Killer, Gorgeous and Burnt Biscuits are just three of the colorful nicknames bestowed on some of the loopers to pass through the PGA Tour caddie yard over the years.
Some are self-explanatory such as Squeaky or Growler or Bones while others require a bit more backstory. Tommy Bennett was an Augusta National caddie who burned his leg as a kid trying to steal his grandma’s freshly baked biscuits while another ANGC caddie, Willie Poteat was known as Cemetery because he woke up in the morgue after surviving a knife fight in which his throat was slashed by a jealous rival.
“It’s almost like you haven’t made it in the caddie world until you’ve got a nickname,” says Mike “Fluff” Cowan, and he couldn’t be more right.
Here are some of our favorites:
Best caddie nicknames explained
James Anderson
Nickname: Tip.
Late caddie at St. Andrews’ Old Course, known for his expert “tips,” helped Arnold Palmer win twice there.
Nathaniel Avery
Nickname: Iron Man.
Longtime Augusta National caddie, Avery was on the bag for Arnold Palmer during all four of his victories at the Masters and according to Ward Clayton’s book, “Men on the Bag,” Avery bought a new car the day after each Masters victory. With Palmer losing his grip on the lead late in the final round in 1960, Avery famously asked, “Mr. Palmer, are we choking?” The King answered with two birdies and walked off with another green jacket and a new car for his sidekick.
Andy Blaydon
Nickname: Rod Stewart.
Some say he’s a spitting image of the “Maggie May” singer, especially the hair.
Tommy Bennett
Nickname: Burnt Biscuits.
Augusta National caddie burned his leg as a kid trying to steal his grandma’s freshly baked biscuits.
Todd Blurch
Nickname: Top Gun.
Named for clubbing his player wrong and buzzing the TV tower.
Joe Bonica
Nickname: Einstein.
Move over, Bryson, this brainy LPGA caddie had the nickname first.
Bill Busky
Nickname: Beautiful Bill.
Had long hair that never moved, even in the strongest wind.
Dan Chapman
Nickname: Camper Dan.
Takes a camper on the road. … of course!
Mike Cowan
Nickname: Fluff.
Longtime caddie for Peter Jacobsen and Jim Furyk as well as Tiger Woods’ first caddie when he turned pro, Cowan earned his nickname not so much for his fluffy mustache as for his resemblance to pro Steve Melnyk, who had the nickname Fluff in college.
Emanuel Duarte
Nickname: Bully.
This nickname is ironic considering the LPGA caddie’s fun-loving personality.
Steve Duplantis
Nickname: Asbestos.
Was seemingly fireproof (couldn’t be fired) despite reputation for tardiness, partying. Worked for Jim Furyk and Rich Beem.
Alfred Dyer
Nickname: Rabbit.
Dyer, one of the first prominent black caddies, worked for Gary Player for 20 years. As for the nickname, well, Dyer was fast as a rabbit and the name stuck.
Sam Foy
Nickname: Killer.
Counted 36 wins during his 45 years with three players and was with Hale Irwin for his 1979 U.S. Open victory. Foy was a boxer in his younger days and claimed to have knocked out Sugar Ray Robinson once when a sparring session turned serious.
Tom Frank
Nickname: Motion.
Longtime LPGA looper got his name from another caddie, who said Frank was always moving.
John Graham
Nickname: Scotchie.
Glasgow, Scotland native was best known as caddie for Mark James and Lee Westwood.
Joe Grillo
Nickname: Gypsy.
It turns out his mom coined the nickname. Before his caddie days, Gypsy Joe was also racing off on his motorcycle. “She’d always say, ‘You’re always gone like a gypsy,’ and it stuck.” Grillo recalls. He caddied for several top pros including Steve Elkington, Jim Simons, Curtis Strange and Jay Haas. An accomplished chef, Grillo later rigged up a motor home and sold meals for caddies and players, creating what he called the Tour’s soup kitchen.
Steven Hale
Nickname: Pepsi.
Known for drinking several Pepsis during a round – and hiding cans around the course.
Dolphus Hall
Nickname: Golf ball.
Hall worked for several prominent players, most notably
Raymond Floyd, who reportedly fired Hull six times, only to watch his wife, Maria Floyd, hire him back each time. The nickname stems from his round eyes, which bulged, especially when he got mad, as big as golf balls.
Carl Jackson
Nickname: Skillet.
As a kid, legendary Augusta National caddie, who won two Masters titles on the bag of Ben Crenshaw, apparently couldn’t throw hard enough to break an egg.
Ron Levin
Nickname: Bambi.
Nicknamed as a young 17-year-old, and went on to loop for Jack Nicklaus, among others.
George Lucas
Nickname: Gorgeous.
In short, the ladies loved Lucas, who began caddying in the 1970s and eventually made his living writing yardage books that became known simply as “The Book.”
Lee Lynch
Nickname: Two Shot.
Al Geiberger famously said, “Having him on your bag was like being penalized two shots.” But in 1977, Lynch was on the bag for Geiberger’s historic round of 59. Does that mean Mr. 59 really would have shot 57 that day?
Jim Mackay
Nickname: Bones.
Phil Mickelson’s former longtime caddie stands a lanky 6 feet 4 inches and was given the name by Fred Couples in 1990, when he couldn’t remember Mackay’s name.
John McLaren
Nickname: Johnny Long Socks.
It’d be hard to find another caddie with a better sock game than Paul Casey’s guy.
Jeff Medlen
Nickname: Squeaky.
Known for his high-pitched, cartoon-character voice, he caddied for al three of Nick Price’s major wins and coined the phrase “grip it and rip” while on the bag with John Daly at the 1991 PGA Championship.
Glen Murray
Nickname: Hopper.
Other caddies have said Sergio Garcia’s looper bounces when he walks.
Louie Paolini
Nickname: Louis the Lip.
Straight-talker who’s never short on opinions.
Pete Persolja
Nickname: Crunchy Pete.
Keith Mitchell’s bagman calls himself “the caddie version of Bear Grylls.”
Willie Poteat
Nickname: Cemetery
He served as President Dwight Eisenhower’s caddie at Augusta National during his presidency and beyond. As the story goes, Poteat woke up in the morgue after surviving a knife fight in which his throat was slashed by a jealous rival.
Willie Lee Stokes
Nickname: Pappy.
Late Augusta National caddie, who steered four players to a record five Masters titles among caddies, was often referred to as club’s “grandfather of caddies.”
Linn Strickler
Nickname: The Growler.
His throaty baritone voice like steel wool earned him a most deserving sobriquet. He caddied for the likes of Curtis Strange, Fred Couples and Payne Stewart during his career.
Lance Ten Broeck
Nickname: Last Call.
Former PGA Tour pro turned caddie was famous for closing the bar. At the 2009 Valero Texas Open, he famously played and caddied in the same tournament, beating boss Jesper Parnevik by two strokes after enjoying eight happy-hour special orders of a 22-ounce beer and a jug of sake for $6.50.
Michael Waite
Nickname: Sponge.
Caddie of Lee Westwood and others was soaked in a downpour.
Rod Wooler
Nickname: Mucker.
Was David Feherty’s longtime “me old mucker,” or on other words, “my old mate.”
