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
Xander Schauffele's caddie takes home around $310,000 for the American's Open win
(Image credit: Getty Images)

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.

Conor Keenan
News Writer

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

With contributions from