News
Matt Kuchar’s stand-in caddie for Mayakoba win: I was paid $5,000
The WGC-Mexico Championship kicking off on February, 21, and a pay dispute between Matt Kuchar and a local caddie threatens to overshadow the PGA Tour’s trek south of the border.
David Giral Ortiz, stand-in caddie for the Tour event Kuchar won in Mexico in 2018, the Mayakoba Golf Classic, has shared his side of the story with Golf.com’s Michael Bamberger.
Per Bamberger’s report, Ortiz has claimed to have received no further payment from Kuchar after he was initially paid $5,000 for his efforts that week. The Mexican stated that he was offered an extra $15,000, but feeling the sum unacceptable, Ortiz decided to reject the offer.
The victory that week in Mexico was Kuchar’s first since 2014, and with it, the American pocketed a winner’s check for $1,296,000. According to Ortiz, the $5,000 that he was reportedly paid, was way below his evaluation of $50,000, and the Mexican believes that he has been taken advantage of and vastly underpaid.
Ortiz revealed to Golf.com one of three emails he wrote to Kuchar’s agent Mark Steinberg, one of which said
“I am a humble man, who takes care of his family, and works hard. I am reaching out to you to see if you can facilitate me receiving a fair amount for my help with Matt winning $1,296,000. I am not looking to disparage Matt or give him a bad name. Fair is fair, and I feel like I was taken advantage of by placing my trust in Matt.”
According to Ortiz, the caddie received just one response to his emails from Steinberg, which stated
“I am out of the country. What Matt has offered is fair.”
Asked about the prospect of caddying for Kuchar at this year’s event, Ortiz told Bamberger
“No thank you. I’m a little bit pissed, a little bit confused.”
I’m going to gush in this intro paragraph, to get the emo stuff done early. I’ve not pulled harder for a professional to win, than Cameron Young. I coach golf in New York state, and each spring, my best golfers head to a state championship in Poughkeepsie. I first saw Cameron there as a 9th grade student. I saw him three more times after that. I reconnecected with Coach Haas from Wake Forest, an old interview subject from my days on the Old Gold and Black, the Wake newspaper. He was there to watch Cameron. After four years at Wake Forest, Young won on the Korn Ferry Tour, made it to the big tour, almost won two majors, almost won five other events, and finally got the chalice about 25 minutes from the Wake campus. Congratulations, Cameron. You truly are a glass of the finest. #MotherSoDear
OK, let’s move on to the Tour Rundown. The major championship season closed this week in Wales, with the Women’s Open championship. The PGA Tour bounced through Greensboror, N.C., while the PGA Tour Americas hit TO (aka, Toronto) for a long-winded event. The Korn Ferry lads made a stop in Utah, one of just two events for that tour in August. The many-events, golf season is winding down, as we ease from summer toward fall in the northern hemisphere. Let’s bask in the glory of an August sunrise, and run down a quartet of events from the first weekend of the eighth month.
LET/LPGA @ Women’s Open: Miyu bends, but she doesn’t break
Royal Porthcawl was not a known commodity in the major tournament community. The Welsh links had served as host to men’s senior opens, men’s amateurs, and Curtis and Walker Cups in prior years, but never an Open championship for the women or the men. The last-kept secret in UK golf was revealed once again to the world this week, as the best female golfers took to the sandy stage.
Mao Saigo, Grace Kim, Maja Stark, and Minjee Lee hoped to add a second major title to previous wins this season, but only Lee was able to finish inside the top ten. The 2025 playing of the Women’s Open gave us a new-faces gallery from day one. The Kordas and Thitikulls were nowhere to be found, and it was the Mayashitas, Katsus, and Lim Kims that secured the Cymru spotlight. The first round lead was held at 67 by two golfers. One of them battled to the end, while the other posted 81 on day two, and missed the cut. Sitting one shot behind was Miyu Yamashita.
On day two, Yamashita posted the round of the tournament. Her 65 moved her to the front of the aisle, in just her fourth turn around a women’s Open championship. With the pre-event favorites drifting off pace, followers narrowed into two camps: those on the side of an underdog, and others hoping for a weekend charge from back in the pack. In the end, we had a bit of both.
On Saturday, Yamashita bent with 74 on Saturday, offering rays of hope to her pursuing pack. England’s Charley Hull made a run on Sunday closing within one shot before tailing off to a T2 finish with Minami Katsu. Katsu posted the other 65 of the week, on Saturday, but could not overtake her countrywoman, Yamashita. wunderkind Lottie Woad needed one round in the 60s to find her pace, but could only must close-to’s, ending on 284 and a tie with Minjee for eighth.
On Sunday, Yamashita put away the thoughts of Saturday’s struggles, with three-under 33 on the outward half. She closed in plus-one 37, but still won by two, for a first Major and LPGA title.
PGA Tour @ Wyndham: Young gathers first title near home
Cameron Young grew up along the Hudson river, above metro New York, but he also calls Winston-Salem home. He spent four years as a student and athlete at Wake Forest University, then embarked on tour. This week in Greensboro, after a bit of a break, Young opened with 63-62, and revved the engine of Is this the week once more. Runner-up finishes at the Open, the PGA, and a handful of PGA Tour events had followers wonder when the day would come.
On Saturday, Young continued his torrid pace with 65, giving him a five-shot advantage over his closest pursuer. Sunday saw the Scarborough native open with bogey, then reel off five consecutive birdies to remind folks that his time had, at last, arrived. Pars to the 16th, before two harmless bogeys coming home, made Young the 1000th winner of an official PGA Tour event (dating back to before there was a PGA Tour) throughout history. What’s next? I have a suspicion, but I’m not letting on. Mac Meissner closed with 66 to finish solo 2nd, while Mark Hubbard and Alex Noren tied for third.
