buy him a house or something like that. This was a huge event in the guys life he would have never forgotten even if Matt hadn’t pulled the move. Matt would have set an unforgettable example and sent an exemplary message worthy of the esteem his fans show him–apparently for no reason.

        • weav

          Mar 3, 2019 at 6:45 pm

          They made a payment scale based upon how well he did…. Love how people just judge people based on knowing such little info these days. Disgusting people online.

          • JP

            Mar 5, 2019 at 2:59 pm

            And Matt was I’m the only one that upheld his end of the agreement. PLUS $1,000!

    • Travis

      Feb 22, 2019 at 2:01 pm

      Wow, talk about completely chastising someone over one situation… because of this instance you think Kuchar can’t be trusted to do the right thing ever again? Do you think he’s all of the sudden a horrible person, a terrible father, etc.? Everyone loves finding someone to point the finger towards. Kuchar seems like a really good guy and this whole situation is blown way out of proportion.

  10. Frank

    Feb 18, 2019 at 4:17 pm

    If Kuchar really felt he was wrong and wanted to correct this situation he should have actually paid the caddie 10% of his winning. Paying $50K just shows he is doing the very least he can do to “correct” his shortsightedness not go above and beyond to make it whole. To Kuchar, who has made millions on and off the course, 10% of the winning won’t make a dent to his current net worth. But to the caddie, it is a potential life changing sum.

  11. Banks

    Feb 18, 2019 at 2:59 pm

    Matt Kuchar should hang his head in shame every day from now on. This will cost him far more than the measly $50k he cantankerously finally agreed to pay this caddie. Kuchar deserves nothing but ‘boo, boo, boo’ from now on. He’s a cheap dirtbag. I hope the public makes him pay dearly…

    • JP

      Feb 18, 2019 at 4:05 pm

      You hope the public makes him pay dearly? In what way? Is this a call for violence?
      .
      What’s wrong with honoring their agreement, which he did? On top of that, he gave this guy an extra $1,000.
      .
      I smell socialism in all these responses.

    • Travis

      Feb 22, 2019 at 2:07 pm

      I hope the next time you tip a waiter or waitress 10% instead of 20% that the public makes you pay dearly for being a cheap dirt bag.

      The amount of people here that want to throw Kuchar’s entire reputation away and call him horrible names over this one offense is ridiculous. I didn’t know we had so many almighty judges here who don’t ever do anything wrong in their own lives.

  12. Thomas Uraynar

    Feb 18, 2019 at 2:11 pm

    “For a guy who makes $200 a day, a $5,000 week is a really big week.”

    His full=time caddy would not make very much money as a regular non tour caddy either, but yet he get’s paid 10%. What’s the difference?????

    Kuchar is cheap and slimy. And the apology was given only because he was told to do so…and was written by someone else.

    I don’t care if there was an agreement or not…he should get paid what his normal caddy would’ve gotten paid.

    • JP

      Feb 18, 2019 at 2:50 pm

      You should be a champion for all part time temps in the world. And you should also take down companies that subcontract work out.

    • Tommy

      Feb 18, 2019 at 2:52 pm

      Matt Kuchar will never recover from his original cheap and pathetic decision.

    • Nick

      Feb 23, 2019 at 11:59 pm

      The difference is that this guy doesn’t typically know Matt’s game. This guy doesn’t take off week in and week out to travel away from their own family to help Matt. Ortiz simply carried the bag and told him some basic knowledge about the course. It’s not because of Ortiz that Kuchar won. Kuchar won on his own accord. Ortiz doesn’t have the job of a full time PGA tour caddy and thereby doesn’t deserved the full cut of what a PGA tour caddy makes. Matt upheld the deal and then some but Ortiz wanted to be greedy. End of story.

  13. Shu

    Feb 18, 2019 at 11:32 am

    Really disappointed. Why give in to a guy like this Kuch? He does not deserve any more than you’ve already given him because you gave him what he agreed on. Don’t let the money grabber force you into not doing something you don’t want to do. All these people who tells you to pay are just internet trolls, if they were in your position they would never actually give this guy this kind of money. He’s already to be bagging 5k for being on your bag

  14. Steve

    Feb 18, 2019 at 9:20 am

    Ortiz was bullied into those terms to begin with and he knew if he said no to them, Kuchar would have found another caddie. There’s no way Ortiz makes even $200 a day like Kuchar said. Kuchar knew he would go for the terms, after all we all know “Mexicans do jobs we don’t want to do”, which is a racist statement to in itself.
    This situation is insight into Kuchar’s character and the characters of all those golf fans who took a position on it.

    • JP

      Feb 18, 2019 at 12:26 pm

      Can you explain the demographic for housekeepers in the US. How about enlightening us on the workforce waiting at the local Home Depot, Lowe’s, or many Plant Nurseries?
      .
      Your statement should be, “Mexicans will do jobs for much less than Americans.” Myself, I’d do any job for the right money. Pay me $2,000 a day and I’ll be a housekeeper. I have no problem doing any job, but compensation has to be comparable to what I can make elsewhere.
      .
      Ortiz accepted because he knew Kuchar was a serious contender to win. His compensation quadruples if he’s top ten versus missing the cut. That’s why he accepted. He wasn’t bullied.
      .
      How much did the other local caddies make for this event? Did other PGA players pay them as they would their regular caddie? How much did the next highest caddie there make? This would be interesting to hear? Still doesn’t make the Ortiz extortion right though.

      • Steve

        Feb 18, 2019 at 2:19 pm

        Kuchar was paying him $500 a day if he didn’t make the cut, (two rounds for 1K) $500 a day if he made the cut (4 rounds for 2K). And additional grand if Kuchar made the top twenty. And another grand if he made the top ten. Anyway you look at it, If Kuchar just made the top twenty with his regular caddie, he would have paid him at least 4 grand more, if he got an eleventh, it would have been over 10K more, more than ten times what he would have given Ortiz for an eleventh. Kuchar took advantage of a poor guy. Even other players commented that Kuchar didn’t do right.

        You would be a housekeeper for 2K a day, but would you be happy to caddie for a 5 days for 4K if your boss won 1.3 million because of your help? And that caddie job was how you fed your family.

        Kuchar is a stiff and stupid and he has a dope for an agent too. The damage this did to his reputation and his bottom line, will last the rest of his career. Let’s see if Sketchers renews his contract.

        • Travis

          Feb 22, 2019 at 2:13 pm

          Yes, his regular caddie would have gotten paid more because his regular caddie travels ALL OVER THE WORLD AND DOES THIS FOR KUCHAR AS HIS FULL-TIME JOB. There are so many things a regular full-time caddie does to take care of a Tour Pro both on and off the course. They travel the world, chart the courses, get the players what they need, etc.

          This guy was some local guy who happened to be standing there when Kuchar asked him to hold the bag for the week. I guarantee this guy did not provide even half of the services a regular caddie provides. So quit with all the people saying he’s a caddie so he deserves the 10%. No, he doesn’t. Why? Because he’s not a regular full-time Tour caddie. It’s not about race, poverty gap, all this other crap. He’s a local joe standing in the parking lot when a Tour player asks him if he wants to make a few thousand dollars. The guy says yes then goes on to deface Kuchar’s reputation to extort him out of more money.

      • Mike

        Feb 18, 2019 at 5:27 pm

        Yes, this was extortion, and Matt should have not even paid the guy an extra $1,000. If Matt missed the cut, could he then tell is caddie that he’s not paying him? They had an agreement and that’s that.
        For all the snowflakes who are hating on Matt, they can feel free to send Ortiz some of their own $$$$.

    • anonymous tour pro

      Feb 20, 2019 at 6:12 am

      how did u find out he was bullied?

  15. Perkins Pancakes

    Feb 16, 2019 at 6:23 pm

    Kuchar is cheap, very cheap! But, at least he would have payed for your breakfast unlike that tightwad Tiger. TW would have given El Tucan his non-autographed sweaty glove after the round for his services if he was lucky. Now way TW is paying anyone!! He wouldn’t even buy drinks for Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley back in the day. Ask Barkley how cheap Tiger is.

  16. Suckonmyteat

    Feb 16, 2019 at 6:15 pm

    What’s the income tax in Mexico for this amount?
    So he gets to keep like $10K or something after taxes and paying off the local gangs? Lol

  17. Rich Douglas

    Feb 16, 2019 at 2:16 pm

    Kuchar–after several tries–finally got it right when he said all parties should emerge feeling good about things. Paying the $50K does that.

    All the talk about whether or not this guy was good at reading greens, etc., is silly. Ortiz did what he was supposed to do and should have been taken care of initially. As for the initial agreement, can we acknowledge that it was made with an imbalance of power, please? All of that “a deal is a deal” stuff is nonsense. Winning the tournament sure flipped that one upside down.

  18. Former Koch Fan

    Feb 16, 2019 at 2:15 pm

    Koch did absolutely nothing wrong except he failed as human with a beating heart. Could’ve made a life long friend and memory for generations. Instead he played a technicality card and pretty much burned him. The caddie jumped on it with spite. Probably should’ve took his $20k quietly. Sad situation.

  19. Kirk

    Feb 16, 2019 at 12:10 pm

    Wise man once said (I think it was on this site somewhere) — “It takes 20 years to make a reputation, and only 5 minutes to ruin it”.. Tough lesson for Kuch to learn.. He will definitely not be thought of the same way as he was before.. I think he got himself in more trouble with the “for a guy making $200 a day…” comment..

  20. MT

    Feb 16, 2019 at 11:47 am

    Wonder if other pros will avoid this caddie in future tournaments based on his I did not get paid enough routine?

    Story is he just carried the bag and really had no input on clubs selection, course management…etc.

    • tom

      Feb 16, 2019 at 11:51 am

      It’s sad that Matt will always be remembered by this. Matt screwed up and this will cost him far more than $50k.

    • Steve2

      Feb 16, 2019 at 11:55 am

      The guy caddies at that course every day and has worked for other pros – you don’t think he added any value at all? Haven’t heard anything negative about his performance. Any sources on that?

      • Bud

        Feb 16, 2019 at 12:51 pm

        Yes. According to sources close to the story, he has trouble reading the greens. Word has it that he is far left on everything and anti-American. Best sources say he caddies mostly for left handed golfers and has a history of sabatoging right handed players in what could be called a “soft coup”.

    • Tartan Golf Travel

      Feb 16, 2019 at 12:45 pm

      That’s the story people on here are making up. Matt said he was a great caddie. He is professional caddie at the resort. He knows the course better than anyone. He absolutely helped

  21. ABC

    Feb 16, 2019 at 11:14 am

    Not one person has said anything about Tom Gillis, the other pro who brought this story to light.
    Question: does anyone think it wasn’t his place to discuss another man’s business, whether right or WRONG?

    • Steven

      Feb 16, 2019 at 11:52 am

      Considering this was one golfer calling out another golfer over an issue on the PGA tour it doesn’t bother me. Its not like he said anything about his personal life or family.

      • JP

        Feb 16, 2019 at 2:19 pm

        What he pays his employees IS a personal matter. It has ZERO to do with the PGA. That’s why they weren’t involved at all.

        • Steve2

          Feb 16, 2019 at 3:00 pm

          Well we often hear about these types of things with public facing figures and consumer forward brands. A lot of people care about supporting brands/companies/public figures who align with their personal values. That’s the root of the demand for this type of coverage. It’s no big deal if you don’t care but it’s weird that people go out of their way to insist they don’t care. Nobody cares that you don’t care.

  22. vince

    Feb 16, 2019 at 8:10 am

    Disgusted with Kuchar for coughing up $50K. No backbone at all….bowed to the pressure. Now he does look like a tool.

    • Nachos

      Feb 16, 2019 at 9:53 am

      Actually, this was the biggest F-You Kuchar could have given Ortiz. Making it very public that a caddie in Mexico City now has $50,000 US dollars is going to attract some bad dudes and unfortunately will probably not end well for him or his family.

      • Steve2

        Feb 16, 2019 at 12:14 pm

        Lots of Mexican cartels reading golf publications looking for their next big score. You sound like a real insider there, el chapo!

        • Nachos

          Feb 16, 2019 at 12:56 pm

          Don’t remember saying “cartel”. And yes, when mainstream media, not just golf publications are talking about you, doesn’t take much for a couple of bangers to find out. This is commonplace in Mexico without media coverage.

