According to the ex-players and the caddies, the simplest ones, and usually the newest, are so-called “gallery girls,” the prettiest girls at the tournament who get prominent placement at the front line of the ropes that set off the spectators from the players. If a player finds a girl interesting, it’s the caddy who might actually make the contact.
“I’ve been told ’Look around the ropes,’” says one caddie. “’See who is easy on the eyes.’”
Caddies frequently pull the prettiest girls out of the autograph line, often offering a private chat with the pro. The caddy then often serves as the go-between. Players never give out their telephone number or contact information, instead leaning on the caddy as a trusted arranger. It partly explains why some caddies get paid so well—often, with a percentage of the winnings—to carry a bag and judge breaks on the green. For instance, Steve Williams, who is Tiger’s caddy, has been with him since 1999; Tiger even attended Williams’ 2005 wedding. Their financial arrangement is secret, but it’s obviously generous: Williams has been able to start his own charitable foundation to help junior golfers in his native New Zealand.
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