Korn Ferry Tour @ Utah Championship: Are you Suri it’s Julian?
Who knows exactly when the flower will bloom? Julian Suri played a solid careet at Duke University, then paid his dues on the world’s minor tours for three years. He won twice on two tours in Europe, in 2017. Since then, the grind has continued for the journeyman from New York city. At age 34, Suri broke through in Beehive state, outlasting another grinder (Spencer Levin) and four others, by two shots.
Taylor Montgomery began the week with 62, then posted 64, then 68, and finally, 70. That final round was his undoing. He finished in that second-place tie, two back of the leader. Trace Crowe, Barend Botha, and Kensei Hirata made up the last of the almost quintet. As for Suri, his Sunday play was sublime. His nines were 32 and 31, with his only radar blip a bogey at ten. He closed in style with one final birdie, to double his winning margin. Hogan bloomed late…might Suri?
PGA Tour Americas @ Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates
Some tournament names run longer than others. This week in Toronto, at the Heathlands course at TPC Toronto, we might have seen the longest tournament title in recorded history. The OVOPBVCCBMA was a splendid affair. It saw three rounds of 62 on Thursday, but of those early risers, only Drew Goodman would stick around until the end. 64 was the low tally on day two, and two of those legionnaires managed to finish inside the top three at week’s end. Saturday brought a 63 from Patrick Newcomb, and he would follow with 64 on Sunday, to finish solo fourth.
Who, then, ended up winning the acronym of the year? It turns out that Carson Bacha had the right stuff in TeeOhhh. Bacha and Jay Card III posted 63 and 64, respectively, on day four, to tie for medalist honors at 23-under 261. Nathan Franks was one shot adrift, despite also closing with 63. If you didn’t go low on Sunday, it was about the check, not the championship.
Bacha and JC3 returned to the 18th hole twice in overtime. Card nearly chipped in from the thick stuff for birdie, while Bacha peeked and shoved a ten-feet attempt at the win. On the second go-round, Card was long with his approach, into the native grasses once more. He was unable to escape, and a routine par from the fairway was enough to earn the former Auburn golfers a first KFT title.
Card III and Bacha both miss their birdie tries on the first playoff hole.
We’ll play 18 again @OspreyOpen. pic.twitter.com/vNpHTdkHDg
— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) August 3, 2025
GolfWRX is live this week from the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, the Wyndham Championship.
Photos are flowing into the forums from Sedgefield Country Club, where we already have a GolfWRX spirit animal Adam Schenk WITB and plenty of putters for your viewing pleasure.
Check out links to all our photos below, which we’ll continue to update as more arrive.
General Albums
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #2
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Scotty Kennon – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Austin Duncan – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Will Chandler – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kevin Roy – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Ben Griffin – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Ryan Gerard – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kurt Kitayama – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Camilo Villegas – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matti Schmid – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
Pullout Albums
- Denny McCarthy’s custom Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Swag Golf putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Karl Vilips TM MG5 wedges – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- New Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matt Fitzpatrick’s custom Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
Kurt Kitayama just won his 2nd PGA Tour event at the 3M Open. Kurt is a Bridgestone staffer but with just the ball and bag. Here are the rest of the clubs he used to secure a win at the 2025 3M Open.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (11 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees, A3 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX
7-wood: Titleist GT1 (21 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 9 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0PT
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS (with Mindset)
‘Why would anybody want to change that swing?’ – Brandel Chamblee says PGA Tour star was wrong to change his swing
‘The stupidest freaking thing I’ve ever heard’ – Billy Horschel slams Open idea suggested by Padraig Harrington
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Golfer proudly posts photo of ball mark on iron, receives immediate roasting
WITB Time Machine: Matthew Wolff’s winning WITB, 2019 3M Open
Oakmont Country Club bans Wyndham Clark over locker incident; Reveals specific conditions to earn reinstatement
Adam Scott puts Callaway blades in the bag at Wyndham Championship
Report: LIV star fires caddie and coach in shock shake up
Rickie Fowler makes equipment change to ‘something that’s a little easier on the body’
The championship formula: How 3 key stats separate winners from the field
Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
David
Mar 1, 2019 at 1:16 pm
It’s nobody’s business but the two of them. And it should have been clear from the start of the week what the business arrangement was so no misunderstanding.
Miuralovechild
Feb 15, 2019 at 4:59 pm
Looks like Matt got wise and paid up!!!!! Good choice, this wasn’t going away!! I’m probably certain that his prior actions didn’t go well with his sponsors, fellow players and the fans, getting caught made him wise up!
Jack Sobkovich
Feb 15, 2019 at 3:33 pm
A great example of how the “trickle down effect” doesn’t work. This is actually very illuminating on many levels and none good for Matt or the game of professional golf.
Boris Arroyo
Feb 14, 2019 at 12:48 am
I use to be a fan of kuchar not anymore. Hope he never wins again
Dave Damitz
Feb 14, 2019 at 1:43 pm
Kuchar needs to step up that was a major victory for Matt
Boris Arroyo
Feb 14, 2019 at 12:46 am
Use to be a fan not anymore cheap asshole
jm
Feb 13, 2019 at 6:39 pm
Does the caddie even speak english. Si Senor de flag is over there..
Edward
Feb 13, 2019 at 7:38 pm
Not even remotely funny-douche comment of the day. Guy works hard to support his family, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Boris Arroyo
Feb 14, 2019 at 12:42 am
Your a clown
Mike
Feb 14, 2019 at 8:34 am
As a professional caddie i have seen this many time the 50000 isnt even close. He deserves 126000 for his work. That is standard rate for a win plus bonus and weekly salary. I know Kuch hes a good dude. But these guys get everything for nothing and dare i say entitled pro athletes. They play and get taken care of from the top 1%. Courses such as Seminole golf club. Doesn’t excuse you from ripping off a man that gave you his best that week.