    • John

      Feb 16, 2019 at 11:58 am

      Yeah, fuck that caddy! Matt Kuchar needs more money. You should start a go fund me account for him. He may never recover from this.

  23. Michael Cosetta

    Feb 16, 2019 at 6:57 am

    Kuch honored the contract that he agreed upon. Added a thousand as a bonus. Yes Matt won, that was separate. Ortiz deserved what he was promised. The issue imo is the public seem to think that this novice caddie should be paid like a seasoned veteran with PGA experience who maps the course and knows the player well enough to inspire him or calm him or focus him. There are no travel expenses and medical insurance that the tour caddies carry. — If I hired a contractor to install flooring and we agree upon 5k for the job, then i hit the lottery, do I now owe him 20k? Cmon guys I fail to see any malice. Its amazing what peer pressure does even to superstars.No good deed goes unpunished.
    Kudos to Kuch for trying to satisfy everyone!

    • Tartan Golf Travel

      Feb 16, 2019 at 8:10 am

      You’re analogy is way off…. let’s change it. What if that flooring guy told you to play those numbers or drove you to pick up the tickets? We don’t know that he “honored the contract”. That’s Matt’s story. Either way the bonus is a tip right and Matt just tipped .0007%. It’s wrong anyway you look at it.

      • Jbone

        Feb 16, 2019 at 9:22 am

        El Tucan confirmed that they agreed on the amount. Your analogy is even worse. Matt Kuchar was one of the best players in the field and had a very good chance to have a top 5 finish.

        • Tartan Golf travel

          Feb 16, 2019 at 11:29 am

          My analogy is spot on. He helped him win the tournament. Your analogy was you had already won the tournament and just gave it to him anyway as a gift. Matt hadn’t been playing very well before that. Right is right and wrong is wrong and Matt was wrong, Its a bonus of the percentage won. If I’m betting my buddies a $1000 and my caddie helps me and I win it is like me giving him a nickel!

      • Michael C

        Feb 16, 2019 at 10:47 am

        tour caddies normally get 10% yes, this compensation is toward long hours late nights and early morning hours on the range this also factors in that they work exclusively with their tour pro. This means they dont get paid for 52 weeks a year but only weeks they work. And if the player doesnt make the cut, there is no $$ im sure the weekly compensation does not come out to 50K a week These are the risks that an appointed local caddy does not have
        and for the record, this caddy did not manage Kuch’s game like his reg caddy might, he only carried the bag.
        We do know that he honored the contract, that is what David Ortiz himself explained. kuch is a sweetheart and did all the right things! then he did more, ppl still arent satisfied, and they erent even involved or associated…cmon really?

    • Steve

      Feb 18, 2019 at 9:29 am

      How about if you hired a contractor to do a floor and he helped you build a whole new house, would you pay him more? Your analogy sucks because this situation is unique.

      • really

        Feb 20, 2019 at 6:17 am

        Yes if he built a house and i agreed upon the house as well.
        If the caddy flew matts family and did his laundry and took his children to disney at matts request he would also deserve more!
        Get real please apples to apples

  24. Todd

    Feb 16, 2019 at 1:26 am

    Hey Kooch, next time call me and I’ll sell you a little common sense called logic for cheap!

  25. Pat Perez

    Feb 15, 2019 at 9:36 pm

    Too late Matt. You screwed up and nothing you do now can right the wrong you did. You were a pathetic cheap dirtbag when you only gave him $5,000 and you’re still a pathetic cheap dirtbag who wrongly thinks what you’re now doing will regain fan respect for yourself. It won’t! You lost out dirtbag!!! If you want me to tell it to your face, come see me.

  26. JP

    Feb 15, 2019 at 9:30 pm

    Too little, too LATE.
    .
    Correct or not, everyone already crucified Kuchar. And there’s no going back.
    .
    Kuchar stuck to the agreement, but gets hammered because he won! Had he came in 5th, this would never have happened. Typical of America thinking the rich don’t give enough.

    • Too Late

      Feb 15, 2019 at 10:14 pm

      I agree. One’s true colors come out during successful times. Kuch is a douche.

    • Thanks 4 Nothing

      Feb 15, 2019 at 10:24 pm

      Still a dick.

  27. Tee-Bone

    Feb 15, 2019 at 9:25 pm

    There is an assumption that a local caddie is entitled to the same deal that regular Tour caddies get. They are not. Regular caddies do a lot more than just carry the bag. An agreement was reached which is fair for a local caddie. Looks like the social justice epidemic has hit the PGA Tour.

  28. Turkish

    Feb 15, 2019 at 9:05 pm

    Kuchar should switch to PXG. He and Parsons could suck each others D’s. They could talk about how they ripped off so many peeps in their careers, rubbed nips with the butt butta’d pretensious 10%. They could boom until they puke blood, scream all the time and play non existent money matches at Dove Mountain. Man they could just be fake as hell. Perfect for each other.

  29. Joe Trumpet

    Feb 15, 2019 at 8:31 pm

    Thanks Matt. All is forgiven. Let’s pretend that none of this ever happend now, that this never even came to light. We’ll all go back to rooting for you, yelling “Kooch” and pretending your some friendly happy go lucky guy that everyone wants to hang with. Let’s just face it. Your just a dbag that nobody at Sea Island wants to play with.

  30. JohnnyNight

    Feb 15, 2019 at 8:22 pm

    Thank you Matt for doing the right thing…

  31. Hugo Maeder

    Feb 15, 2019 at 8:04 pm

    What a cheap thrift frugal guy…
    He should have paid El Tucan the same he would his regular caddie.

  32. Steve Waters

    Feb 15, 2019 at 7:09 pm

    All of you SJW’s here at Buzzfeed, whoops I mean Golfwrx, must feel like really big men now. I just hope there doesn’t come a time in any of your lives that some angry mob will shame you or maybe use force to make you pay your hard earned money to someone or something. The government are already experts at this, and the way we’re going with everyone responding to situations with emotion instead of logic and reason. The future will not be bright. Just remember to all of you posters on here that are jealous of Kuchars wealth, there are billions of people in this World that would think you’re filthy rich and your time might come too.

    • Jose Pinatas

      Feb 15, 2019 at 7:45 pm

      Look Man… I ain’t falling for the ole banana in the tail pipe….

      • Steve

        Feb 16, 2019 at 3:20 pm

        hahahahaha I love it! I bet most people don’t get that quote! Eddie Murphy was a riot!

    • MoronHater

      Feb 15, 2019 at 7:47 pm

      Guess what? I 100% support Kuchar like you do and I still think you are a jerk.

      You are full of garbage with your idealogical ranting and assumptions about people. Your politics are irrelevant to stupidity.

    • JohnnyNight

      Feb 15, 2019 at 8:08 pm

      LOL..!! What world are you from..!!

  33. Jon Wright

    Feb 15, 2019 at 5:17 pm

    What a spoiled prick…doesn’t even matter if that’s what their agreement was, which I doubt that was the agreement in the first place. If I just won $1000000 I don’t care who helped me win it, I’m compensating them for helping me win… And $100,000 is the minimum they should receive.

    I lost all respect for and hope this Kuchar POS never wins for the rest of his life… He’ll have to rely on his ping pong game.

  34. Mike

    Feb 15, 2019 at 4:34 pm

    I served in the military in a combat zone Post 9/11 and earned about $5,000 a MONTH. That’s working 24/7 for 30 days per month. My “day off” was fixing my equipment, laundry, and thanking God that I was still alive and in one piece.
    And this guy just made $5,000 in a WEEK to hang out w/ PGA Tour players and carry a Tour players bag, making 25 TIMES his normal wage, and he’s complaining about it?
    I’d carry Matt’s bag for $2,500 flat, and be honored. And I’d have a blast watching him make his way around the course and watching other Tour players and I’d work OVERTIME cleaning his clubs as if they were my own, and I’d enjoy every second of it.
    I guess we all have a different perspective on life, that’s mine. Take care all.

    • Brian

      Feb 15, 2019 at 4:51 pm

      Sucker. I lost count of how many times I thought that reading your narrative. The moneychangers thank you.

    • Steve2

      Feb 15, 2019 at 6:08 pm

      That sounds shitty, man. I appreciate your service. This really isn’t about you, though, but since you decided to make it about you;
      You were making 60k a year with benefits and if you stay in long enough you get a pension. That’s great you want to work for millionaires for free – go do that.

      This is David Ortiz’s career – not a fantasy camp.

      • Mike

        Feb 16, 2019 at 3:30 pm

        And he made an agreement before the tourney. An agreement is an agreement. That’s the point. Kuchars life work and talent doesn’t belong to some random caddy. Caddy boy should’ve taken his $5,000 for an easy week’s pay and counted his blessings on the way to the bank.
        I’m just a lot more humble, I guess.

        On a side note, you can divide that $60k I made in half, as we worked about 80 hours a week, no joke, more than that if you count alerts and crap that goes in the middle of the night that forces extra duty. But that was my choice and did it and finished the job, and didn’t stick my hand out and ask for more.
        Anyway, to each his own. Good debate.

    • Jose Pinatas

      Feb 15, 2019 at 6:29 pm

      Thank you for your service.

    • Mad-Mex

      Feb 15, 2019 at 8:11 pm

      So you made “about” 5K? is that with separate rats and BHA? Also, you “work” 24/7 ? Combat zone? Dude, there is so many questions in your story!!! I served for 20, we are supposed to be “on duty” 24/7 but I NEVER “worked” 24 hrs straight,,,, Being in a “combat” zone does not meant “combat”, served with plenty of people who spent some time in Riyadh which WAS considered a “combat” zone but hardly hazardous duty!!!

      • Mike

        Feb 16, 2019 at 3:41 pm

        No questions in my story pal, I had over 22. General conversation and not enough space to cover it all here. And yes, I worked 24/7, “slept” with one eye open, and worked with no days off for months. PCC’s/PCI’s, movement, debriefs, maintenance, counseling, chow, fights, PT, on and on, it is 16+ hours a day where I was.
        99% don’t knows ow what bah, etc., is, no need to delve.

        The moral of the story is I served based on my agreement with my employer, the US Govt, and did it, finished my job and didn’t stick my hand out and ask for more when I came home. I did 1,000 times more than I ever thought and put up with more insanity than I ever dreamt, yet I didn’t say “well this turned out differently, pay me more!”
        Get a clue, tough guy.

        • Mad-Mex

          Feb 16, 2019 at 6:08 pm

          So for 22 years you were deployed to an area where you “slept” with one eye open? No days off for months? 16+ hours a day?
          And everyone in the military know what BAH is, specially if your married, in USAF we called it separate rats,, and those PCC’s/PCI’s, those terms brought a laugh to our group made up of 2 grunts and a squid,,, hey, it’s your story Rambo, than you for the entertainment.

        • Mad-Mex

          Feb 16, 2019 at 9:45 pm

          OK Rambo, never heard a GI say they “had” 22, all the GI’s I known and myself say “I did X number of years” , every one knows that BHA Basic Allowance for Housing, used to be BAQ. So your entire 22 you “worked” 16+ a day? We did have deployments or TDY’s, chow was when we ate, even now I still ask the wife if she wants to get some chow, “fights”? ,,, “debriefs”?,,, what were you Special OPS? , I asked some grunts and squids I know about PCC’s/PCI’s, they had a good laugh. All I did in my 20 years in the USAF was 10 years of fighter aircraft maintenance and 10 of air traffic control. Guess with quals, MOS and AFSC’s your clearance level must be pretty high. Have a good day!

          • Mike

            Feb 18, 2019 at 5:19 pm

            Was one of several deployments during my 22 years and we worked at least 16 a day when it was all said and done, and in a hostile area. Some people get easy deployments, some don’t. A friend of mine got deployed to Bahrain, was a nice vacation for him, not me.
            That being said, it was a simple example of doing your job and upholding your end of the bargain. People work a lot harder and do things that are much, much more difficult than carrying a golf bag at a country club resort for 4 days. No one made this guy carry Matt’s bag, he was under no obligation to do so. I don’t care if Matt won $10million, a deal is a deal, pretty simple. Next time, Matt needs to have his attorney work out the details with a fill-in caddy and have both parties sign.

