- Aug 25, 2014
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The caddie confirmed this to be true.
Matt Kuchar gives in, pays $50k to Caddie
- Thread starter NVGator
- Start date
The caddie confirmed this to be true.
- Aug 25, 2014
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Industry standard for a PGA Tour Caddie (one that does this full time, traveling from event to event on his own dime) is 10%, not 15%. The guy that caddied for Kuchar doesn’t fit that description. He’s not on the road & away from his family from Tuesday-Sunday, away rom his family, missing his kids’ birthdays, paying his own travel expenses, getting nothing when his guy misses the cut, etc. He’s a local guy who gets to sleep in his own bed every night so there is a big difference between him and a full time PGA Tour caddie. I don’t believe 10% was warranted.
With that being said. I can see both sides and I agree with several others on here in that Kuchar could have avoided this whole mess by giving the guy a nice bonus (pick a number, I dunno, say $25k) if for no other reason than to keep this from being a negative story and turn it into another positive story that reinforced his good guy image.
- Jun 5, 2014
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Founding Member
Kuchar could have avoided it if he gave the guy his entire winnings, that’s not the point. It’s business, and he had absolutely nothing to apologize for.
If you want to give the little leech more money to get the weenies in the peanut gallery to STFU that’s fine, but he shouldn’t have apologized.
If you want to give the little leech more money to get the weenies in the peanut gallery to STFU that’s fine, but he shouldn’t have apologized.
- Aug 25, 2014
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You’re right on both points above. Another perspective on the business aspect, though, is that paying the guy extra upfront would be a good biz decision. Look at the payment as a marketing/branding expense. After all, great players with good guy images tend to get more endorsements than great players who are perceived as azzhats. It makes sense that keeping that choir boy image will help keep the off course cash rolling in. As it stands he ended up paying more to the guy yesterday than he most likely would have paid had he coughed up an extra slug (say $25k) when he won and he’s caught a ton of flak (even if it’s not justified) in the process. And yes, the apology wasn’t necessary for the payment issue itself. I think when he started comparing the guy earning $5k for a week’s worth of work compared to typically only making $200 per week is where he went wrong in his public comments. Unfortunately the PC police crucified him for that and now he’s in damage control mode.
- Jun 10, 2014
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This has absolutely zero/nada/zilch/nothing to do with him being Mexican, but it’s good to see that the “go to” is to immediately make it about race. This is about a guy that hasn’t slogged week after week as a PROFESSIONAL caddie, who is part sports psychologist, part coach, part business partner for the long term. This guy hadn’t invested months/years into a player, good with bad...he happened to be a guy from the area.
- Jun 10, 2014
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Founding Member
If it were possible to give 100 likes I would. Even though BNA is beating the crap out of me in the likes category.
- Jun 11, 2014
- 2,655
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Founding Member
- Jun 11, 2014
- 2,655
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Founding Member
They made an agreement in advance of the tournament. The caddie did not have to accept the terms. If Kuchar had been cut and made nothing, the caddie would still have received the 5K. Maybe that would have been unfair to Kuchar and he could make a federal case over it, too.
Saying this situation "cheapens the integrity of the sport" is so over-the-top silly that I nearly keeled over.
Next I'll be accused of being a racist. That's how the script goes with debates these days.
- Jun 12, 2014
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Founding Member
You need to know the course, especially the greens and winds, and contribute to the tactics and success of the golfer. This is the aspect that is strangely silent.
- Jun 12, 2014
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Founding Member
Hell, 10k or even 5k would not have been an insult.
- Dec 31, 2018
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If I’m gonna have to learn all that my price goes way up. I’m just agreeing to carrying your bag around, show you where the bar is and crack a few jokes.
- Jun 12, 2014
- 30,428
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Founding Member
That’s what you are supposed to do the competition.
- Dec 31, 2018
- 14,879
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For the same price I can do that too.That’s what you are supposed to do the competition.
Since65
Senior Member
- Oct 5, 2014
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Those who say this is about "a deal is a deal" are technically correct. Assuming they shook hands on the terms prior to the tournament Kuchar didn't owe the caddy anything above or beyond their agreement. I believe the bigger issue is related to generosity. When presented with an opportunity to be generous do you give more than agreed upon? Or do you keep everything you can for yourself?
Kuchar won almost $1.4 Million dollars. He has career winnings of $46 million and a reputation for smiling and being a good guy. He is represents a variety of sponsors in a business where public relations are important. He originally paid the caddy less than 1/2 of 1 percent of his winnings . Does anyone really think the optics of that are not going to look bad? Anyone who can do simple math would likely have been disappointed not to get some kind of bump over the original terms. And I would include those who claim they would have taken the $4 grand and been perfectly happy.
This caddy couldn't offer much help with managing Kuchar's game but he knows the course better than his regular caddy and that counts for something. And Kuchar hadn't had a victory since 2014 so his regular caddy wasn't exactly helping him get to the winners circle recently. And no, I don't think this fill-in deserved to be paid under the terms of a full-time caddy.
Bottom line is Kuchar had an opportunity to change this guy's life by being generous. You can make all the Mexican jokes you wish but $50k would transform the fortunes of this caddy and his family. It would make a difference in how his life goes from this point forward.
I like to think most people, when presented with an opportunity to help others in a significant, measurable way would choose to do so. I'm glad Kuchar changed his stance and paid more. It's a shame that it took public pressure for him to rethink his position and that this story became politicized.
Kuchar won almost $1.4 Million dollars. He has career winnings of $46 million and a reputation for smiling and being a good guy. He is represents a variety of sponsors in a business where public relations are important. He originally paid the caddy less than 1/2 of 1 percent of his winnings . Does anyone really think the optics of that are not going to look bad? Anyone who can do simple math would likely have been disappointed not to get some kind of bump over the original terms. And I would include those who claim they would have taken the $4 grand and been perfectly happy.
This caddy couldn't offer much help with managing Kuchar's game but he knows the course better than his regular caddy and that counts for something. And Kuchar hadn't had a victory since 2014 so his regular caddy wasn't exactly helping him get to the winners circle recently. And no, I don't think this fill-in deserved to be paid under the terms of a full-time caddy.
Bottom line is Kuchar had an opportunity to change this guy's life by being generous. You can make all the Mexican jokes you wish but $50k would transform the fortunes of this caddy and his family. It would make a difference in how his life goes from this point forward.
I like to think most people, when presented with an opportunity to help others in a significant, measurable way would choose to do so. I'm glad Kuchar changed his stance and paid more. It's a shame that it took public pressure for him to rethink his position and that this story became politicized.
- Jun 24, 2014
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I dont take it that way at all. I agree he doesn't deserve a normal caddy % but also MORE than 5k. Is that possible to think without your stupid add on?
I dont understand why people have to politicize everything. Why can't it just be a mistake? He f ed up and underpaid him.
I think some folks are having trouble separating the two. Just wow...