JM
Feb 13, 2019 at 6:37 pm
Does the guy deserve more just because the lucky draw of such a player who happened to win this week?? In a country where most people don’t make 5k in a year, this guy made it in about 20 hrs of work. That’s $250 per hour. How much is a man who carriers a golf bag in Mexico worth? 5k is probably more money than this man has ever seen and was likely life changing. Then he turns down another 15 dimes on principle? I don’t know Matt’s character, but his take home pay check after all his tax obligations and expenses is likely more like 7-750K. And for maybe 50,000 hours of work, determination and skill. I say the caddie had the week of a lifetime and now gets to go back and loop for 50 bucks a bag. With more money in the bank than his entire generation has probably earned-He did it 4 days. Don’t Bitch.
JP
Feb 13, 2019 at 5:44 pm
Why did the caddie accept $5k, but then turn down $15k more? If he’s going to turn down money on principle, why did he accept the $5k? Should have taken all that was offered, THEN asked for more.
Jay
Feb 13, 2019 at 3:25 pm
Not sure why people are trying to turn this topic into some political conversation. It’s distracting from what actually happened. What’s right is right, and what’s fair is fair – the caddy was entitled to at least 5% of Kuchar’s earnings for the week. If Kuchar played “OK” and won $100k, then $5k is appropriate. For him to win $1.2 mill, to be paid $5k, and have to practically beg for fair compensation is a joke. It should be $50-60k min and that’s that.
Ron
Feb 13, 2019 at 2:02 pm
Kuchar has won $45,000,000 playing golf. Maybe $5,000 was agreed to. However, it is a business expense and Kuchar had the ability and opportunity to make a generous life changing contribution to this man and his family, and he would never have felt it financially. Unfortunately, this is just another negative I have heard about Matt Kuchar. His rude and unprofessional behavior toward volunteers and players assistants at the Open in 2015 at St Andrews was pathetic. None of them spoke out but the everlasting opinion of him over there is abysmal. Funny thing is, many of these guys feel so entitled, they are astonished to hear someone say something negative about them.
elgordo
Feb 13, 2019 at 1:19 pm
First, this article is wrong. They DID NOT agree to $5K. They agreed to $3K + and unspecified amount of the players earnings – see other reported stories (Golf Digest).
Kuchar won by 1 shot over Danny Lee. The difference between 1st and 2nd was $518,400. A seasoned local caddie and their course knowledge is worth at least 1 shot – and he read putts for Kuch as well. He should pay at least 10% of the $518,400 – which is about what the caddie expected. Kuchar has over $46million in career earnings (not including endorsements) and has 9 PGA wins in 432 starts (wins 2% of the time). I think he and his sponsors know this man earned his money and should have been paid more. He helped him win, which he rarely does and he still would’ve saved 50% of what would’ve paid his normal guy. This win will also yield him more Fedex cup money at the end of the season.
I don’t care if you agree w/me but he will hear about this on the course and in the world public opinion. In the long run it will cost him more than $50K. You can always send him a tweet @goodguykuchar
Blake
Feb 13, 2019 at 12:18 pm
Anyone commenting who DOESN’T know how much a caddie should (and does) make SHOULDN’T comment. 5k is not acceptable. “5k a week is great”, but that is not what caddies make.
Fluff Daddy
Feb 13, 2019 at 12:35 pm
So if someone disagrees with your point of view they are not entitled to have an opinion on the subject? Solid logic here.
Greg Hardy
Feb 13, 2019 at 12:37 pm
So if someone disagrees with your point of view they have no right to have an opinion on this subject? Solid logic!
Jack Nash
Feb 13, 2019 at 12:59 pm
That’s what this “stand in” got but also turned down 15-20k. Those who don’t know what club caddies should be paid by a pro in Tourney shouldn’t comment. The guy was basically on the blackmail trail via media to scam Kuch.
Jason
Feb 13, 2019 at 12:05 pm
While he should of given him more as a gesture none of us should judge Matt’s entirety based on this one blip in time. Do you know how much Matt has given in $ and time to charity? I think not. I doubt any of us could come close to touching that figure. For some of these posters to say they have lost all respect for Matt on one moment is myopic. The PGA leads by example when it comes to $ to charity and no other sports are a close second. I don’t like Tiger’s attitude on the course and he is notoriously cheap but at the end of the day his charities make a huge difference in kids lives. For that return, I can overlook my own righteousness and not turn the channel.
Rand Paul
Feb 13, 2019 at 11:38 am
Looks like leftest shills have raided the comments section here. What you feel is fair is not what was agreed upon in a mutual agreement. Now go back to reading the Green New Deal folks.
Jack Nash
Feb 13, 2019 at 1:01 pm
100% dead on correct. Lazy Leftists all over the place these days. They wouldn’t know what an honest days work means.
elgordo
Feb 13, 2019 at 2:03 pm
per golf digest the agreement was $3K plus unspecified percentage of earnings. Kuch won by 1 shot. Difference between 1st and 2nd was $518K. 10% is about $50K – what the caddie expected. He provide at least 1 shot benefit over 4 rounds. Pay him, he earned it and you still paid less than you would to your normal guy.
michael t nola
Feb 13, 2019 at 3:42 pm
First, learn how to spell “leftist”. If Kuchar can’t see his way to offering more than an additional $15k after having just made nearly $1.3 million, then I have no respect for a man who is already a millionaire many times over, all for putting his ball in 72 holes with fewer strokes than anyone else. You seem to be a member of the very large kiss up, kick down club that idolizes wealth and those that have it. Just consider how much this guy makes compared to those in the military, a group conservatives are supposed to revere, even if they keep voting for one Vietnam war draft dodger after another.