          • Mike

            Feb 19, 2019 at 12:05 am

            @mad-mex, don’t question my service, I wrote of one of the several deployments I went on in my 22 years of total Army service. And I was on 16+ hours a day that one deployment, most often I racked out w/ my boots on, just untied them for a few hours of “sleep”, I still like to crash w/ my shoes and clothes on now, allows me to get to sleep, my ex-girlfriend did not like that…I guess your head was buried in the sand from 2003-2007, connect the dots as to where we were in those 4 years. Some of us had a different experience than those who had a vacation on the FOB or in Kuwait or Bahrain, I for one was not in a good place, get a life.
            And you were in the Air-Force, sitting on a base doing nothing with most of your day, that about says it all. They don’t call it the “Chair-Force” for nothing…

            That being said, my only point is that this Ortiz clown carried a golf bag on a resort/country club for 4 days, ate a nice gourmet meal and hot shower in a nice hotel room, didn’t have to worry about getting shelled while in bed or in the chow hall, and he earned several months compensation for his little vacation that Kuchar was so gracious enough to help him with!
            An honorable man, like myself, would adhere to the agreement he made, do his job until mission complete, then go home…again, get a life, and if you knew me, you would not question me.
            This was nothing but extortion by social media against Matt. Ortiz knew that Matt would have to cave and pay him $50k, totally unscrupulous and gross…
            I recommend that Kuchar have his attorney draft up an agreement and have both parties sign beforehand, I guess a gentlemen’s agreement doesn’t mean anything anymore…

  35. James

    Feb 15, 2019 at 3:51 pm

    Stumbles onto a real-life walking talking good luck charm – in a sport where everybody’s got SOME ‘good luck’ tee, marker coin – socks, routine – whatever – to not pick that guy up, kiss him on both cheeks PAY HIM AN EXTRA BONUS ON TOP OF THE 10%, it turns out he’s a cheap ass rat bag.

    Never liked this jagwagon & now the ‘cheers’ of his name are really appropriate.

    What an asshat. Hope he never makes another cut – EVER.

  36. G. Lapalme

    Feb 15, 2019 at 3:42 pm

    Now the fans call yell “CHEAP”. Out of touch with real world and taking advantage of the situation. what an sob..

  37. Eric

    Feb 15, 2019 at 1:59 pm

    Seriously. He’s as dumb as a box of rocks if he thinks this is fair or that he’s handled it correctly. If I’m his handler, I get him to cough it up and if he doesn’t I get him to cancel his WGC plans in Mexico. Safety concerns.

    • TOM

      Feb 15, 2019 at 2:51 pm

      Come Matt. Don’t be a dick. Pay the caddie. You made of one million dollars. Share your good fortune and pay the caddie $50K that he deserves. 50K is chump change to you.

  38. Felix Smith

    Feb 15, 2019 at 1:53 pm

    This is simple, caddies on the pga tour web.com tour all go by a standard base pay which varies plus a percentage for made cut and win… 10/7 or 10/6 etc. it’s been going this way for years.

    It’s a shame someone would deliberately short a caddy because he’s local or not his regular looper. Most every guy on tour will pay the caddy they take a agreed upon amount that is typically the same rate if they are a tour experienced caddy or not. You think Jordan Spieth or rickie Fowler paid their caddies like Kuchar did at the start of their caddies employment. Do you really think their pay has now increased with experience to the current level of pay they make. That’s not only laughable but repugnant of Matt Kuchar as a player and employer PERIOD. Keep in mind EVERY player on tour pays what they desire by the week, but the percentages don’t change much.

    Kuchar should do the right thing and move on.

  39. FIGJAM

    Feb 15, 2019 at 1:32 pm

    So I guess Phil’s a ‘good guy’ because he’s a notoriously generous tipper?

    It’s easy to sit here and throw shots at Kuchar, but I’m not necessarily sure that it’s faiir. Kuchar was very up front about what the fees would be with his caddy, and they did not discuss nor negotiate what the caddy would be given for a win. The caddy should have negotiated this up front – but coming back well after the fact and asking for more money is borderline extortion, and clearly in bad taste. Kuchar still offered him another $15K, before the story broke, the guy should have jumped at it. Let’s also distinguish here that this guy is a local caddie, and although I’m sure good at his job, he’s not a tour caddy, and I’d guess that Kuchar was doing most of the work on yardages and green reading that week in Mexico….

    I’m ready for this to be over, frankly…I’m not going to skewer this guy over one week in Mexico, it’s a little absurd how fickle we’ve all become in this social media era…

    • Steve2

      Feb 15, 2019 at 2:06 pm

      Who knows who the best guy is – but in this instance Kuchar was a dick. “What about this guy!?” isn’t really relevant to the discussion and you’re implying Phil’s a bad guy by pointing out how generous he is. What are you trying to say?

      As for the caddy – we don’t know what Kuchar expects from his regular looper vs the fill in but I’m guessing El Tucan can handle the yardage at a course he works at every day.

      The extortion claim lacks a little context. Kuchar’s agent offered him this money – not Kuchar himself. It was hush money that big time lawyers and agents routinely pay for high profile client’s problems to disappear (See: Daniels, Stormy). Steiny knew it was wrong and tried to fix it. El Tucan also stayed pretty quiet; Tom Gillis called Kuchar (I think a couple of other pros chimed in that this would be in character for him as well) and the press ran with it. Reporters were seeking comment from El Tucan on this story and he was thrust into the spotlight that he never asked to be in. This dude has no PR training and English isn’t his first language it’s a little unfair to expect more out of him than what he’s done – which is just be honest about the situation.

    • Hutstar

      Feb 15, 2019 at 2:17 pm

      Agree, all parties to blame on this, bad form all round. Kuchar’s getting rightly skewered though, because apart from everything else it’s astonishingly poor character to not pay ‘standard’ pay to a guy living in poverty, when you’re running up close to 50 mil in career earnings – regardless of what was agreed.

    • Allan crowder

      Feb 15, 2019 at 2:54 pm

      FIGJAM? more like FISJAM.

  40. Tom

    Feb 15, 2019 at 1:20 pm

    Heard Gianni is hung like a horse…

  41. Tom

    Feb 15, 2019 at 1:15 pm

    Matt Kuchar? seems more like a Dick.

  42. Patrick

    Feb 15, 2019 at 12:57 pm

    This is just horrible. In 1982 as a college golfer one summer I drove to Hattisburg, MS about an hour and half outside of Jackson, MS to caddie in a local PGA Tour Stop. I got a bag for the week with with Ernie Gonzales. We made the cut and Ernie got his first top 10 finish on tour. Keep in mind the winners share was probably like $325K. I think we finished like 7th or 8th. Ernie paid me just over $6500. He asked me to come to Houston the next week. I met him at the Woodlands, we did a practice round and the Pro-Am, Ernie injured his wrist and could not continue that week. Ernie still paid me $2800 for those two days. he wanted me to show up at his next start in Florida ( two weeks out), but I had to get back to start school. Ernie won that week while I sat in class. Ernie and I never even talked pay. Ernie had class, we talked thru yardages, wind,reading greens, etc… he just simply did the right thing. How I wish school had started two weeks later so that I could have been there for his first victory. I ran into Ernie while stationed in San Diego as a Navy Officer at the San Diego Open ( Torrey Pines. We chatted about my caddie days with him and he introduced me to Seve Ballesteros who he was playing a practice round with. Ernie was my definition of a really good guy with class.Kucher could learn a lot from Ernie.

    • Chuck Hevezi

      Feb 17, 2019 at 9:40 pm

      I caddied in the 1980 Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic. Missed cut by one. So practice round, pro am and two rounds. Cesar Sanudo. Great guy. I think he paid me $350 and asked if I wanted to keep caddieng for him but he wasnt exempt so it would have been hit or miss. We had 1st alternate spot at Arnold’s Bay Hill the week before but didn’t get in. Caddy career over.

  43. HP

    Feb 15, 2019 at 12:46 pm

    Karma is a bitch, He may never win every again, 20 years from now he will look back and regret it.

  44. Porky

    Feb 15, 2019 at 12:39 pm

    Kuch shanked this one badly. I think most people would agree that Kuch is technically correct here and the caddie might be a little out of bounds for wanting more than the agreement specified but did the agreement specify the payment for a win? No, by all accounts I’ve read, an amount for a win was not specified. A win may be a top ten finish but they are light years in distance from one another. The standard payment for a caddie is 10%. Kuch needs to do the right thing and pay his partner. I sincerely do not believe Kuch would have won without this man beside him. Fate brought them together and Kuch, if he is a moral person must realize that and pay this man his true worth. Remember Kuch, pigs get fat; hogs get slaughtered. The fans and media are beginning to turn on you…can you hear the bacon sizzling?

  45. James Flynn

    Feb 15, 2019 at 12:29 pm

    Who cares. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Everyone should keep that opinion to themselves. How much he paid a caddie has zero effect on your life. Move on.

  46. barry schwartz

    Feb 15, 2019 at 12:29 pm

    Always been a fan of yours Matt – but your recent handling of your caddie in Mexico hurts not only the poor Mexican caddie, but your own reputation and that of your sponsor(s). Please swallow your pride and do whats right.

  47. Chris

    Feb 15, 2019 at 12:18 pm

    Fans at events should start yelling “Moooch” or “Douuche” instead of “Kuuuch”

    • TJD

      Feb 15, 2019 at 12:42 pm

      Cheap smile, Cheap guy. Wow what a tool. I’m sure he would have paid his dear old dad more !

  48. Bobby

    Feb 15, 2019 at 12:12 pm

    Obviously the dealing prowess of his moneychanger agent rubbed off well on the Kuchar. Call yourself Christian? Fake as that smile.

  49. Phillip Harris

    Feb 15, 2019 at 11:32 am

    For everyone that thinks he deserves more, I have created a Go Fund Me page titled:

    “Fair and Just Payment to David Ortiz”

    Please go to the page and donate.

    Let’s see what kind of financial support he gets for everyone will to spend someone else’s money.

    • Shawn

      Feb 16, 2019 at 1:01 am

      Can’t find this pay you have set up. Please post a link. Thanks

  50. Jose Pinatas

    Feb 15, 2019 at 11:14 am

    Gone are the days of: “baba’s booey”, “You da man”, “mashed potatoes”, “kooooch”.. Should be “Pay your Caddie, clap clap, clapclapclap…” over and over again….

    • jharris

      Feb 15, 2019 at 12:05 pm

      I know Kuchar is a nice guy. But c’mon, less than 1/2 a percent of the payout? I don’t care what you agreed to up front. Yes, you had a verbal contract. But what you paid the guy who called your clubs, measured your distances, and gave you advice on the greens amounts to about 1/250th of what you made. If even two or three of those pieces of advice had been off, you would not have won and your paycheck would have been cut IN HALF.

      Did he do a poor job and you won it despite him? That’s not what you’re saying here. In the big scheme of things even the 5% he requested amounts to next to NOTHING vs. your career earnings. What does the ill will and poor press cost a guy who has the reputation of one of the nicest guys on tour. You can’t take it with you, Kooch.

  51. Christopher

    Feb 15, 2019 at 10:53 am

    “For a guy who makes $200 a day, a $5,000 week is a really big week.”

    That quote has some of the worst optics I’ve ever seen. I can see those “Kuch” sounds sounding a lot more like “Boos” in the future … It sounds like Kuchar thought he’d have one of his usual weeks (he was 71st on tour in 2018) and not walk away with the $1,300,00 winner’s cheque. I’ve always thought the 10% percent of the earnings for a win, seven percent for a top-10 finish and five percent for anything else inside the cut line, was pretty much a given after the agreed rate for the week. But I have no idea what the histories are with local caddies and they usually bag winners a couple of times a year.

    • dnett

      Feb 15, 2019 at 11:59 am

      I’m assuming this guy is not a PGA tour caddy, correct? So basically, he carried Kuch’s bag for a week and handed him the clubs he asked for. A PGA tour caddy is an integral part of a tour pro’s game. This guy very likely was not. That is a huge difference.

      • Christopher

        Feb 17, 2019 at 12:48 pm

        The flip-side of that is that the caddy provided local-knowledge that would take a regular caddy years to learn. I doubt Kuchar would have won if he was carrying his own bag.

  52. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

    Feb 15, 2019 at 8:40 am

    The social justice warriors are out strong. The caddie should have asked for 10% of winnings upfront instead of a flat fee. If Kuch missed the cut should the caddie gone back on the deal and taken nothing?

    • Dan de Bruyn

      Feb 15, 2019 at 12:00 pm

      Very good comment . He was definately influenced after the completion of the event.

