Connect with us

Tour News

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

Published

8 years ago

on

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.

“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

Related Topics:

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

11 Comments

  1. Roland Nump

    Jul 9, 2017 at 6:48 am

    Kiss of death.

    Reply Report comment

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Gorden

    Jul 6, 2017 at 4:48 pm

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

    Reply Report comment

  7. Tom1

    Jul 6, 2017 at 11:23 am

    There we have a resolve.

    Reply Report comment

  8. 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

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 Wyndham Championship

Published

4 weeks ago

on

Jul 29, 2025

By

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

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.

 

Continue Reading

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 3M Open

Published

1 month ago

on

Jul 23, 2025

By

GolfWRX is live from the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities!

Back from our overseas journey, we have plenty for you to digest from Minnesota, including WITBs and in-hand looks at some pretty impressive putters.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.

Continue Reading

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 Open Championship

Published

1 month ago

on

Jul 17, 2025

By

GolfWRX was live this week across the pond for The Open Championship! Check out links to all our galleries from Royal Portrush below.

General Albums

Pullout Albums

Continue Reading

WITB

Whats in the Bag3 weeks ago

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...
Whats in the Bag3 weeks ago

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...
Whats in the Bag4 weeks ago

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. ...
Whats in the Bag4 weeks ago

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...

Facebook

Trending