Rand Paul
Feb 13, 2019 at 4:49 pm
Telling someone how to spell is not an argument. Neither is your argument that you FEEL that he should pay more than the contracted amount. What gives you the right to know what is best? Should you get a gun and force Kuchar to pay more? Because that is how the authoritarian left like yourself operates. How much is too much? There would be billions of people in the World that would think that you’re super privileged. How would you feel if they came and took your wealth because they FEEL its right? If something is for the greater good and is truly for the greater good would it not be solved voluntarily? The only system that has ever lifted the poor out of poverty is limited government free markets that created demand for employment. The poorest countries are run by authoritarians like yourself that are looking for equality. Please brush up on the history of economic theory and get back to me.
Ben Shaprio
Feb 13, 2019 at 5:38 pm
Basic economics is a doozy. If this guy truly cared about the poor he would bother to learn what creates poverty in the first place. Instead like everyone on the left he emotionally grand stands and virtue signals.
DS
Feb 13, 2019 at 6:25 pm
Staunch conservative here. Keep your hands out of my pockets, lefty nitwits. Voted for Trump in 2016 and will in 2020. That said, cheap is cheap and Kuch loses here. I’d have paid the dude the $50k and moved on. Coming back with $15k is a head-scratcher.
The Yankees paid Sabathia the $500k innings bonus he missed out on due to getting ejected. Class act by the Yankees to a multi, multi, multi-millionaire who clearly didn’t need the money. This is a very bad look for Kuch, and I doubt I’m the only guy who will never look at him the same. Is Ortiz ‘owed’ more money? Technically, no. Should Kuch have done the right thing even though not technically required? Absolutely.
Jack Stillwater
Feb 13, 2019 at 5:20 pm
Looks like Michael T Nola has a very hard time grasping supply and demand. It’s a tough one for anybody on the left.
Bob Denby
Feb 13, 2019 at 11:07 am
Five grand a week (win or lose) = $260,000 per year. Gotta do more than just pack a golf bag for that rate of pay!
Daniel McQuilken
Feb 13, 2019 at 11:18 am
Sorry. Your math is off. 1750 a week x 30 plus 5 to 10 per of earnings. Take out expenses
Jim
Feb 13, 2019 at 11:04 am
Tom Gillis is a jerk! He should never have brought this up! From everything I can understand, for a stand in caddy, El Tucan received proper pay. If Gillis hadn’t made this public, he would not be trying to extort more money from Kuchar and gladly accepted the additional $15K he was offered. As a stand in, he should never expect to get the same kind of bonus as a regular caddy. Gillis is the bad guy in all this and should learn to keep his mouth shut and mind his own business!
Daniel McQuilken
Feb 13, 2019 at 11:21 am
Jim
I’m sorry but tom Gillis is as much of a stand up that I’ve met in the golf business in over 40 years No one should be stiffed by a golfer who won 1.2 million in a week. Very sad !
John
Feb 13, 2019 at 11:03 am
I can see both points of view. The caddie should have been thankful to have been asked to caddie for Matt & to be able to make an easy 5k. He should have not turned down the additional 15K. 20k total for 4 days work is great for anyone. However I think Matt should have been able to give this guy a little bit more of a bump up than 15k. I think a 25k bump in addition to the 5k would have been more in line.
Larry
Feb 13, 2019 at 10:49 am
Maybe this should be a wake up call for other caddies. You are being overpaid and what you add to your boss’ chance of winning is minimal at best.
Daniel McQuilken
Feb 13, 2019 at 11:03 am
You may right Larry but always rem half the field misses the cut and the caddies prob break even for the week and still have bills at the homefront
Ben S
Feb 13, 2019 at 10:44 am
Kuchar could’ve changed this guys life, his families life, his relatives lives with virtually no impact on Kuchar’s life. The guy could’ve started his own business and used that money to really change the future of the whole families life. Instead we have a dirty public he said he said thing and it looks really bad when a millionaire 46 times over decides to give such a measily tip/pay/etc to a guy who has not got a pot to piss in. Just ridiculous if you ask me. The agent is also a piss of shit. Probably with a net worth near kuchars at 46 million – telling the guy ‘I’m out of country, offer was fair, take it or leave it.’ that’s the guy supposed to protect your best interests, not protect a measily 50-100K. Just gross. The tour should actually fine both Steinberg and Kuchar for their conduct unbecoming of a professional and the agent should get some fine or penalty based in being a jerk, rich asshole that didn’t represent his play nor the tour in a manner reflecting tour standards. With all the crap they must do in order to ‘protect the look of the tour’ like staying in the nicest hotels – that’s actually a rule. The tour doesn’t want their players looking cheap nor public feuds like this. Someone needs to step up and pay the man at least 100k sooner than later – remember these guys have 10’s of millions in the bank, they get paid cash each week of nearly 100K or more. They’re not us. They don’t fear going poor one day trust me. Money money money. They need to pay this poor Mexican caddie to make it right. A guy cannot win 1.3 million and tip you 2K on top of the agree’d upon 3K for a total of 5K and make it out unscathed – why? because it is F’ing wrong that’s why. Anyone can see that. Even if it were Kuchars first win ever – you’d expect a tip of nearly 75K or more because to put it all back in perspective……he won 1.3 million dollars and if we do a percent tip its just ridiculous.