    • THOMAS DAVIS

      Feb 15, 2019 at 12:02 pm

      I bet you think you’re clever as clever can be with that choice of username.

    • Jeff

      Feb 15, 2019 at 1:00 pm

      So taking advantage of an employee, violating the norms of player-caddie pay relations, and being unnecessarily greedy, means one is a social justice warrior?

      All of those things are either wrong or show a lack of moral character independently of any political world view.

    • Jim K

      Feb 15, 2019 at 1:19 pm

      Kuchar had no obligation to pay any more than he and the caddie had agreed upon before the tournament. And it’s certainly true that local fill-in caddies don’t get the same percentage of winnings that a regular would. BUT, one would think that after he ended up winning, he would have realized the absurdity of him making over a million bucks (which he probably didn’t expect to do) while giving the caddie 5 grand. He didn’t have to, but it would have been a gracious gesture to reward the caddie with another 10 or 20 thousand, still less than half what a regular caddie would have made.

  53. Andrew

    Feb 15, 2019 at 12:44 am

    Massive marketing opportunity for King Scrooge’s sponsors, dump him and pay Tucan 50k. Surely, they would have a breach clause somewhere in their contracts for bringing the game into disrepute. How ironic if this happened to the same guy claiming “we had a contract”. Cheap at triple the price.

  54. Andrew

    Feb 14, 2019 at 11:44 pm

    If his sponsors don’t dump him then they are condoning his behaviour.

    Contractually correct, morally wrong.

    A life time to build a brand and 1 second to destroy it.

    What a pork chop!

    • Elgordo

      Feb 15, 2019 at 3:49 am

      He’ll hear it on the first tee at his next event. The endering Kooooch will be replaced w Boooooooooo!

      and he is now a VERB untipped caddies will now say the were “Kuch’d”

      he owes the guy 50k the difference between 1st and 2nd was 1 shot and 518k he earned 10% of that he also extended his pga exemption through 2021 and will get more fedex money at end of season w win

      This was a BIG mistake by agent and kooch it will cost way more than 50k w sponsors and public opinion

  55. Need My Lawn Mowed

    Feb 14, 2019 at 11:02 pm

    I would have paid him the agreed upon amount and then offered him the privilege of doing my yard work and possibly lay some landscaping brick if I felt generous.

  56. ac

    Feb 14, 2019 at 10:43 pm

    when a new employee starts at my business one of things i tell them is to not discuss pay with anyone. talking about money is just like talking about people all it does is make you look stupid. id like to see anyone bashing matt part with 10% of a lottery jackpot to the store clerk who sold it to you because if it wasnt for him you wouldnt have won. we all know no matter how good you are, a lucky shot can make a ho hum round into one to remember. im not privy to how all this information got leaked but a local caddie should be happy with what was agreed upon, and it should have remained private. after all it was kuchar who was swinging the clubs. peole with wealth didnt get it by paying more than what was on the price tag.

  57. KP

    Feb 14, 2019 at 10:03 pm

    I feel bad for both Kuchar and El Tucan. Not only is Kuchar being inappropriately judged by the masses, the caddie will probably will not get another shot to carry a pro’s bag. He got fired by another pro earlier in the week, and he is defaming the pro that gave him a second chance. Considering the caddie had beef with two different tour pros in the same week, to include major embarassment, no tour pro who values their career is likely to touch him with a ten foot pole ever again. Congrats to the national media for ruining two lives.

  58. Benny

    Feb 14, 2019 at 7:23 pm

    I love all of this. When I jeard Kuchar say “ohh Matty” to himself the first time I laughed and said “this dude is a dbag”.
    Now I know he is a deusch. What a POS and hope he gets booed and targeted.

    You know is a man? Billy Ho who paid his caddy 10% his Fedex cup win… year over $1million dollars!

    Now thats a great guy and someone I will always follow but this “ohh Matty” shitebag can step in a bees nest and fall on his face while I bag his wife when he is crying “ohhhh Matty”!,

    • Ben dover

      Feb 14, 2019 at 9:38 pm

      Why do writers always have to keep reporting a nothing story. Who cares. You and Alex and lynch are jerks to keep dragging the Kuchar caddie payment up. Won’t be reading anything you guys write

  59. KP

    Feb 14, 2019 at 7:20 pm

    I don’t get all the hatred. The caddie was offered a $15k bonus on top of the mutually agreed $4k. Kuch offers the caddie 475% of the agreed amout, but Kuch is the bad guy?? I can’t think of any employer who would tolerate an employee demand for that kind of bonus. If anything, Kuchar was pretty gracious. As for the argument of fairness, that doesn’t make sense to me. There are thousands of employer companies across America that make billions of dollars off the backs of employees that make minimum wage everyday. Should emoloyees randomly start renegotiating and demanding retroactive bonuses?

    • Abubrad

      Feb 14, 2019 at 9:17 pm

      Mutually agreed upon $4,000. Sure, more like this is what I’m going to pay you caddie, take it or leave it. Pretty gracious? Why didn’t he just give the caddie what caddies normally get when a PGA player wins. No, he had to manipulate the man right from the start. Kuchar just demonstrated what his character is really like. Quit making excuses for him.

      • James

        Feb 14, 2019 at 9:35 pm

        Well said. And I want to like Matt Kuchar. He needs to say he made an error in judgement and pay his caddie $20,000 more, minimum, based on wage equivalents between the two countries.

      • JohnnyNight

        Feb 15, 2019 at 9:55 am

        Exactly… Matt K.. “I’m In Mexico, these people will be thrilled with anything they can get..”

  60. Jamie

    Feb 14, 2019 at 6:55 pm

    Damage is done. 20 years gone in 5 minutes. Regardless of their agreement, Kuchar threw away his reputation, probably mostly due to the historically-proven greed and deception of his snake oil agent. From now on Kuchar will be known as a cheap DB with a phony smile. Bridgestone and Sketchers in damage control soon. Probably will involve some phony junior golf donation. Yawn.

  61. Ryan

    Feb 14, 2019 at 6:52 pm

    I’m boycotting his ridiculous shoes! More like Sketchers No-Golf amirite?

    • Sean Palmer

      Feb 14, 2019 at 7:09 pm

      What a spoiled, money-grubbing, condescending fool. Shame on you Kuchar for treating people like that. But I guess, you forget about others, when your life is without adversity—and what a pathetic justification for doing so. I’ll never cheer for you again you phoney.

    • James

      Feb 14, 2019 at 9:37 pm

      They can start calling his Sketchers, Scammers.

  62. Ryan Michael

    Feb 14, 2019 at 6:44 pm

    Used to fall for all of the Kuch is a great guy with a great smile talk and how everyone on tour loves him so I would pull for him every time he’s in contention but after all of this I’m no longer pulling for Kuchar and not falling for his golden boy act we see on the surface! He’s really not a good guy!

  63. JP

    Feb 14, 2019 at 6:18 pm

    That’s a pretty mean thread title…

  64. JP

    Feb 14, 2019 at 6:17 pm

    That’s a pretty mean thread title on that forum…

  65. Michael Kaisher

    Feb 14, 2019 at 6:08 pm

    Kuchar is fake!!!

    • Willie Burns

      Feb 14, 2019 at 6:25 pm

      Tight Wad Kuchar – I have no respect for him – he gives the name of Golf a bad name –

  66. Scott

    Feb 14, 2019 at 6:05 pm

    A new verb is born:

    To “Kooch”. Def: To act as an immense ugly tightwad. To screw someone over financially.

    Example: Hey man, don’t Kooch the bartender after that huge round of drinks.

    LOLOLOL!! So bad.

  67. Darren Capik

    Feb 14, 2019 at 5:49 pm

    He is as bad at PR as he is at being a human being. What a disaster. Basic PR damage control and the guy is oblivious as is his agent who does know better. The new chant when Matt is on the green should be “Scroooooge”.

  68. Steve

    Feb 14, 2019 at 5:37 pm

    Classless, plain and simple. First win in 4 years. 1.3 mil paycheck. He negotiated a cheap deal and then tries to defend it.

    I’m 62, no millennial. It’s about doing a good thing, not defending the cheap deal you struck, especially when that deal is completely at odds with the standard for the industry, which is 10 percent.

    The crowds will hopefully be yelling “Booch”. Hopefully he loses Sketchers and any other endorsements and will pay a price far higher than if he had done the right thing in the first place.

    • Greg Marthaler

      Feb 14, 2019 at 8:04 pm

      Remember when Peter Kuchar was so clueless, and classless, at Augusta in 1998, caddying for his son? The successful insurance agent obviously should have received the standard .000001% “Kuch” special tip!

  69. Greg Marthaler

    Feb 14, 2019 at 5:18 pm

    Matt Kuchar is really cheap. At a typical high end club, let alone in a PGA event, a good caddy makes anywhere from $125 to $150 per loop. Sometimes more. With the extra duties involved in a tournament, Kuchar was really offering Ortiz barely his regular pay. It is obscene that a guy who makes over $1.2 million for winning pays a pro looper $5,000… Kuch the Mooch!

  70. David

    Feb 14, 2019 at 5:05 pm

    Has Kuchar done anything wrong? No, but in a game that has historically been built on Honor, he has certainly not acted honorably.
    Accordingly, I will no longer support those Companies that support him and I have emailed Bridgestone to let them know how I feel about Kuchar’s actions.

    • WTH

      Feb 14, 2019 at 5:29 pm

      I emailed Bridgestone too.

      I don’t care if Tiger plays their ball. Are they just going to sit quietly and watch.

  71. rick

    Feb 14, 2019 at 4:59 pm

    They had an agreement that paid a little more the higher Kuchar placed, with the limit being a top ten finish paying $4000. They never agreed on an amount if he won. From what Kuchar said, he didn’t just carry his bag, he provided insight of the course that helped him. He won by ONE stroke! The difference between first and second was approximately $550,000!!!! IF the caddy gave him advice that helped even one shot or putt go in, he should’ve given him at least $50k. Better to be known as too generous instead of a cheapskate. He would’ve paid his normal caddy $130k anyway.

    • Max Turner

      Feb 14, 2019 at 6:35 pm

      I agree. To this point I’ve always liked Matt Kuchar. However, his comments in this saga have been revealing and have made things much worse for him. If Matt, his representative or a good friend happen to read this, my advice (for what it is worth), is to pay the man another $45,000. It would make the man and his family and Matt’s many admirers very happy – Max from England

  72. real recognize real

    Feb 14, 2019 at 4:48 pm

    there’s a VOTE going on in the forums..

    General Golf Talk > The cooler “heated topics” > Kuchar/ El Tucan Caddie controversy

    top vote is Kuchar’s right to do what he did

    bottom is kuchar’s sucks

  73. mono

    Feb 14, 2019 at 4:36 pm

    wow – the scenario here is a PR disaster, and if you actually read the GOLF article – Kuch makes it worse!

    Don’t forget this only came out because another PGA pro knew what he paid the caddy – and was disgusted enough about it to tweet about it……

    and the guys arguing a deal’s a deal, geez, deals are deals – this one obviously a bad one and rapidly getting worse….. for Kuch

    the agent is amazing….. they might have highered a few PR consultants before they let Kuch speak to the public, those comments are pretty awful on a whole lot of levels

    i’m saying this as i was a big fan – i loved the way he had to work to get to where he was, the big smile and always saying the right thing, poof

    will be interesting so see how the career and earnings go from here – these guys make a ton playing the game, that and personality are how the make all their sponsorship money outside the sport – you never know what his current group of sponsors think of this one

  74. BJ

    Feb 14, 2019 at 4:10 pm

    I’m just amazed at all the virtuous nobodies who want to tell somebody how to spend money they earned. The spoken contract was $3,000 for the week plus a bonus, is what I originally heard. Pro caddie payments are usually between 5% for a 4 day finish in the top 10 and 10% for a win, with percentages in between for other finishes, as determined by the player as a TIP, which is payment for doing a good job in contributing to the finish achieved. Kuchar offered the man a $15,000 bonus on top of the $2,000 bonus he paid him at the course. That’s a $17,000 bonus (almost 1.5% of winnings). A total payment of $20,000 is about what this caddy makes in a year. I’d say what he was offered finally was a good 5 day’s work, for basically a mule, carrying a bag and offering some local course knowledge here and there – definitely not up to par to the kind of work a player-specific and player game-knowledgeable caddy does for his boss, beginning on Sunday flying to the course and Monday walking the course for notes and yardages. And, the man only had to pay for a bus ticket ride to the course every day, that’s it. He should’ve taken the $15,000 and said thank you.

