How Much Xander Schauffele's Caddie Makes For Open Win
With a record prize pool offered at the 152nd Open Championship, winning caddie Austin Kaiser has secured a pretty payday at Royal Troon
![Austin Kaiser and Xander Schauffele at The Open at Royal Troon](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YnhPckFSaGNheXCYqPpDeK-415-80.jpg)
The R&A have offered a record prize pool for players competing in the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon, with the Champion Golfer of the Year bringing home a whopping $3.1 million.
This year, Xander Schauffele produced a typically assured final round to ease to the title, and that means his caddie Austin Kaiser is in line for a healthy payday.
Typically, caddies on tour have a standard agreement that sees them earn 10% of their player's tournament check, meaning Kaiser is set to net around $310,000 thanks to Schauffele's Claret Jug win.
Of course, it's not the only big payday Kaiser has won this year. Schauffele also claimed victory in the second Major of the year, the PGA Championship, which earned the American $3.33m. That meant his caddie will have claimed around $330,000 for his efforts at Valhalla.
While Schauffele's success has paid off handsomely for Kaiser, it shouldn't take away from the fact that the life of a professional caddie is a hard but lucrative one. Caddies are expected to travel the world alongside their player, conforming strictly to their schedule alone. Caddies are handsomely paid if their players are successful however, with Scottie Scheffler's caddie Ted Scott earning an estimated $2.5 million alone this season.
Schauffele's win means he is now enjoying a season as eye-catching as Scheffler's, and, like Scott, his caddie Kaiser is seeing some lucrative financial rewards for his part in that success.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Conor Keenan is a freelance writer, joining Golf Monthly in the spring of 2024. Hailing from Newcastle, Northern Ireland, Conor is lucky to have Royal County Down as his home golf course. Golf has been a constant in his life, beginning to play the game at the age of four and later becoming a caddy at RCD at just eleven years old. Now 26, Conor has caddied over 500 rounds in a 12-year-long caddying career at one of the best courses in the world. Playing to a four handicap, you’re likely to find him on his local driving range trying (and failing) to hit a Shane Lowry-esc stinger that helped him win The 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
In the bag:
Driver: Ping G
3 wood: Callaway Epic
Hybrid: Ping G425
Irons: Mizuno JPX 900 Tour
Wedges: Taylormade Milled Grind 52,56,60
Putter: Scotty Cameron Circa 62
- Mike HallNews Writer
-
R&A Plans To Use Same Courses On Both Open Rotas With 'One Exception' For Women's Championship
Martin Slumbers said that both the men's and women's Open Championship will move towards being played at the same courses - but "with one exception" for the AIG Women's Open
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Revealed: The Mind-Blowing Difference In PGA Tour Prize Pools From 1994 To 2024
Season-long prize pools on the PGA Tour have increased dramatically over the last 30 years, as this comparison with the 1994 golfing season demonstrates
By Nick Bonfield Published
-
Irish Venue Moves One Step Closer To Debut Open After Government Agrees To Explore Bid
Portmarnock could become the first course in the Republic of Ireland to host The Open Championship if the Irish government submits an official bid
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'I'd A Great Chance Of Winning This Open' - Shane Lowry Admits Troon Near Miss Will 'Hurt'
Shane Lowry thought he'd be heading back to Royal Portrush next year as Open champion again as he felt he was playing well enough to win at Troon
By Paul Higham Published
-
'It's Something I've Always Wanted' - Xander Schauffele Reveals Grand Slam Ambition After Open Victory
Xander Schauffele says he's always had an eye on winning a career Grand Slam even before he became a quick-fire double Major champion
By Paul Higham Published
-
'Nonsense. That's Links Golf Courses' - Paul McGinley Says Shane Lowry Will 'Regret' Open Set-Up Comments
The Golf Channel analyst labelled Lowry's call to have a couple of tees pushed forward on Saturday "nonsense" after the 2019 Open Champion was mildly critical of how the R&A had set Royal Troon up in bad weather
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Watch The Moment World No.1 Scottie Scheffler Tops A Tee Shot At The Open
The American had a moment to forget on the final hole of The Open at Royal Troon
By Mike Hall Published
-
‘I Just Looked At It As A Normal Sunday Of A Normal Golf Tournament’ - Thriston Lawrence Explains ‘Calm’ Mindset To Finish Fourth At The Open
The South African admitted he was far from overawed at the occasion as he claimed his best-ever finish at a Major with fourth at The Open
By Mike Hall Published
-
‘I Left It All Out There’ - Justin Rose Admits ‘Choking Back Tears’ After Close Call At The Open
The Englishman's wait for a second Major championship goes on after he finished in a tie for second alongside Billy Horschel at Royal Troon
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Billy Horschel 'Disappointed' Despite Best Ever Major Finish At The Open
Despite a three-under-par final round, the American left Royal Troon 'disappointed' after finishing two strokes behind fellow countryman, Xander Schauffele
By Matt Cradock Published