Bogus bullshit. I cannot believe it was Kuchars choice to do all this. I really cannot because he does seem like such a nice guy, down to earth, head in reality type – if you have your head in reality you know 100K would’ve changed this mans life immeasurably. Instead you’ve got a social media frenzy and I hope it doesn’t go away until someone (agent, Kuch, Tour, another rich ass pro, someone) makes it right. I mean the tours commissioner who makes north of 5 million per year guaranteed could make a special donation to the caddie for all the hard work, etc, keep it quiet and the whole thing goes away via the caddie announcing all is rectified and to thank all those involved for helping, choosing to keep what exactly happened quiet from now on. The caddie buys that laundry mat him and his wife have wanted for so long and a new family business is started. Jesus what a mess.
Daniel McQuilken
Feb 13, 2019 at 10:38 am
Travis is wrong. Comes right off the top This is really sad on MK. I caddied for 29 years His payment isn’t even close Shame on MK
Tom
Feb 13, 2019 at 10:11 am
Curious, would this be an issue if Kuch made the cut but finished last? In that case, the caddie still carried the bag for four rounds (put in the same effort). Is the caddie asking for recognition for the player’s execution?
George Davis
Feb 13, 2019 at 9:53 am
I liked Kucher but not after this… WTF mate?
john robbins
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:23 am
What is the percent for carrying a winning bag? 10%? He should have gave him 50k and Kuchar still would have saved over 70K
JT
Feb 13, 2019 at 4:42 am
Kuch has no style just look at his poor choice of outfits with mismatched hats. Could’ve been a good dude like Phil and shared the wealth, instead he was a cheapskate like Steinberg and Woods.
Like mama said,”you are the company you keep.” You was dead on mama!!
Ted Cruz
Feb 13, 2019 at 11:45 am
Share the wealth dude! Now let’s get government guns and make people pay over money they earned by force. It’s for the greater good you know,and It FEELS right.
Miuralovechild
Feb 13, 2019 at 2:46 am
This looks bad! He needs to scratch that guy a check or this is gonna get worse. Not cool taking advantage of someone because they are from an impoverished county.. I guess Matt thought that would buy a lot of arroz, frijoles, y tortillas. $5,000 is $96,167.50 in pesos after all.
Ryan Michael
Feb 12, 2019 at 9:17 pm
The guys siding with Kuch here also believe in greed no matter how they try to justify it!
Bret Hitman Hart
Feb 13, 2019 at 11:49 am
Thanks for lecturing us that you’re a very good person with the moral high ground. Why don’t all of you folks that feel so bad for the caddy start a Patreon for him and be the first to donate to him. Put your money where your mouth is.
CCShop
Feb 12, 2019 at 8:57 pm
Kuch is cheap just like the quality shoes he wears.
Roscoe P
Feb 12, 2019 at 8:41 pm
If I won over a million dollars at a tournament you can bet your ass I’d pay that caddy 10%. No questions asked. Dude had local knowledge AND you would be changing his families life. It’s not like Kuchar couldn’t afford it. This is really bad PR and Kuchar will forever be known as cheap.
Michael LaDue
Feb 12, 2019 at 8:39 pm
I have lost a lot of respect for Matt Kuchar . Maybe fans should chant
Cheap as opposed to Kuch !!
guy restivo
Feb 12, 2019 at 8:16 pm
Even Humphrey Bogart tipped the mexican kid more in “treasure of the sierra madre”
maybe Kuch underestimated the cost of the shovels,pick-axes and burros…..”badges,badges…we dont need no stinkin badges…..but Kuch said “bonus..bonus….I don’t have to give you no stinkin bonus”
……………………………………………………………………………………………”badges,badges…i don’t have to show you my badge…we don’t need no stinkin badges”…………………………………………………………………………..
Boris Arroyo
Feb 12, 2019 at 7:43 pm
I use to like Matt Kucher not anymore cheap prick.
Tartan Golf Travel
Feb 12, 2019 at 7:16 pm
Look of course Matt is not legally obligated to pay him anymore but just like tipping well when good service is provided he won so take care of the guy. I think we’ve learned Matt is not quite the great guy we thought. This is a Tiger move (same agent).
Kyle Hosch
Feb 12, 2019 at 5:22 pm
From a logical and business stance, this is a contract agreed upon by both sides. The reason regular caddies get paid more is that they do more and have a relationship with the player. I’ve seen caddies get paid in swag and no money. If the caddy agrees to the pay. All is fair
elgordo
Feb 13, 2019 at 1:29 pm
per golf digest the agreement was $3K plus unspecified percentage of earnings. Kuch won by 1 shot. Difference between 1st and 2nd was $518K. 10% is about $50K – what the caddie expected. He provide at least 1 shot benefit over 4 rounds. Pay him, he earned it and you still paid less than you would to your normal guy.
Tom
Feb 12, 2019 at 4:36 pm
Maybe Kuch was confused and paid Hose B the money owed Hose A?
JC
Feb 12, 2019 at 3:22 pm
I’m a humble man. I accepted this job for $5,000 and was very happy until some reporters started asking me questions. Then, in all humbleness, I turned down another $15,000 – that was an insult to my humbleness. Just because we had a deal, and I was originally happy with our deal, doesn’t mean I should not get way more now that I think about it. You see, if I could get maybe $45,000 more, I would again be a happy humble man…, I think …, but you never know, I might feel insulted again. And by the way, I am available next year for any pro who comes down here – let’s cut a deal – maybe $5,000 for 4 days? I am sure you will enjoy having me on your bag. After all, I am a humble man.
Johnny Miller
Feb 12, 2019 at 4:03 pm
LOL you have no soul. If he accepted the job for a set amount and Kuchar went on to make over 1M, dont you think a considerable bonus was deserved?
Tim
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:07 pm
No
elgordo
Feb 13, 2019 at 1:26 pm
The caddie payment is a business expense and can write off against earnings. Kuch finish 1st by one shot over Danny Lee. Difference of $518K. A good local caddie is easily good for at least 1 shot over 4 rounds. He earned his money and Kuch will make even more because of the win when they pay out the fedex $$$ at the end of the season. He earned the $50K he expected and that would be far less than kuch would pay his normal guy.
