Who Is JJ Spaun's Caddie? Meet Mark Carens
Find out more about Massachusetts-born Mark Carens, who has enjoyed a highly-successful career to date and has been on the bag of JJ Spaun since April 2021


American pro, J.J. Spaun has steadily become a real force on the PGA Tour since making the step up from the Korn Ferry Tour in 2017.
Although Spaun had won three other professional titles beforehand, his biggest to date arrived at the Valero Texas Open on the PGA Tour in 2022 - not long after he hired Mark Carens as his caddie.
Spaun had previously worked with Zeke Salas - who is now Kevin Yu's caddie - before making the switch in April 2021. Around a year later, Spaun and his new bagman were on their way to Augusta National Golf Club for the first time together following the golfer's debut victory at the highest level.
Speaking to The Caddie Network's John Rathouz in April 2022, Carens attempted to express his personal satisfaction at the pair's achievement.
He said: "It's crazy. I can't believe I'm sitting here at Augusta. This is my favorite tournament, it's my favorite course. It's the hilliest course and it's the toughest course to walk, but it's also the easiest because you feel like you're walking on cloud nine..."
The caddie continued: "I have so much fun working for him, it's a joke. It's like it's not even work, I'm just watching someone compete at the highest level. He exudes confidence and he's been getting better every day. We've been working to get to this position. I knew it was coming, but you never really know anything. I'm just so proud of him."
Carens was born in Wellesley, Massachusetts and began playing golf at the start of his teenage years, later going on two incredible trips with his father to play some of Ireland's best courses and Scotland's best courses in back-to-back years.
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.
Hooked by the game at that point and clearly possessing supreme talent, Carens went on to turn pro out of high school and won both the 1993 and 1995 Boston Open.
Although his playing career, which largely featured mini-tour action, came to an end in the early 2000s aged 30, Carens remained interested in the game and quickly decided on becoming a caddie in 2002 after an opportunity arose through a friend who was playing on what is now the Korn Ferry Tour.
Since then, he has worked for a handful of PGA Tour regulars - including Paul Stankowski, Jonathan Byrd, Brendon Todd, Morgan Hoffman and Aaron Baddeley. But Carens' two most well-known bosses over the years have been Bubba Watson and Si Woo Kim.
Bubba Watson and Mark Carens share a laugh during the final round of the 2010 PGA Championship
The pro looper stood in for Ted Scott at the 2010 PGA Championship as Watson tried to claim what was, at the time, the left-hander's maiden Major title, but Martin Kaymer reigned supreme in the three-hole playoff to extend his wait.
Seven years later, Carens would enjoy the biggest win of his career so far as he helped a 21-year-old Kim to the 2017 Players Championship by three strokes from Louis Oosthuizen.
Speaking to The Caddie Network's Rathouz in March 2022, Carens explained how he and Kim almost manifested the victory during a practice round the week before. The caddie said that they were on the back nine at TPC Sawgrass' Stadium Course trying to increase the pressure on Kim's shots.
Mark Carens and Si Woo Kim embrace after winning the 2017 Players Championship
Stood on the 18th tee, Carens recorded Kim with his phone and said: "one-shot lead on the last" before Kim quickly snapped back with a "No. Two-shot lead." As luck would have it, the young South Korean found himself in exactly that position seven days later and executed it to perfection.
Carens is known for his great sense of humor and relaxed demeanour, dove-tailing perfectly with Spaun nowadays as the two chilled souls continue to pursue excellence on the PGA Tour.
Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Joaquin Niemann. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and recently reached his Handicap goal of 18 for the first time. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
-
Danny Walker Facts: 14 Things You Didn't Know About The PGA Tour Pro
Get to know American professional golfer, Danny Walker with these facts about his life and career in the game so far...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Austin Cook Facts: 16 Things You Didn't Know About The American Golfer
Discover more about American golfer, Austin Cook via these facts regarding his life and career in the game so far...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Patton Kizzire Facts: 22 Things You Didn't Know About The American Golfer
Discover more about American golfer, Patton Kizzire via these facts about his life and career in the game so far...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Joseph Bramlett Facts: 10 Things To Know About The PGA Tour Pro
Joseph Bramlett has experienced highs and lows during his professional career - here are 10 things to know about him
By Mike Hall Published
-
Trey Mullinax Facts: 10 Things To Know About The PGA Tour Pro
Trey Mullinax was part of a brilliant college golf team before making his way in the professional game - find out more about him here with these 10 facts
By Mike Hall Published
-
Chris Gotterup Facts: 10 Things To Know About The PGA Tour Pro
Chris Gotterup is one of the PGA Tour's rising stars - here are 10 things to know about him
By Mike Hall Published
-
Hayden Springer Facts: 10 Things To Know About The PGA Tour Pro
Hayden Springer has experienced triumph and tragedy – here are 10 things to know about the PGA Tour pro
By Mike Hall Published
-
Pierceson Coody Facts: 15 Things To Know About The Pro
Pierceson Coody had a brilliant college golf career, and backed that up with almost immediate success after turning pro - here are 15 things to know about the American
By Mike Hall Published