Unless there is a Ryder Cup rule that I am unfamiliar with, it would seem to me that if I had a tour caddy who was with me week after week, year after year, tournament after tournament, he might just know more about my game than a partner who has been, at most a casual practice round companion on tour. Why then, during four-ball and foursomes matches, do partners line each other's putts up? I would think my caddy would know more about my stroke (do I like to die putts in or do I play less break, etc. ) Dustin Johnson, who was a birdie machine all year long, looked confused over every putt until he played singles. Why don't the players' own caddies get more involved during the first two rounds of competition? I think I would trust his read more, since he sees me every tournament week. Am I missing something ?
John Nowobilski, PGA, Hebron, CT
Good point, John. I don't think you're missing a thing. Why do they do it? I think the answer is, because they can, and because they're trying to be good teammates. But as you point out, more information is not necessarily helpful, and with some players it simply confuses things. We know golfers who never even ask their caddies for a read for the same reason. The caddie may be thinking one speed, the player another. But the game seems to be going in the opposite direction. More discussion, more devices, more measurements and more time consumed. We like your approach.
Bob Carney
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