Tour News

Jim “Bones” Mackay joins NBC/Golf Channel as on-course reporter

Published

9 years ago

Jul 6, 2017

Jim Mackay, better known as Bones — the 25-year caddie for Phil Mickelson — is apparently putting the Staff bag down for the time being, and has accepted an on-course reporting job with NBC and the Golf Channel, as per reports. It was just 16 days ago that the pair announced a mutual split to the public, and Bones has already ended speculation as to where he’d go next.

Welcome to the team, Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay.

He joins Golf Channel as an on-course reporter. His first stop: #TheOpen –https://t.co/3BMarO938T pic.twitter.com/PzShbOkmSH

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 6, 2017

“When Phil and I split up, several people got in touch,” Mackay said, according to Golfworld. “People have been nice enough over the years to say something to me about how they thought [broadcasting] was something maybe I could do at some point in my life. It was always something I’d say thank you to, and personally thought about. When Phil and I split, I got several phone calls, and it became a bigger opportunity, really seriously, the last few weeks.”

According to reports, Bones will be on the mic and walking course at The 2017 Open Championship, as well as The Presidents Cup and the FedEx Cup Playoffs later this year. It doesn’t sound as though Bones will be working a full Tour schedule yet, leaving him with off weeks to… loop?

“I’m going be working 20-odd weeks a year,” Mackay said. “I think being a caddie is always going to be in blood, but right now it’s one thing at a time.”

Those aren’t words of a man who seems completely ready to hang up the caddie bib, but he does sound committed to the new gig.

“Right now, it’s just a question of jumping in with both feet and learning as much as I possibly can, as quickly as I can,” Mackay said.

Either way, it will be interesting to hear the insight and experience that Bones brings to table, and he’ll certainly provide trustworthy green reads to the coverage.

Discussion: See what GolfWRX members are saying about Bones’ decision

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Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

11 Comments

Roland Nump

Jul 9, 2017 at 6:48 am

Kiss of death.

Reply Report comment
ALF

Jul 7, 2017 at 6:54 pm

Great opportunity for what I understand is a great guy. Some of the present commentators seem to always try to outsmart each other. This isn’t a comedy show. Maybe a great ex- caddie can offer some sound reporting. You go, Bones!

Reply Report comment
Jacked_Loft

Jul 7, 2017 at 10:41 am

I don’t know what he can bring for “new” insights as some of the commentators have been between the ropes for a long time.

Maybe he’ll be talking more about the caddys than the players/shots. Something like “why did the caddy give him enough club to hit it over the green on the right side?”

Instead of “Boy did he just hit in totally the wrong place!!”

Reply Report comment
ooffa

Jul 7, 2017 at 7:05 am

Give the guy a chance. He may be the one that brings interesting insightful commentary to the tournaments.

Reply Report comment
ND Hickman

Jul 7, 2017 at 5:57 am

According to rumours he won’t be caddying much again due to knee injuries.

Reply Report comment
Gorden

Jul 6, 2017 at 4:48 pm

So which on course commentator is getting the boot? Pepper I hope…

Reply Report comment
- Shallowface
  
  Jul 6, 2017 at 7:33 pm
  
  Dottie Pepper works for CBS.
  
  Reply Report comment
Tom1

Jul 6, 2017 at 11:23 am

There we have a resolve.

Reply Report comment
Mower

Jul 6, 2017 at 10:51 am

Damn, wish I could have job offers fall in my lap like this.

Reply Report comment
- Steve
  
  Jul 6, 2017 at 11:33 am
  
  Be great at something relevant for 25 years, and then you probably will have offers falling into your lap.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Joe
    
    Jul 6, 2017 at 1:57 pm
    
    Indeed, great reply
    
    Reply Report comment

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.

Check out links to all our photos below.