    • Benny

      Feb 14, 2019 at 7:26 pm

      Dude you are a moron. 10% is the standard for Pro caddy’s.

  75. Blake

    Feb 14, 2019 at 4:07 pm

    Can we talk bigger picture? Golf is dying and the stereotype is that it’s a game for rich, stuffy, old white guys. How does this whole debacle, especially Kuchar’s ignorant comments, not hurt Golf as a whole?

  76. Brian

    Feb 14, 2019 at 3:51 pm

    The “Kuuuuuch” calls are likely to devolve into boos real quick the next time he tees it up. His last comment isn’t helping his cause either, not at all.

    • jd

      Feb 14, 2019 at 3:59 pm

      can’t wait to now have to listen to announcers explain that the fans aren’t yelling kuuuuuchar but instead they are booooooos

  77. Steve2

    Feb 14, 2019 at 3:35 pm

    I’m one of those guys. Just gotta be a stiff sour about everything.

    • Carl

      Feb 14, 2019 at 3:54 pm

      Hey, Kuchar, how about something for the effort, you know. Kuchar says, “Oh, uh, there won’t be any money, but when you die, on you deathbed, you will receive total consciousness.” So he’s got that going for him, which is nice.

  78. Dook

    Feb 14, 2019 at 3:35 pm

    Just like paying a kid $20 to cut the lawn at his million dollar mansion. Moral of the story… don’t cut Matt Kuchar’s lawn!!!

  79. Terry, this is not a Game

    Feb 14, 2019 at 3:22 pm

    El Tucan is a simp who played himself by making that deal for himself. He’s obviously been educated since then.

    But Kuchar has exposed himself as an elitist snob with his $5000 a week comment. He deserves no love or respect going forwards. He’s a phony.

    Mark Steinberg really doesn’t handle crisis too well

  80. real recognize real

    Feb 14, 2019 at 2:56 pm

    Just listened to the Matty and the Caddie podcast from ESPN. Micheal Collin’s who knows Kuch and works on tour confirmed he is the biggest phony around.

    for you defending him, go ahead. just because you close your eyes and shut your ears doesn’t mean the world is doing the same.

    • Mr. Wonderful

      Feb 14, 2019 at 3:14 pm

      Even Ty Webb offered Lacey Underall a check for $70,000.

    • Shivas Irons

      Feb 14, 2019 at 3:27 pm

      MK, If you think this pay dispute is over, you’re mistaken. Just look at all the comments you cheap bastard. Time to take a mulligan and pay up.

  81. sam

    Feb 14, 2019 at 2:28 pm

    douche bag of the year award for Kuchar…sponsors need to ditch him…

  82. Emmet

    Feb 14, 2019 at 2:08 pm

    I hold a grudge against Kuchar ever since the 2016 Players’ on Sunday when he bailed out on his approach at 16 and he was down 2 with 3 to play. Gutless.
    But he’s dead on when he says that somebody got in this guy’s ear. Somebody is trying to make this out as a poor guy vs. rich guy thing–I’m sure it will “go viral” at some point and he’ll be an “internet sensation” with all the rest of the trash. Screw that, there was a deal and Kuchar still went above and beyond it.
    The whiners on here (who’d have guessed they would come out of their holes on the Internet) sound like a bunch of losers who are super-generous with other people’s money.

    • DaveJ

      Feb 14, 2019 at 4:02 pm

      There are 2 problems though. 1, Kuchar took advantage of him when making the deal in the first place. There probably wasn’t another caddy out there that made the top 20 that got paid less than 5 times what Kuchar’s caddy did. Kuchar knew he would accept whatever he offered, so he took advantage of that. He could have simply offered 30-50% of what he would have paid his normal caddy and been way ahead while still being reasonably generous. The worst part was his comment that $5000 is a lot of money to someone who normally makes $200. Does that mean that the tournaments now only have to pay the winner 3% of the normal winners check if the player normally misses the cut and doesn’t make anything? “Sorry, you were good before, so this amount of money for winning is a lot to you. We’ll just keep the remaining million $…” Can you imagine?

  83. Tom

    Feb 14, 2019 at 1:50 pm

    Kuch recently gave a homeless beggar $1, and said “for a guy who earns nothing, $1 is pretty good donation!”

    • joro

      Feb 14, 2019 at 2:27 pm

      I have never liked “KOOOOOOCH” since he said the guys with anchored putters are cheating but he is okay cause it was only resting non his Arm. The guy is a hypocrite with that goofy grin of his. And now he seems to be cheap and proud of it.

      If you disagree that is fine. I have make clubs for a lot of Tour Pros, and played some events and it would surprise many what they are really like.

  84. Tom

    Feb 14, 2019 at 1:30 pm

    Sounds like Kuch’s “good guy” image was created by the media and fooled us….seems like he is actually a phony elitist jerk like his old man?

  85. Jerry Venden

    Feb 14, 2019 at 1:03 pm

    Kuchar comes off smelling like roses here. Right after they’ve been fertilized.

  86. TVGolfer

    Feb 14, 2019 at 12:32 pm

    Your regular yard guy is out for a while, so a freelancer stops by and offers to mulch and trim and plant some flowers. You agree to pay him $1000 for a couple days work. After he’s done, you win the house beautiful award in your town, put your house up for sale and get more than you ever expected. Then the freelancer comes back and says “you should give me a percentage of the gain on that sale” You already had a nice house that was very desirable. He may have had a little to do with it looking good, but you paid him a fair amount, plus you had already said “great job, here is a 25% tip”. How many of you would have said, “sure you can share in the gain on my house”? Be honest, think about it in terms of your money and the hard work you put in for years to be able to buy that house.

    • No Mas Kuch

      Feb 14, 2019 at 1:00 pm

      Matt Kuchar Definition: miser, penny-pincher, Scrooge, money-grubber, cheapskate, tightass, churl, cheap, skimpy, ungenerous, tightwad, tightfisted, el tencano, agarrada, el renoso, and skinflint.

    • What a cheapskate

      Feb 14, 2019 at 1:06 pm

      Matt Kuchar Definition: Cheapskate, tightwad, skinflint, miser, penny-pincher, scrooge, piker

    • Kuch Douche

      Feb 14, 2019 at 2:14 pm

      dumb analogy. dumby

    • Wtf are you talking about?

      Feb 14, 2019 at 7:37 pm

      That’s the dumbest analogy I ever heard.

    • Steven Meyers

      Feb 14, 2019 at 10:15 pm

      I must agree. Logical fallacies and a really bad analogy there, TVGolfer.

  87. TONEY P

    Feb 14, 2019 at 11:25 am

    Kuchar took advantage of the situation, his game was in limbo for a while so he didn’t think he would have to pay out much. Then he won and took the cheap man’s course of action thinking no one would find out. It was a thoughtless act he did as a representative of the PGA .

  88. Logan

    Feb 14, 2019 at 10:59 am

    It’s not mine or anyone’s place to tell another person how to spend their earnings. That being said, the fact that he won so much and still paid so little to someone in a much lower class, shows you the type of person Kuch is. I lost a lot of respect for him personally.

    • hutstar

      Feb 14, 2019 at 12:26 pm

      I was on the fence, but the ‘we had a deal’ line is where he lost me. Yeah, you did. You honored the terms of the deal. You could have set your guy up for life and paid him market rate for the week, but hey, well done on doing absolutely no more than you were obliged to.

  89. real recognize real

    Feb 14, 2019 at 10:42 am

    “For a guy who makes $200 a day, a $5,000 week is a really big week.”

    this is horrible!!

    So I guess people who live in poverty deserve less because that’s what they are use to right Bridgestone?!

    I’ll call you a cab since your from Beverly hills, and I’ll give you bus money because you are from Compton?

    WOW!

    • ken

      Feb 14, 2019 at 10:48 am

      Why….is it “horrible”….Please do not fall into the “race” trap…Unacceptable

  90. sal

    Feb 14, 2019 at 10:42 am

    Why are we even discussing this issue? Stick to golf and equipment. If I want all this public panzy PC or my feelings are so hurt crap, I can look at other social media. Golfers aren’t whiners.

    • Steve2

      Feb 14, 2019 at 12:14 pm

      Golfers whine all the time. This incident involves one of the most well known golfers on earth playing an event on the PGA tour. How is this not golf?

      • sal

        Feb 14, 2019 at 2:07 pm

        Steve2,

        This article isn’t about golf. Its about a perceived social justice issue and an issue of private contract, but not Golf. Articles about Golf would be about playing the game, win or lose and accepting what you signed up for and how you played that day, how the weather was, the speed of the greens and the smell of grass. Do you really care that two grown men made an agreement and stuck to it? This article isn’t about golf. It’s about Kuchar and his caddie. Would you care if Kuchar had not won? I doubt it. This isn’t about golf, its about how much a caddy got paid for carrying a golf bag but it isn’t about the game. You see the similarities of social issues, do tell. This isn’t about golf. It’s a slap at the social structure we have in America and that those who don’t contribute that much get paid more than they are worth. If this caddy deserves so much more, then what special talent did he demonstrate to earn such a fee. He carried a bag. Did he expect to be paid more? No, he agreed to the amount and just because Kuchar won, why should he be paid anymore? His carrying the bag didn’t make the difference. What if the tour allowed carts or pull carts? Win or lose, he gets paid. It was a guaranteed gig. You make too much of the story, but it is not about golf. However, this story really shows the ever increasing problem with Golfwrx.com turning into junk journalism.

        • Steve2

          Feb 14, 2019 at 5:00 pm

          Sal, what particular social justice issue is this about? I read about contract negotiations in all sports, I fail to see how this is different. I fail to see how “acceptance” of conditions and play is a major factor in golf reporting. All I commented on was how this did relate to golf:

          -Kuchar is a golfer
          -golfers hire caddies like El Tucan
          -The dispute here is over a fee for a caddy who helped a golfer win a golf tournament

          Maybe you could start your own website and the market can decide if it loves your brand of golf journalism. You can have whatever take you want on the story, it’s just weird that you’re so upset that it’s being talked about.

          • Sal

            Feb 15, 2019 at 11:39 am

            If you can’t see the issue and veiled arguments here Steve2, then you are more dense than I thought. Get a life and quit trolling.

            • Steve2

              Feb 16, 2019 at 12:25 pm

              Maybe your issue is just an issue inside that head of yours. Just because I disagree with you doesn’t mean I’m a troll. Hell I don’t even know what your point is, we shouldn’t talk about this? Why? I know I’m dense, please help me understand why this off limits for golf journalists?

              • Sal

                Feb 18, 2019 at 5:59 pm

                It’s fine to discuss politics and policy but don’t use a sport to politicize issues. Don’t make it more than that and use golf as a way to express grievances, spout political views, and toss insults. It ruins the game.

            • Ted from Florida

              Feb 16, 2019 at 12:27 pm

              You used a lot of golf terms to describe how this isn’t about golf!

              • Sal

                Feb 16, 2019 at 4:26 pm

                “This story transcends golf, even sports “. Jim Nantz.
                It’s not about golf. Go ask Jim. I drop my mic.

  91. Bret The Htman Hart

    Feb 14, 2019 at 10:40 am

    Is this Golfwrx or the Young Turks? All of you SJW’s that are giving Kuch a hard time all have one thing in common. You’re jealous and envious of him. They had a contract and he fulfilled it, end of story. Just because you FEEL it’s not enough is irrelevant. To all of you that FEEL so bad, why don’t you set up a patreon account for the caddy and donate to him. Put your money where your big authoritarian mouths are.

    • Tdbach

      Feb 14, 2019 at 10:44 am

      You wouldn’t know an authoritarian if one bit you on the behind. Stick to golf. You’re not smart enough for politics

      • James

        Feb 14, 2019 at 10:48 am

        I actually had to find out who Bret The Htman Hart is and, for someone who watches that small-minded nonsense, he’s not even smart enough for golf. Maybe putt-putt.

      • Bret The Hitman Hart

        Feb 14, 2019 at 10:52 am

        Tdbach nice non argument. Keep up the good work! Remember feelings over facts!

