Sam Burns' PGA Tour career began in 2019, two years after turning professional, and he's only had one full-time caddie since leaving the amateur world behind – Travis Perkins.
Perkins is from Lewis Center in Ohio, and he was a big golf enthusiast from an early age, counting Jack Nicklaus and Fred Couples as childhood heroes.
He's also a talented player, and competed for Florida Southern College before receiving his PGA Tour card in 2008. Despite making three cuts in that season, including a T62 in his home state at the Memorial Tournament, he struggled to maintain his status.
Perkins' last world ranking event came on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2009, but within two years, he had begun to focus on caddying, initially teaming up with his friend, Kris Blanks. Perkins' caddying breakthrough came working alongside DA Points, and he helped him claim victory at the 2013 Shell Houston Open.
Perkins, who has also caddied for Scott Piercy, Aaron Wise, Brandt Snedeker and Cameron Tringale, teamed up with Burns when he turned professional four years later, and the pair have barely looked back since.
Burns’ maiden PGA Tour win came at the 2021 Valspar Championship, and afterwards, Perkins was full of praise for the player, saying: “Sam played amazing golf for 72 holes. He putted unbelievably. It made my job easy – just get him on the green.”
With Perkins' assistance, Burns' career has kicked on from there. He claimed his second PGA Tour title that October at the Sanderson Farms Championship, and enjoyed two more wins in 2022. He followed that with victory at the 2023 WGC-Match Play at Austin Country Club.
It got even better for Burns when he was picked as a wildcard for the US Ryder Cup team, where he had an overall record of 1-2-0 as the Europeans ultimately claimed victory at Marco Simone.
With five PGA Tour wins in less than two years, it seemed as though the sky was the limit for the partnership, but then Burns hit a dry spell where victories were concerned. However, even then, he stuck by Perkins, and it's easy to see why, with some impressive performances including several top-five placings, even if that sixth PGA Tour win proved elusive.
After some indifferent Major performances throughout his career, Burns, helped by Perkins, began to shine in the big events, first with a T9 at the 2024 Open at Royal Troon, before holding a one-shot lead with one round to play at the 2025 US Open at Oakmont.
Needless to say, Burns' success is in no small part because of Perkins, and an insight into his abilities came in a 2021 article in The Ledger, where a former college teammate of Perkins said: “He really knows the game. I’m not surprised he is so successful as a caddie. Great players need a caddie who is detailed and calculated with a strong work ethic. He has all of those. Bottom line - he has everything to partner well with world class PGA Players.”
His work didn't go unnoticed during the US Open either, with SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio host Jason Sobel noting: "Other than a flatstick that rarely seems to miss, one of Sam Burns’ greatest assets is caddie Travis Perkins, a former PGA Tour pro himself. They strategize their way around the course together really well."
Other than a flatstick that rarely seems to miss, one of Sam Burns’ greatest assets is caddie Travis Perkins, a former PGA Tour pro himself. They strategize their way around the course together really well.June 14, 2025
Given Burns' eye-catching performance at the US Open, it could even be the case that the pair are just getting started.
How Much Does Sam Burns’ Caddie Make?
Heading into the 2025 US Open, Burns had career earnings of over $31m. While caddies typically earn 10% of the prize money for a win, their share is often between 5% and 7% for other finishes. From Burns' five career wins alone, it is likely Perkins earned around $900,000, while his overall earnings from his time with Burns on the PGA Tour are likely to have approached $2.5m.