LL
Feb 12, 2019 at 8:59 pm
agreed
Abdus Saabur
Feb 12, 2019 at 3:17 pm
It really doesn’t matter about what the amount is after taxes ,pay the man more than 5,000
when the check is for million and change and you have earned over 46 million during you time on the PGA tour along with endorsements you don’t pay anything for clubs shoes etc, so he could afford to give the man more than 5,000
it really makes Matt look real bad if he is really cheap I don’t know but he will have to give the man more than 5,000 after this so what is fair
I don’t know but 30-50 thousand might be in the ball park ,is the caddie considered an employee ? if so there maybe a tax right off ?
Tom
Feb 12, 2019 at 2:44 pm
Who knows if the caddy is actually telling the truth about the $$
Tom
Feb 12, 2019 at 2:35 pm
“Make Caddying Great Again!”
Brian Moore
Feb 12, 2019 at 10:50 pm
Wish that happens- I Grew up caddying and the money I made payed mt college tuition- not to mention the life skills. I would/will take a caddie when ever available!
Dave
Feb 12, 2019 at 2:00 pm
Doesn’t sound like much til you take into account how many Pesos that is.
Kyle Leeds
Feb 12, 2019 at 12:56 pm
I want that caddie to come out and say that had Kuchar had missed the cut then he would have take zero dollars as pay. Fair is fair as the caddy is claiming. I would bet money that Kuchars manager explained the various outcomes to the stand in caddie before he accepted the job. In kuchars missing the cut or winning the tournament he would have paid that man 5000 no matter what. That’s business
Raymond Green
Feb 12, 2019 at 1:08 pm
I have lost all respect for Matt Kuchar and for those bigots taking his side shame on you! Matt Kuchar’s endorsement companies should cancel all his contracts as this is clearly a case of a millionaire athlete abusing a caddie. $5000 after winning $1,296,000? Matt Kuchar showed his true colors and I hope when he gets on the tee box fans call him out for being the cheap bastard he is. What a pathetic and unwholesome human being. Can we boycott every bloody company that endorses Matt Kuchar? A message needs to be sent here, Matt Kuchar you have won the award and you have earned it, for being the biggest tightwad in the 21st Century.
Matt Kuchar Jr
Feb 12, 2019 at 3:06 pm
Was Kuchar holding a gun to the Mexican’s head? I don’t think so. It was a mutual agreement that was done voluntarily. Looks like somebody is using emotion over logic here. What Kuchar made was irrelevant. They already agreed on the $5K.
Michael Haney
Feb 13, 2019 at 7:48 am
Didn’t you mean to say caddy,or did you mean to say it takes more money to live because I’m a white rich ass-hole!
elgordo
Feb 13, 2019 at 1:32 pm
Per Golf Digest the agreement was $3K plus an unspecified percentage of winnings. Kuch won by 1 shot over Danny Lee difference of $518K -10% is $50K. Local caddie is worth at least one shot. He earned it. Pay him.
Matt Kuchar Jr
Feb 13, 2019 at 1:44 pm
He “earned it” according to your opinion. It was not what was agreed upon.
Farley Charlie
Feb 13, 2019 at 1:54 pm
He earned it according to you. Not what was agreed upon. Him turning down the $15-$20K bonus was an insult towards Kuch.
DS
Feb 13, 2019 at 6:33 pm
Kuch deserves to be insulted. I can forgive a lot of things but beinf cheap isn’t one of them.
Matt Diggler
Feb 12, 2019 at 3:11 pm
Looks like somebody is placing emotion over logic here. This transaction was done voluntarily. There was no coercion or force involved. If Kuchar did not make the cut nobody would have said anything. Give your head a shake.
Michael Smoot
Feb 12, 2019 at 6:56 pm
Agree. The word gentleman is not in Kucher’s vocabulary.
Ned Crookshank
Feb 12, 2019 at 7:22 pm
No question. Why would Kutchar even try to make a 5K deal ? There’s a minimum and then there’s what you make with a good finish. He is clearly taking advantage of a guy who trusted him. I always thought Kutchar was a phony tool.
Plus he plays Bridgestone. I’m a Titleist guy.
Tim
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:09 pm
Raymond you are crazy sir.
Brent
Feb 12, 2019 at 3:25 pm
That’s not the deal though, EVERY caddy gets 10%. That’s standard from a winners purse and the percentages go down from there if they don’t win. 5k is BS
Matt Diggler
Feb 12, 2019 at 3:44 pm
Its not the deal that Kuchar made. What others make is irrelevant. It was a mutual agreement done voluntarily.
Tony V
Feb 12, 2019 at 5:29 pm
I don’t care what ‘the agreement’ was. You won over a million dollars. I make $65k a year. My wife works two jobs. If I won 1 million for a 4 days of work, I would say to my Caddy, “Hey..I know we agreed on $5K. But you helped me win over a million. So as a reward, I’d like to give you $100K”. But hey….that’s just me. I’m just a working stiff.
Matt Diggler
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:38 am
Because you’re a working stiff that means you have the moral high ground? Not an argument. What you’re acting like is an authoritarian who knows what’s best. Nobody held a gun to the caddy’s head. You’re arguing with emotion over logic.
Matt Diggler
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:42 am
So because you’re a working stiff that means your have the moral high ground? Not an argument. You’re behaving like an a uthoritarian that knows what’s best because of your feel feels.
KL
Feb 12, 2019 at 6:52 pm
Every tour caddie may, not true in many circumstances.
westy_westerroo
Feb 12, 2019 at 12:48 pm
His reputation won’t recover from this.
