Given the increasing purses across the top level of men's professional golf, it can be easy to forget that it is not just the players themselves who are making more money than ever - the caddies certainly aren't missing out either.
Cumulative payouts on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf League have already totalled well into the tens of millions of dollars this season, giving the leading golfers a chance to set themselves and their families up for life in just a few short months.
On the PGA Tour, Scottie Scheffler is comfortably in the number one position in the FedEx Cup standings thanks to a total paypacket of just over $18.6 million in 2024. That has been helped by four wins - one of which was his second Masters title.
LIV's leading golfer in terms of money right now is Joaquin Niemann, but the Chilean's total earnings across the year so far pales in comparison to Scheffler's bulging bank account. Despite a pair of wins and only two finishes outside of the top-10 in seven LIV Golf events, Niemann has collected *just* $10.888 million.
However, taking into account four non-LIV events in the 2024 campaign, Niemann has collected an extra $811,647.63 in total prize money, taking his total up to $11,571,647.62.
Joaquin Niemann and Gary Matthews at The Masters in 2023
For context, the leading players in the DP World Tour's Race To Dubai have scooped less than $2 million ahead of the PGA Championship.
As a result of Scheffler and Niemann's fantastic respective seasons so far, their caddies have likely become the first two bagmen to earn over $1 million in 2024 - purely via what is effectively a bonus.
Scheffler's assistant, Ted Scott is believed to have picked up almost $1.8 million while Gary Matthews - whose boss is Niemann - is thought to have claimed an extra $1,041,830.51 this term.
Tour caddies are usually paid a yearly salary or kept on a retainer, with each week presenting a new opportunity for an extra bump in their earnings. And assuming that both players adhere to what is thought to be the standard cut for a caddie on tour - which usually sees the looper collect 10% of the winner's check and between 5-7% depending on how high up a player finishes - here is the breakdown of what we believe to be their respective earnings in 2024.
| Event | Position | Scheffler Prize Money | Predicted Caddie Rate | Caddie Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sentry | 5th | $690,500 | 7% | $48,335 |
| The American Express | 17th | $132,300 | 5% | $6,615 |
| AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am | 6th | $642,500 | 7% | $44,795 |
| WM Phoenix Open | 3rd | $519,200 | 7% | $36,344 |
| Genesis Invitational | 10th | $455,000 | 7% | $31,850 |
| Arnold Palmer Invitational | 1st | $4,000,000 | 10% | $400,000 |
| The Players Championship | 1st | $4,500,000 | 10% | $450,000 |
| Houston Open | 2nd | $553,735 | 7% | $38,761 |
| The Masters | 1st | $3,600,000 | 10% | $360,000 |
| RBC Heritage | 1st | $3,600,000 | 10% | $360,000 |
| Row 10 - Cell 0 | Row 10 - Cell 1 | TOTAL | Row 10 - Cell 3 | TOTAL |
| Row 11 - Cell 0 | Row 11 - Cell 1 | $18,693,235 | Row 11 - Cell 3 | $1,776,880 |
| Event | Position | Niemann Prize Money | Predicted Caddie Rate | Caddie Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian PGA Championship | 5th | $55,002.67 | 7% | $3,850.19 |
| Australian Open | 1st | $201,556.23 | 10% | $20,155.62 |
| Dubai Desert Classic | T4th | $378,513.17 | 7% | $26,495.92 |
| LIV Mayakoba | 1st | $4,000,000 | 10% | $400,000 |
| LIV Las Vegas | 33rd | $155,000 | 5% | $7,750 |
| LIV Jeddah | 1st | $4,000,000 | 10% | $400,000 |
| LIV Hong Kong | 4th | $1,000,000 | 7% | $70,000 |
| LIV Miami | 11th | $380,000 | 5% | $19,000 |
| The Masters | T22 | $176,575.55 | 5% | $8,828.78 |
| LIV Adelaide | 6th | $700,000 | 7% | $49,000 |
| LIV Singapore | 8th | $525,000 | 7% | $36,750 |
| Row 11 - Cell 0 | Row 11 - Cell 1 | TOTAL | Row 11 - Cell 3 | TOTAL |
| Row 12 - Cell 0 | Row 12 - Cell 1 | $11,571,647.62 | Row 12 - Cell 3 | $1,041,830.51 |
-
Rory McIlroy Wins The Masters In Playoff To Complete Career Grand SlamThe Northern Irishman battled past Ryder Cup teammate, Justin Rose to finally seal his first Masters title and become the sixth man to win all four men's Majors
-
Did You Know The Masters Leaderboard Was Inspired By Fenway Park?The Masters leaderboards are an iconic and historic part of the Augusta National Major, but did you know about its origins and how it operates today?
-
Rory McIlroy Has Referenced Scottie Scheffler So Often In Recent Months… Is He Now Finally Ready To Surpass Him?For several months, Rory McIlroy revealed how he was aiming to be more like Scottie Scheffler in 2024 - and it now appears as though the World No.2 is doing it
-
Why Does Tyrrell Hatton Wear The Topgolf Logo On His Hat?The Englishman has the driving-range company on his cap due to a deal involving his LIV Golf League team, Legion XIII and Callaway
-
What Went Wrong For Rory McIlroy At The MastersMcIlroy dropped four strokes in three holes to almost play himself out of the tournament on Thursday evening
-
LIV Golf Leaderboard At The Masters: Bryson DeChambeau Two Back Heading Into Final Round At Augusta NationalBryson DeChambeau is the highest-placed of the seven LIV Golfers who made the cut Augusta National, and he begins the fourth round just two off the lead
-
Who Will Finish Top Of The LIV Golf Leaderboard At The Masters?There are 12 LIV Golfers taking part in The Masters, and we have taken a look at their form, outright odds and their chances of finishing top of the leaderboard
-
Cameron Smith Turns Heads At Augusta National With Bold Masters Jacket (Not A Green One) Ahead Of Par 3 ContestStep aside Jason Day - another Aussie is causing a stir on the ground of Augusta National courtesy of a bold fashion choice ahead of the Par 3 contest.
-
‘I Will Be Back’ - LIV Golfer Vows To Make Masters Return After Dropping Out Of FieldAdrian Meronk has vowed to make it to The Masters in future years after missing out for the first time since 2022
-
Anthony Kim Posts Best Ever LIV Golf Finish After 16-Shot TurnaroundThe LIV Golf wildcard carded a five-under 67 in the final round in Miami to finish T29 - his best finish in the League