      • ken

        Feb 14, 2019 at 10:52 am

        You ARE acting in an authoritarian manner.
        You DEMAND Kuchar do something, or else( boycott, make silly hateful comments on social media, etc)
        In effect those of you who are screeching about this are attempting to force Kuchar into doing what YOU demand he do…
        Its really none of your business.
        Kuchar and the caddie made an agreement. You don’t like it. And of course since IT ISN’T YOUR money, you think you have the right to tell others what to do with theirs.
        Sorry, the world does not work that way.

        • Steve

          Feb 14, 2019 at 11:58 am

          Nobody’s demanding anything. Just calling a spade a spade. People are allowed to think he’s an asshole for this – thinking that is not forcing him to do anything about it.

        • Benny

          Feb 14, 2019 at 7:54 pm

          Ok so if it wasn’t such a big deal and we shouldn’t talk about it then why is it all over all the golf sites, espn and golf channel? Why are you even reading the article let alone these comments.. matter of fact why even comment??
          And who isn’t envious of these guys? Who isn’t jellous of them? Still has nothing to do with why MK paid way under the standard 10% payout for caddys!

    • real recognize real

      Feb 14, 2019 at 10:49 am

      its not the amount or the deal. It’s his statement, the words that came out of his heart.. his character.

      “For a guy who makes $200 a day, a $5,000 week is a really big week.”

      do you not understand the thought and heart behind this?

      would you want your kids thinking like this?

      all this kids in the world are watching.

    • Walter

      Feb 14, 2019 at 10:50 am

      I don’t have a comment about this article but I do have a comment about why you are using Bret’s name. Bret doesn’t golf so I really doubt you are him posting on this site so stop using his name!!

  92. Tom

    Feb 14, 2019 at 10:37 am

    The $45k he “saved” sure as hell isnt worth having a cheapskate label attached to him for the rest of his life .

  93. Mike

    Feb 14, 2019 at 10:36 am

    Kuchar walked away with over $1 Million in prize money and paid his caddie less than 1/2 of 1%.

    This is a black eye for him and an embarrassment for everyone involved.

    Step up and make this right, Matt. Don’t be the ugly, rich American going to a poor country and treating those people as “less than.” You won the tournament and paid your caddie less than any other caddie on tour would accept. Less than 1/2 of 1%. C’mon man. Don’t ruin your name.

  94. Tdbach

    Feb 14, 2019 at 10:17 am

    This is a classic example of someone doing something which technically isn’t wrong (it was a pre-arranged deal, according to Matt), but which was a missed opportunity to “do the right thing.” As it stands, it illustrates the sort of elitism that Americans carry over less affluent neighbors and very wealthy Americans over most everyone. Hey, you can get a caddy a lot cheaper in Mexico! and in everyday transactions that’s ok. You go with the standard of exchange, the going rates in the country you’re in. But professional golf is a crap shoot, really. A good bounce there, a bad break here can be the difference between winning and losing, third place and 30th place. So can an encouraging word from your caddy, a better read of the break, or a stupid move that throws you off you game. That’s why caddies traditionally get a percentage.

    It looks like Matt saw a chance to take advantage of his power of the purse and his caddy’s weak bargaining position to get off on the cheap. That’s certainly his “right.” But it looks looks – and really is – kind of crappy. Especially having won! That’s jackpot territory. If you think of your caddy as another “equal” in terms of your humanity, and you’ve been together for 6 days day, both trying to do your best for the tournament, why in the world would you not want to make it feel as much like a jackpot to your caddy as it was for you? In Mexico, that might be far less than you’d give your American caddie, but it would still be a hell of a lot more than “a deal’s a deal.” And we wonder why in most parts of the globe we’re seen as “the Ugly Americans.”

    • Todd Tim

      Feb 14, 2019 at 11:24 am

      “Ugly Americans” LOL If these third World countries actually bothered to understand the pathway out of poverty, instead of being emotional like yourself. They would be prosperous like “Ugly America.” Self hate much?

      • Steve2

        Feb 14, 2019 at 12:01 pm

        It’s common colloquiism. Can you not laugh at yourself? Get over it.

    • Fintan

      Feb 14, 2019 at 11:24 am

      TDbach…your dead-nuts on this. Kuch is a colossal dick.

    • Duffmaster

      Feb 14, 2019 at 6:28 pm

      good comments TDBach.

      And another occasion where someone could have even turned it to their advantage somewhat. As some have stated, blew an opportunity to pay only 31.5 in post tax real dollars that 50k is, and he could have had fun and been a partner in the laundromat Tucan wanted to get /build. He could have gone to the laundromat next year as defending champion and done a short video on it and signed some autographs. Penny wise pound foolish to not recognize how a majority of folks would take what happened.

  95. Madre

    Feb 14, 2019 at 10:15 am

    It appears going forward all payment agreements for Caddies, whether regular or protem, will be in writing and reviewed by legal. It doesn’t matter how much the Pro is worth, or how much they won. What if he had not won? The point being, in business, you need to have everything documented.
    If the Caddie felt the payment was unfair prior to the tournament, he should have negotiated terms based on the possible outcome. I’m sure this is not an isolated incident and you really are not privy to the payment terms between other Pros and Caddies. Don’t assume it’s always 10% of earnings because it’s not. Do some research.
    This will definitely make other pros sit up and take notice.

  96. Mike

    Feb 14, 2019 at 10:06 am

    C’mon Matt. You won and walked away with over a Million in prize money. You only throw the caddie $5??

    Fix this. Step up and be a man. Fix this.

    We spend a lifetime building a reputation. We can lose it in an instant.

  97. Dan Hughes

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:58 am

    I don’t like Kuchar because of the gutless way he bailed out on his approach at #16 at Sawgrass at the 2016 Player’s. He was 2 strokes down with 3 to play and he absolutely bailed, leaving a 70 foot eagle putt. I’ve held a grudge ever since against him.
    However, I agree with him 100% on this one. Not only is a deal a deal, but he’s right when he says somebody “got in his ear”. There is obviously some kind of anti rich white guy mentality behind this, and obviously from some outside influences. The comments on here sound like either lefty trolls or losers who get off being super generous with other people’s money.

    • Steve2

      Feb 14, 2019 at 12:06 pm

      Guy paid him 1 1/2 percent – nobody as asking for super generous. Fair would do. Funny that you only look at this from the rich white guy’s POV and not that of the poor Brown guy who lives in a cinder block house.

      • Skyler Turden

        Feb 14, 2019 at 3:21 pm

        How do you know what’s fair? Kuchar offered him a deal and he took it. Apparently the caddy turned down a 15K bonus. When you snooze you loose.

        • Steve2

          Feb 14, 2019 at 5:13 pm

          That’s a good question. I like everyone here works for a living so I tend to look at competitive salaries and experience levels when determining my own worth. My interpretation of fair in this instance would be derived from the following factors:

          1. Kuchar would have normally paid over 100k to his normal caddy
          2.This guy did the same job, obviously this guy is not as experienced as his normal caddy and doesn’t know Kuchar’s game nearly as well. He shouldn’t get 100k
          3. Kuchar was called out by other pros who are privy to how this type of deal should work

          Considering all that, maybe 3-5% and we wouldn’t be talking about this. What do you think?

          You make a strong point about the bonus, though. Does come off as whiny that he turned that down and now he complains about it. Principled that El Tucan is!

      • Skyler Turden

        Feb 14, 2019 at 4:25 pm

        How do you know what’s fair? Kuchar offered him a deal and he took it. Why do you think you have the moral high ground on this topic? What does this have to do with race? Plus if you really cared about the poor you would bother to learn what creates poverty in the first place instead of virtue signalling.

  98. Shallowface

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:53 am

    The Tour needs to step in here. If Kuchar doesn’t make this right, and making it right is the full ten percent, he needs to get six months off for “conduct unbecoming.” In the meantime, the “KOOOCH” chants that sound like boos need to become actual boos. Treat this phony smiling pro wrestling babyface as the heel he actually is.

    • Paul

      Feb 14, 2019 at 10:10 am

      calling for 10% is not just ridicoulous, but a bit ignorant.

      10% is reserved for guys who spend weeks and weeks traveling and covering costs, spending time away from family, putting in hours and hours of work on the range with a player, learning and providing on course benefits to a player, etc etc. 10% is way too much for a random one week to carry the bag. 2-3% seems reasonable on a win, especially as Kuchar hadn’t won in a while and should’ve been even more encouraged to reward the caddy for the great week

      • ken

        Feb 14, 2019 at 10:36 am

        Finally, someone who gets it….Kudos to you, sir

        • Shallowface

          Feb 14, 2019 at 11:11 am

          The only ignorance unfortunately was on the part of the caddy. Kuchar knows what the standard payoff is for a winning bag, regardless of who is caddying. I’m sure Kuchar didn’t expect to win, so it probably never entered his mind what he would pay if he did. However when he did win, he knew what the right thing to do was and he essentially stiffed the caddy, now with the explanation that $5,000 is a lot to someone who is poor. That just makes it worse. It will be interesting to see if he defends the title later this year. My guess is he’ll have another obligation, like having to wash his hair or something.

          The only thing “ridicoulous” is that anyone could see fit to defend this sort of behavior.

          • Nezander

            Feb 14, 2019 at 3:29 pm

            You people are all crazy. 10% is for the guy who carries your bag, knows everything about every course you play, knows better than you do how far you hit every club in your bag, talks you off the ledge when you’re about to lose it because you just doubled the last hole, listens to you whine and complain about the state of your game, the state of your marriage, and basically ditches their own family for you for months at a time. The 10% those guys get is well earned and I’m sure players are happy to pay when they win. They know the caddy earned it and then some.

            This guy, as a sub, agreed to carry his bag for one tournament for a set price. That’s it, and that’s all. Literally anyone could have done it. It’s not apples and oranges, its not even apples and orangutans, it’s not even in the same ballpark. To subject it to the same expectaitons is ridiculous.

    • Dolphin McMuffin

      Feb 14, 2019 at 10:32 am

      You want him suspended because they mutual agreed on a Contracted amount and he paid it? People have zero logic these days.

    • Chuck

      Feb 14, 2019 at 10:34 am

      If you think this fill-in deserves 10% then you are delusional.

      • Steve2

        Feb 14, 2019 at 12:10 pm

        Literally no one is saying he should get 10%. 50k is like 5 percent.

    • ken

      Feb 14, 2019 at 10:35 am

      I am amused at how some people believe they have the right to decide the manner in which other people should spend their money.

    • ken

      Feb 14, 2019 at 10:58 am

      Umm , the players as well as the caddies are independent contractors. The PGA Tour has no standing here.

  99. Paul

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:45 am

    Kuchar says – had a flat tire on the way to the course last week…a homeless man wandered over and changed the tire for me. i didn’t even have to get out of my car because it was raining out. gave the guy 12 bucks because thats 12x the amount of money he’s used to making in one day.

  100. Likesgolf

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:42 am

    Hi Guys, just boycott the products Kuchar endorses. Once it hits pocket book, he will come to his senses. Shame on him. He had a chance to improve someone’s life. He failed miserably. He exposed his fake smile. So much for being religious. I am afraid he won’t change.

    • ken

      Feb 14, 2019 at 9:50 am

      Hey genius…First, boycotts are juvenile. They have short term splash and long term nothing.
      Second.,..A deal is a deal. Terms and conditions. Both parties agreed to those terms.
      That is referred to as a “contract”. Once in a contract, one does not get to go back and say “do over”..Especially in light of the fact that the player actually tipped the caddie an additional $1000.
      In these times where many younger people have been brought up with participation trophies, helicopter parents, etc, it comes as no surprise these very same people believe in “do over”..

      • TVGolfer

        Feb 14, 2019 at 11:50 am

        Not to mention that he was offered an additional $15,000 and turned it down. For all those saying Kuchar should make this right, this was his attempt to do that. That said the contract was for $4000 and his he tipped him 25%.

      • Steve2

        Feb 14, 2019 at 12:12 pm

        Ken, old people have been complaining about the “younger generation” since people could talk. You’re not original. Make an actual point.

      • doomer_boomer

        Feb 14, 2019 at 6:45 pm

        Who was handing those trophy that ruined these kids . ????

  101. Greg Marthaler

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:39 am

    To put this in perspective, back before regular tour caddies were the norm, top high school kids from area clubs would loop for the pros. Think the 1960’s-1970’s…in those days, the first draw in an event might pick a guy like Dan Sikes or Don January in the Minnesota Golf Classic and would make $3,000 for a good week…So, Matt is really being cheap making that deal in 2019!! And believe me, those guys hadn’t won $50,000,000 in prize money over their careers.
    Do the right thing, Kuch! Don’t be a Mooch!