Bobby C.
Feb 12, 2019 at 12:31 pm
Phil would have given the stand-in caddie $100,000 at the minimum. Rather than fans yelling ‘Kuuuch’ they should be yelling ‘CHEEEAP’ at him. Kuchar is pathetic!
b
Feb 12, 2019 at 12:25 pm
This doesn’t surprise me at all. Matt has always been cheap. That smile you see on Matt’s face is manufactured to hide his pathetic inner being. People that really know him don’t much care for him – they just put up with him. Even if Matt pays the caddie $50k now, it’s too late. Matt is truly a dirtbag.
James
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:49 am
One word: Steinberg. What do you expect?
albatross
Feb 12, 2019 at 12:42 pm
“What Matt offered is fair”…………..says the guy who is taking a full 10%. Steinberg is a snake.
Billable Hour
Feb 12, 2019 at 1:13 pm
Your antisemitism has no place here
D Haab
Feb 12, 2019 at 3:46 pm
And there it is. Anyone who DARES to criticize a jewish person is automatically labeled an antiSemite. SMH
Billable Hour
Feb 13, 2019 at 9:20 am
Go ahead and criticize his business tactics all you want, plenty of people do questionable things – but don’t imply that they’re expected based on his religion if you want to avoid the antisemitic label
James
Feb 13, 2019 at 1:09 pm
Your card is expired.
Beeping Bob
Feb 12, 2019 at 5:45 pm
STFU with your antisemitic crap. Steinberg is a scum agent. If his name was Jackson, Lee, Wang, Smith, or Povlov, he’s still a scum agent. But you had to bring antissemite into everything. Holocaust took place how long ago? Get over it. If he’s a DB and happens to be jewish, I’m going to call him a DB. Have a problem with that? Good.
Billable Hour
Feb 13, 2019 at 9:16 am
Wow, you went there with the holocaust? I hope your bosses and customers see this so they know the kind of person they’re dealing with.
James
Feb 13, 2019 at 1:10 pm
Your card is still expired. Loser.
Billable Hour
Feb 13, 2019 at 2:15 pm
Which card? My “card” to call out bigotry? But you’re right – I’m a loser for standing up in the face of faith-based stereotyping. The real mark of distinction, excellence, and virtue is being so filled with hate that you have to post about it on the internet. Your parents must be so proud.
James
Feb 13, 2019 at 9:46 pm
Triggered loser with an expired anti-semite card. Is that simple enough for you? Semite has nothing to do with it. Steinberg is a snake and always has been. And I’m sure he loves predictable cattle like you who jump to the anti-semite card when triggered.
Billable Hour
Feb 14, 2019 at 3:30 pm
Seems to me you’ve gotten defensive and resorted to insults because someone called you on your hate, and decided that backpedaling and claiming it’s all about his business practices is your only way to save face and attempt to hide what you really feel. If it was only about his actions you would have written as such initially and/or clarified in response to my first comment. But you didn’t, and now when confronted about your actions you insult and accuse me of being overly sensitive instead of looking inward and acknowledging your bigotry.
I don’t know you – I don’t know where you’re from, what your background is, or what you do for a living. But I do know that you’re an antisemite, and for that I feel terribly sorry for you.
James
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:21 pm
Your card is expired.
Billable Hour
Feb 13, 2019 at 9:26 am
And what card is that? I’m sorry you’re embarrassed now that people know what you really think, but you probably should have realized before posting that there would be people who take exception to your stereotyping and antisemitic implication.
HKO
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:47 am
until i hear what had been agreed to pay—either flat fee or any bonus on winning whatever—this kinda thing is just hard to judge and pinpoint who’s doing good and not. presses, pls do your diligent figuring out how it had been started, not only who’s claiming what. that said, the sketchiest part of this story is the name Steinberg…
CK
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:34 am
Pathetic…every other caddie in the field probably made more than him and he was on the winning bag. Come on Kuch, don’t be a tight wad. Man up and pay him the right amount
Craig Stanton
Feb 12, 2019 at 3:53 pm
Agree with this, disappointing that someone who makes so much from the industry doesn’t put back what is level with a generally accepted standard. He has lost me.
Bob Barker
Feb 12, 2019 at 5:10 pm
What’s pathetic is SJW’s like you are demanding that someone else should pay someone you don’t know more money than what they agreed on. This was a mutual agreement done voluntarily.
ReedUSA
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:27 am
The whole tour is pro Trump. So, sticking it to a Mexican caddie shouldn’t surprise anyone.
James
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:55 am
Don’t. Just don’t. Unless you are willing to call out the social justice, green energy, walls and armed-guarded Billionaire hypos on the left.
Joe in AZ
Feb 12, 2019 at 1:03 pm
So is Trump both a racist and a tightwad? Sure would like some examples of that. You leftist filth are such poison…but caring, and nonjudgmental of course.
Thomas A
Feb 12, 2019 at 1:44 pm
Constantly barraging those that live south of us, a blanket ‘muslim ban’ hiring illegal aliens to work his golf courses, then hiding them. Constantly belittling the intelligence of African-American Congresspeople. Shall I continue?
Stefan Molyneux
Feb 12, 2019 at 3:36 pm
President Trump is doing far more for minorities and the oppressed than any other President in our lifetime. If you ever studied the history of economic theory and what actually lifts the poor out of poverty you would understand. Instead you spew out ad hominem attacks. “Orange Man bad, because the MSM tells me so” Is not an argument.
Joey5Picks
Feb 12, 2019 at 7:18 pm
You’re joking, right? You wear a MAGA hat, don’t you?