  102. Matt Kuchar

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:33 am

    A deal is a deal!

    • JD

      Feb 14, 2019 at 9:39 am

      LOL tell that to Bridgestone and Sketchers when they drop your azz

      • ken

        Feb 14, 2019 at 9:56 am

        WHAT? WHy would they?
        And i can guarantee you, this post above is not that of Matt Kuchar.

  103. Do The Right Thing

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:31 am

    This is horrible coming from one of the top 10% in wealth. Kuch the Smuch is attempting to turn the story around for PR sakes. he has lost me as a fan, Matt “Cheapscape” Kucher. Jack or Arnie have done the right thing in this in this situation. What goes around will come to hunt you. You can’t be a God fearing man and think that this is right. Pay Mr. Ortiz $45K to make this right. The $200 a day statement is just outlandish.

  104. Rich

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:31 am

    Kuchar should have given him much more. The news of the original deal would come out and he would have come out looking great. A cheap price to pay for some great pr.

    • ken

      Feb 14, 2019 at 10:26 am

      This is what bugs me about those who cannot resist class envy.
      You, nor anyone else have the right to butt into the business/financial affairs of another person.

      • jd

        Feb 14, 2019 at 3:58 pm

        what you don’t get is that the public has a right to an opinion. kuchar has every right to stiff the caddie as there was no written contract. but don’t be surprised when the public flames you when they find out your true colors. if kuchar is out there hawking products on tv pretending to be a guy he isn’t….thats the issue. dont try to come across as the likeable smiling matty when you’re anything but this…

        those who follow tour players daily in the media are now admitting kuchar is the biggest fraud on tour.

        you might be the dumbest of all those posting comments which says a lot. you’ve continually tried to make this about politics. i’m a conservative, despise sjw, and can see kuchar looks like a complete cheap azz and an awful person. this isn’t about hatred for rich, class warfare, jealousy, etc. this is about sharing a small percentage 2-3% of your significant winnings with someone kuchar himself said was his lucky charm.

      • Benny

        Feb 15, 2019 at 8:58 am

        Wait, you mean like mergers and acquisitions? Or when our Gov spends money on crap we may or may not need? Or when a Hollywood Actress and her family have the greenest lawns in all of CA while everywhere else is a drought and asked to preserve their water?
        Ken if Kuchar did nothing wrong than why is this such a big issue and 300 comments on this site alone?
        People in the spot light are going to be criticized. We have every right to talk about how they spend their money. It’s up to them if they want to listen or not. Obviously Kuchar isn’t and that’s why we are on here waiting our lives away trying to convince one another who is right.

  105. UpstateGolfer

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:31 am

    0.4% of the winning purse to the caddie is pathetic. I don’t know how anyone can believe he did the right thing. I feel like there has always been whispers that he is not the “Golly Matt” we see on the Tour, know we know.

  106. John

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:28 am

    Kuchar’s nick name “The Smiling Assasin”, not sure who coined that one, is very appropriate. He will screw you to the wall if he gets a chance, at the same time smiling he ass off! Pay up cheap-skate!

  107. dat

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:21 am

    This isn’t gonna bode well for Kuch.

  108. JP

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:21 am

    If you order take out and get home to discover it’s the most delicious take out you’ve ever had, so you return to the restaurant and offer to pay more?
    .
    Contract is a contract. He fulfilled his end. Just because he doesn’t give a generous tip or bonus after winning doesn’t give anyone the right to chastise him.

    • kevin

      Feb 14, 2019 at 9:25 am

      5k on a 1.3M payday?? kuchar deserves to be heckled and ridiculed.

      if you buy a lotto ticket by simply asking the cashier for a scratch off and they ask which one…and you reply ‘surprise me’ so they pick a ticket and you win $1M…do give the cashier nothing simply because you paid for the ticket and aren’t legally required to pay more?

      • ken

        Feb 14, 2019 at 10:31 am

        Legally? No. . Is that your argument?
        Do I tip the cashier at the racetrack? No. Why? because that person is a member of a labor union and their hourly wage is standard. Not a tipped wage.
        Do i tip the dealers at a casino? Yes. Because they are paid minimum or just above minimum wage.

        • Luigi

          Feb 14, 2019 at 3:08 pm

          You’re not very good at this Ken. Since you’re knowledgeable about the racetrack, I’ll give you a relevant example.

          You have a horse in the Kentucky Derby (2018 1st prize: same as this, $1.2mm.) your named jockey gets hurt in an earlier race and can’t ride. You grab a fill in rider from the room and lo and behold you win the race. Industry standard has ALWAYS been 10% on a win, despite the jockeys being independent contractors and everything done verbally. What does that new jockey deserve? A lousy $5k? Or something reasonable like maybe 5%?

          This is indefensible behavior by Kuchar. Sorry you can’t see that.

    • Kenny

      Feb 14, 2019 at 9:27 am

      Wtf are you talking about? Everyone has the right to chastise him. These comments are proof of it.

      • ken

        Feb 14, 2019 at 10:57 am

        And your missing the part where others have the right to disagree with your point of view as well as find your opinion to be unacceptable.
        Despite that which you have been taught by your lefty public school instructors, freedom of speech is not absolute. And not all opinions are valid.
        Only those opinions offered by the informed are valid

        • Steve2

          Feb 14, 2019 at 2:42 pm

          What exactly are you informed of that gives you authority here? I’m sure the great oracle, Ken will be very specific.

  109. Joe Perez

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:15 am

    I wonder how this might affect the future use of local caddies by tour pros. The blowback from this incident could mean that if a pro’s caddie has the week off, or comes down with an illness during the event, there will be more friends, wives & agents on the bags.

  110. Kevin

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:12 am

    Lost all respect for Kuchar. Sergio’s outburst last week is less offensive that Kuchar’s tightwad excuses and explanation.

    • Bob's Red Mill

      Feb 14, 2019 at 9:18 am

      Agree. Regardless of any agreement. Kuchar took advantage of this man. What was Ortiz supposed to say when offered
      a substandard amount, “No?” Kuchar should have paid Ortiz the usual caddie payment for a win – 10%, and he should have
      been happy to do that. No longer a fan

      • kevin

        Feb 14, 2019 at 9:31 am

        Agreed…says a lot about the character of the caddy by not trying to nail out a contract before the tournament and simply trusting the player would make things right. punished for being too trusting.

        kuchar’s comments hurt his image even more. if kuchar was smart he would’ve responded that Tucan was contracted to carry the bag only. no yardages, no reads on the green, no advice, etc. problem is immediately after the win, Kuchar called Tucan his lucky charm and mentioned his timely advice coming down the stretch.

        Kuchar should be taking even more heat for this. If this were Sergio or Reed….the media and fans would be destroying them.

      • kevin

        Feb 14, 2019 at 9:35 am

        10% is not expected and not even reasonable. just as .3% is not reasonable. 10% is reserved for the guy who spends weeks away from their family, who has significant travel expenses, who has a connection to the player and provides real benefit on course, etc etc. but is asking for 2-3% too much to ask. i hope the negative PR follows Kuchar the rest of his career unless he has change of heart and pays up.

      • ken

        Feb 14, 2019 at 10:46 am

        Ok..In what way was the caddie disadvantaged?
        Most likely, he just made 50 times his monthly salary in less than 6 days.
        Also, the tour caddies are paying for their travel, meals, etc. Each player has arrangements with their regular looper. Players understand those expenses and compensate their caddie appropriately and per their private agreements. Obviously the player’s individual regular caddies are paid much more. This was a local guy who happened to work on that property.
        If a player asked me to be on his bag because the regular looper was not available and paid me $5k , I’d be ecstatic. And of course I’d be getting that player’s contact info should the need arise again.
        The fact that this story was “juicy” is the reason why it appears here.
        This is a nothing burger.

      • ken

        Feb 14, 2019 at 11:06 am

        Kevin/Bob’s Red Mill…I am certain Matt Kuchar will miss your support.
        In fact, he’s probably crushed.

  111. fredwomble

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:10 am

    This has been discussed ad nauseam for the past few weeks on GolfWRX. Given the reputation the game has as elitist (not to mention a historically “white” and race issues), Kuchar comes across even worse with these comments. I don’t know that it will really become a huge story, the latest coverage notwithstanding. But if any tourney is coming down to the wire and Kuchar is in the mix, I’m rooting against him. It’s really not just that he’s cheap and now condescending, it’s that he has this seeming wholesome “well gosh golly” persona that looks more like Eddie Haskell now. Chump.

  112. Terry

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:09 am

    Regardless of right or wrong, this likely causes irreparable damage to Kuchar’s reputation amongst the golf public. It’s always important to look at the big picture. Kuchar didn’t and I’ll pay the price long term. He is no longer on my favorite players list.

  113. Henny Bogan

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:09 am

    In the court of public opinion Matt Kuchar has just double bogeyed. His condescending remarks only reinforce the lack of respect caddies have received throughout golf history. For those of you who think caddies just carry clubs are mistaken.
    Karma will bite you Matt. The golf gods never forget.

  114. V Redmond

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:04 am

    So they had a decreasing bonus structure that left the caddy’s bonus fir winning, or anything better than top 10, unstated. Koch threw him an extra $1000/20% for the win which was consistent with the decreasing bonuses in the contract. So Kooch honored their deal. Bad tips happen. Kooch screwed him. Never let the golfing world forget it.

  115. Tiger Woods

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:03 am

    I would have caddied free of charge

    • chuck

      Feb 14, 2019 at 11:26 am

      maybe cus ur a little more well off (financially) than matt’s caddie I would assume

  116. Crisp P. Bacon

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:02 am

    Kuchar agreed to $4K. He was generous and gave the caddie “bonus” of $1k. Give this guy a break! How else will he pay for his mansions, cars and contribute to his multi million dollar trust fund for his kids?

  117. Bradley Baker

    Feb 14, 2019 at 9:01 am

    Matt’s ability to flex the right PR muscle is sadly missing. Not a smart comment to make.

  118. Mitch

    Feb 14, 2019 at 8:56 am

    Wow… what a classless thing to do Kooch. Sure changed my opinion of you. Give the guy 10% …. say u made a mistake and move on.

  119. Bob Garland

    Feb 14, 2019 at 8:55 am

    Kuchar may be technically right but he is totally wrong on the treatment of the caddie. No matter the “terms” Kuchar stiffed him and I think much less of him for it. If you have no money and are cheap, that is one thing, if you are filthy rich and are cheap it is a whole different matter.People who know Matt personally are not at all surprised by his actions, would you not hate to have people who know you think about you in this light?

  120. Jose Pinatas

    Feb 14, 2019 at 8:54 am

    Let’s see how many right wing conservatives I can irritate here…. Kuchar’s 5k a week is a lot for a guy who makes 200 a day quote is way off base he should pay what the market dictates. It’s like one of us working a job and getting underpaid. It’s the employer’s responsibility to pay a fair wage regardless of what said employee is asking for. In the real world the employer would get a reputation of paying his/her employees like crap. In this situation Kuchar is the employer, pays like crap, employees unhappy. Good luck with that as a company motto…

    • mark

      Feb 14, 2019 at 10:02 am

      You can also irritate many left wing liberals, who are just as wealthy as the right wing conservatives.

    • ken

      Feb 14, 2019 at 11:15 am

      Nice try. Won’t wash.
      First, there is no such thing as “underpaid”..The employer and employee settle on a pay agreement.
      That’s referred to as a contract.
      When an agreement is made of equal consideration, between two responsible parties, that is a binding contract. it is certainly not the responsibility nor the obligation of any business owner to fit one’s narrative of morality. In this case, you are insisting as a matter or morality that even though the two parties agreed to a certain wage, you believe the employer is “Morally obligated” to increase that amount. Really? On which planet?
      No the employer has no obligation to pay a “fair” wage. This is because the term “fair” is subjective. It has no definition.

      • Jose Pinatas

        Feb 14, 2019 at 11:35 am

        Pay agreements can be negotiable, espically when done by word of mouth.
        Certain jobs do require certain pay(not a lot of engineers making minimum wage). If a contractor or business owner doesn’t want to pay them, fine. Your taking that risk of being labeled a crap employer that doesn’t pay his employees.
        Therefore the good employees will avoid working with or for you. So unless you want that label, I’d suggest fair, accurate, and competitive wages. How it works on Earth..

      • Steve2

        Feb 14, 2019 at 2:47 pm

        If there’s no such thing as being underpaid, why is there a minimum wage in most countries?

  121. Martin Chuck

    Feb 14, 2019 at 8:51 am

    My take: a win is 10%. Not a discount because you were in Mexico. 5% to his regular looper who couldn’t be there and 5% to his stand in, local guy. I’ve seen this before w another well known Pro, many years ago. IMO, $5k is a nice week for the fellow, but Kutch had a chance to foster massive awesomeness and shanked it. Oh well, he’s still a great guy. I know that from experience.

  122. john robbins

    Feb 14, 2019 at 8:38 am

    “For a guy who makes $200 a day, a $5,000 week is a really big week.”….That is a really bad and pretentious thing to say…If you win 100 million in the lottery, you should only get 1 million because you were poor to start off with? Kuchar is a jerk in my book

  123. Thinkbeforeyouspeak

    Feb 14, 2019 at 8:21 am

    You are reaching with the racist comment. Reel it in and look at your own racism. Also, Mexican isn’t a race it’s a nationality. Think. Please

  124. WigerToods

    Feb 14, 2019 at 8:16 am

    a deal was made before they played. In real life we call that a contract. These SJW’s and guys who don’t tip bartenders and wait staff are all up in arms. If Tucan Sam didn’t like the terms he should have said no or negotiated. But he wanted a job. He figured he’d get at least a grand because Kuch would make the cut. If Kuch places even 2nd we don’t hear about this.

    • Rich

      Feb 14, 2019 at 8:45 am

      It’s telling that you felt the need to slur the caddie’s name. And you’re complaining about SJW’s. SMDH

  125. Brandon

    Feb 14, 2019 at 8:14 am

    Karma is a bitch. Matt will get his
    Give him 5-10 percent all day of earnings.

  126. Dan

    Feb 14, 2019 at 8:12 am

    A deals a deal.

    Should Kuchar given more money? I think so.

    Must Kuchar give him more money? Not according to their agreement.

    Sure Kuchar looks like a cheaphead and $50,000 to him is a weekly rounding error but a deals a deal

  127. Johnnythunders

    Feb 14, 2019 at 8:04 am

    A deal is a deal. Kuchar offered what he wanted to pay. The caddie accepted. The question of was it fair is irrelevant. The fact that he won was not expected given his play overthe lastfew years.

    • VR

      Feb 14, 2019 at 9:50 am

      That is what Kuchar says, you are assuming that is true. 5k out of 1.2M is a fair deal? And his comment about 5k bekng a lot when he earns 200bucks a week is as crappy a comment as I have heard. So all Mexicans don’t get the same wages as Americans ? Wow!!! My respect for Kuch just got flushed down the proverbial toilet!!!

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News

Morning 9: Wyndham Clark on back injury | DiMarco’s bold Champions Tour take | Houston Open photos

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Thursday morning, golf fans, as day one of the Houston Open gets underway.

1. Wyndham Clark hurts back…still hopes to play

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach…”Reigning U.S. Open winner Wyndham Clark injured his back while working out at home Monday, but he hopes to play in this week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open, which starts Thursday at Memorial Park Golf Course.”

  • “Clark, the fourth-ranked golfer in the world, said he was lifting weights and “got caught in an awkward spot doing a lift and [his] back went.”
  • “It’s not something that happens regularly, but it happened and you live and you learn,” Clark said. “I’m trending in the right direction. I’m hitting it or feeling stronger and more mobile every day. I’m going to give it my best effort tomorrow and hopefully I can play and compete. If not, I’ve got to get ready for tournaments to come after this.”
Full piece.

2. DiMarco’s bold Champions Tour take

Our Matt Vincenzi…”While speaking on the Subpar podcast, former PGA Tour winner and current PGA Tour Champions player Chris DiMarco said he hopes LIV buys the Champions Tour.”

  • “We’re kind of hoping that LIV buys the Champions Tour,” he said.
  • “Let’s play for a little real money out here. I mean this is kind of a joke when we’re getting $2 million. There were like seven guys last week from TPC (Sawgrass, at the $25 million PLAYERS Championship) that made more money than our purses.”
Full piece.

3. Charley Hull’s course management problem?

Our Matt Vincenzi…”Charley Hull came just short of her third LPGA Tour victory over the weekend at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship when she played her last two holes at 3 over to slip all the way to 10th on the leaderboard.”

  • “After the round, Hull was blasted by Sky Sports commentator and former LPGA Tour player Trish Johnson for her lack of golf course management.”
  • “While speaking on the Sky Sports Golf podcast, Johnson spoke harshly of Hull.”
  • “I’m probably her harshest critic, because I know how good she is. She doesn’t win anywhere near enough for her talent, and she doesn’t get involved enough, in all honestly.
  • “The thing with Charley is that you’re never going to change her. I read something the other day that said how much she loves the game and it’s her love of the game [that costs her]. She’s never going to change and she’s just going to go for every pin.
  • “In theory that’s great, but it won’t win you golf tournaments, it just won’t because she’s not that much better than anybody else.
Full piece.

4. Sahith’s interesting idea

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”Which brings Theegala to his big idea: “There’s got to be something, like a fan challenge or – I think it would be awesome to see a scratch handicap go out and play like the Monday after a tournament, keep the same conditions and see what they would shoot just to put it into perspective how hard a PGA Tour golf course is.”

  • “Theegala loves the thought so much that he’d even come out and watch.”
  • “Shoot, I’d commentate on it,” Theegala added before continuing, “I have a pet peeve, sometimes when I watch golf on TV, a great example is hole 8 at Valspar last week. It’s a 230-yard par 3, the green’s 12 yards wide and someone will hit the middle of the green and, you know, they’ll be like, ‘Oh, really smart shot there.’ I’m like, ‘Well, no, he’s absolutely laced this 4-iron in the middle of the green, that’s right where he’s looking and to hit a 4-iron that straight is really, really hard.’ … Even like chipping, a lot of the stuff just looks flat on TV, but then when you get over the chip, like, oh, great, I have to land it over a mound on a downslope down grain?”
Full piece.

5. Top am Rachel Heck not going pro

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”As Rachel Heck nears the end of her college golf career, she has decided that the LPGA isn’t for her.’

  • “Heck, the 22-year-old Stanford senior who won an NCAA individual title as a freshman and has climbed as high as second in the world amateur rankings, penned a first-person essay for No Laying Up in which she explained her reasoning for remaining amateur after graduation this summer and starting an internship not in professional golf but rather private equity. Heck, a political science major, also will be pinned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.”

Read her piece on No Laying Up: https://nolayingup.com/blog/why-im-remaining-an-amateur

Full piece.

6. DJ’s new LIV signing

Golf Monthly’s Elliott Heath…”Dustin Johnson‘s LIV Golf team 4Aces GC has announced former TravisMathew CEO Chris Rosaasen as the side’s new General Manager.”

  • “Rosaasen, who is a long-time friend of Johnson, is also the founder of the team’s apparel sponsor Extracurricular and has been CEO of the Omniverse Group for the past four years.
  • “He joins with more than 20 years of “brand-building, marketing, and business leadership” according to LIV Golf, which says his “record of innovation in the golf industry will strengthen and accelerate the growth of the 4Aces GC brand.”
Full piece.

7. Photos from the Houston Open

  • Check out all of our photos from this week’s event!
Full piece.
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News

Four books for a springtime review

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One thing that never changes over time: snowy evenings give purpose to reading (is it the other way around?) It has been a snowy 2024 in western New York, and I’ve had ample time to tuck into an easy chair with a blanket, coffee, and a book. You’re in luck, because despite the title of this piece, I’ll share five books and their worth with you.

There is great breadth of subject matter from one to five. Golf is as complicated as life, which means that the cover of the book isn’t worth judging. The contents begin the tale, but there is so much more to each topic presented within. If you’re like me, your library grows each year. Despite the value of the virtual, the paper-printed word connects us to the past of golf and humanity. Here’s hoping that you’ll add one or more of these titles to your collection.

        

Rainmaker

Hughes Norton interviewed with Mark McCormack for 20 minutes (30 if you count the missed exit at Logan International) while driving the founder of IMG from Harvard to the airport. The lesson of taking advantage of each moment, of every dollar, because you might not get another opportunity, is the most valuable one that life offers. I say to you, be certain to read this book, because another opportunity to bend the ear of Hughes Norton may not come our way.

Hughes Norton was with Tiger Woods for waaayyy fewer years than you might guess, but they were the critical ones. Be warned: not all of the revelations in this tome are for the faint of heart. Some, in fact, will break your heart. Golf was a sleepy hamlet in the 1990s, until the 16-lane interstate called Eldrick “Tiger” Woods came into town. Everything changed, which meant that everything would change again and again, into eternity. Once the ball starts rolling, it’s impossible to stop.

My favorite aspect of this book is its candor. Hughes Norton is well into his time on Planet Earth. He has no reason to hold back, and he doesn’t. My least favorite aspect is that George Peper got the call to co-author the book (and I didn’t.) Seriously, there is no LFA for me, so this is the best that I could do.

Decision: Buy It!

The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor

Michael Wolf, James Sitar, and Jon Cavalier, in abject partnership, collaborated to produce a handsome volume on the work of gone-too-soon, engineer-turned-golf course architect. Seth Raynor was pulled into the game by Charles Blair MacDonald, the crusty godfather of American golf. Raynor played little golf across the 51 years of his life. His reason? He did not wish to corrupt his designs with the demands and failings of his own game.

Jon Cavalier began his photography career as a contributor to the Golf Club Atlas discussion group. I met him there in a virtual way (we still have yet to shake hands) and have exchanged numerous emails over the years. Despite the demands of his day job, Cavalier has blossomed into the most traveled and prolific course photographer alive today. His photography, both hand-held and drone, makes the pages pop. Michael Wolf invited me and two friends to play his home course, despite having never met any of us in person. His words, melded to those of James Sitar, are the glue that connect Cavalier’s photos.

My favorite aspect of the books is the access it gives to the private-club world of Raynor. Fewer than five of his courses are resort or public access, and knowing people on the inside is not available to all. My suggestion? Write a letter/email and see if a club will let you play. Can’t hurt to try! My one complaint about the book is its horizontal nature. Golf is wide, but I like a little vertical in my photos. It’s not much of a complaint, given the glorious contents within the covers.

Decision: Buy It!!

Big Green Book from The Golfer’s Journal

Beginning with its (over)size, and continuing through the entire contents, there is no descriptor that defines the genre of the Big Green Book. It is photography, essay, layout, poetry, graphics, and stream of consciousness. It harnesses the creative power of a lengthy masthead of today’s finest golf contributors. Quotes from Harvey Penick, verse from Billy Collins, and prose from John Updike partner with images pure and altered, to immerse you in the diverse golf spaces that define this planet.

One of my favorite aspects is the spaces between the words and photos. Have your friends and others write a few notes to you in those blank areas, to personalize your volume even more. One aspect that needs improvement: the lack of female voices. I suspect that will be remedied in future volumes.

Decision: Buy It!!!

Troublemaker and The Unplayable Lie

Books that allege discrimination and mistreatment check two boxes: potentially-salacious reads and debate over whose perspective is accurate. In the end, the presentation of salacious revelation rarely meets the expectation, and the debate over fault is seldom resolved. Lisa Cornwell spent years as a competitive junior and college golfer, before joining The Golf Channel as a reporter and program host.

Despite the dream assignments, there were clouds that covered the sun. Cornwell documents episodes of favoritism and descrimination against her, prior to her departure from The Golf Channel in 2021. Her work echoes the production of the late Marcia Chambers, who wrote for Golf Digest in the 1980s and 1990s. Chambers took issue with many of the potential and real legal issues surrounding golf and its policies of access/no access. Her research culminated in The Unplayable Lie, the first work of its kind to address issues confronted by all genders and ethnicities, and immediately predated the professional debut of Tiger Woods in 1997.

My favorite aspects of the two works, are the courage and conviction that it took to write them, and believe in them. My least favorite aspects are the consistent bias that many groups continue to face. Without awareness, there is no action. Without action, there is no change.

Decision: Buy Them!!!!

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

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GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.

As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

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