Joey5picks
Feb 12, 2019 at 7:19 pm
LIKE
UpstateGolfer
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:20 am
He is asking for less than half what a regular looper would get, seems beyond reasonable. And the comment regarding taxes, the taxed amount would be what Kuchar takes home after paying his manager, agent and caddy, that is why the payment is calculated off the gross winnings. Doing the right thing is easy, and its easy to see what the right thing is in this situation.
Thomas A
Feb 12, 2019 at 1:46 pm
I know, God forbid that Matt, who has won over $35 million in his career, has to pay some taxes. Oh the horror!!
Bob Robbins
Feb 12, 2019 at 3:43 pm
So are you one of these leftest authoritarians that think the government can spend money wiser than the person who actually earned it? Government is always inefficient in every endeavor they do. How much respect do you have for money that you haven’t earned? The answer is none.
Bob Arnold
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:16 am
come On Matt Man up. You are one of my favorite golfers but I have my doubt now. Be fair to your replacement caddie and pay him what u would have paid your caddie. Don’t give yourself a bad name
Stixman
Feb 12, 2019 at 10:50 am
Too many Pros acting like over-priviliged entitled brats at a time when golf is supposed to be reaching out to the general public and growing the game. The Tours need to get a grip of this bad publicity, and fast before all golfers get the ‘David Simms’ tag and the money tree falls down.
Legal24
Feb 12, 2019 at 10:39 am
I bet the parking lot caddies will have to start signing flat fee agreements now. This caddie probably going to ruin it for the local parking lot caddies.
albatross
Feb 12, 2019 at 10:36 am
If this is all factual, then I am very disappointed in both Matt Kuchar and his agent. Greed is a stinky cologne.
Mchoi
Feb 12, 2019 at 9:29 am
Don he right things, can change he’s family’s life!
LJ Brand
Feb 12, 2019 at 9:29 am
$1.3m after taxes, expenses, agent fees, travel, etc is probably closer to $400k in net winnings. Offering him $20k (about 5% of the net winnings) for a one off week of work is probably fair. A “regular” caddie traveling the world week to week may be a different story. But, the caddie you pick up in the parking lot before the event getting 5% of of the net winnings is probably a fair deal. He should have taken the $20k.
gunmetal
Feb 12, 2019 at 10:21 am
Caddie pay is not calculated on net earnings. It comes off the top.
Weird story. Kuchar is a good dude. He’s still a good dude. But this might not be his finest moment.
underpar
Feb 12, 2019 at 10:35 am
Maybe off the top for the regular caddie – I agree not for the one you pick up in the parking lot.
Lets screw the poor
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:41 am
Why does the caddie get penalized for tax ect.Between Kuchar and the government.Why for a regular caddie?Is the caddie service different.
Caroline
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:42 am
Missing Point…Kuchar won…had he come in second or lower end of story..I will take bets that caddie said something or pointed out something in the rounds that saved a stroke or two and because of the win (hardest thing to do on tour) Kuchar should have “TIPPED” the man handsomely for the win together..a very stupid move by Kuchar and Company…
cp
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:11 am
you would take bet yes. But just like everyone else here You DONT know anything.
Sam
Feb 12, 2019 at 10:23 am
I’m guessing this bum that Matt just “picked up in the parking lot” probably did a little more than carry his bag around. I think it would be fair to assume he had some local knowledge of the course and a case could be made that Matt might not have even won without this caddies help. Now as far as saying Matt incurred expenses like agent fees, travel, etc…those are all items he’s dealing with weekly no matter where the tournament is located. I’m sure Matt is a stand up guy and will make things right. I don’t think I would have turned down the extra 15K, Ortiz must believe he had made a significant contribution to Matt’s first win a few years.
JP
Feb 12, 2019 at 9:22 am
Did they not have any arrangement PRIOR to the start of the tournament?!?
.
Did he work for free at the start just EXPECTING a larger amount? What actually happened here?
DblEagle
Feb 12, 2019 at 9:10 am
Id carry his bag for $1500 and all expenses paid…Be a happy happy happy camper with a front row seat.
*Get up with me Matt…
rb1964
Feb 12, 2019 at 10:31 am
You obviously don’t do this for a living and your comment is way out of context. Kuchar,, for all of his good press made a mistake in this instance if the story is accurate. And the previous commentator is correct to my knowledge, caddie pay is a % of gross not net.
Travis
Feb 12, 2019 at 10:36 am
There’s no way Caddie pay can be a gross amount. If a player wins $1.2M but after taxes and expenditures it comes out to $400-500K take home, there’s no way in hell their going to then pay their caddie $120K out of what’s left and take home only $280-380K from winning. Caddie’s are super helpful but it’s the player that has to hit the shot. This stand in caddie got LUCKY to be chosen and even LUCKIER that his guy won the tournament and then to deny $20K and say you want $50K is a bit greedy. I’m not saying Matt is totally in the clear, but at the same time this local guy should just be thankful he was chosen at all and count his lucky stars that his guy actually won the event…
Matt
Feb 13, 2019 at 1:24 pm
You need to learn how taxes work before you post. Anything paid out as an expense, I.e caddie fees, agent fees, travel expenses, etc are deducted before taxes. So if he spent 200k on that, he’s taxed only on the other $1 million.
His pay to the caddy is actually tax-deductible to him.
elgordo
Feb 13, 2019 at 1:25 pm
The caddie payment is a business expense and can write off against earnings. Kuch finish 1st by one shot over Danny Lee. Difference of $518K. A good local caddie is easily good for at least 1 shot over 4 rounds. He earned his money and Kuch will make even more because of the win when they pay out the fedex $$$ at the end of the season. He earned the $50K he expected and that would be far less than kuch would pay his normal guy.
Jose Pinatas
Feb 12, 2019 at 5:12 pm
Me too, but I’d rack up 40k in expenses for him to pay..