Understanding the Quality and Functions of the Golfer-Caddie relationship

Provided by: HSBC & Loughborough University

There is ample anecdotal evidence to highlight the important role of the player-caddie relationship. The relationship has also been at the centre of media attention as its subject-matter can easily provide splashy headlines, sensational stories, breaking news – all of which can grab an audience’s attention and hold it. The player-caddie relationship has been regarded as a key ingredient in the performance of many golfers. For example, Matt Majendie for CNN on March 2014 published an article entitled “Inside the mind of a caddy: The bag men behind the world’s top golfers” (http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/27/sport/golf/steve-williams-golf-caddies/ ). He provided an overview of what the relationship is like while illustrating successful partnerships. The relationship between golfer and caddie was described as a marriage where understanding how the golfer thinks and feels, what makes them tick, being patient and friendly, managing potential conflict effectively, taking different roles including coach and psychologist, as well as supporting were all deemed important relational properties. Perhaps it is these relational properties that make these partnerships long-term and successful: Steve Williams with both Adam Scott and Tiger Woods (which is considered the most successful partnership by many as Woods achieved 13 out 14 major wins with Williams), as well as Terry Mundy with Laura Davies and Ian Poulter. Poulter recently said, “Your relationship with your caddie is very important every day, not just practice days. Terry has been with me for seven and a half years and we get on great – we’ve got the same sense of humour…You need to be able to rely on your caddie at certain times to be able to give you the right information.” (IMG, interview dated May 2013).

Le cadet du 21ème siècle est avant tout un géomètre-topographe de parcours de golf. A ce titre il connaît chaque recoin du parcours (& de ses greens) et sa valeur ajoutée consiste à pouvoir informer (et conseiller) son joueur de manière précise quelque soit la situation dans laquelle celui-ci se trouve.

Outre sa connaissance du parcours, le cadet peut aussi assister son joueur à connaître son propre jeu de manière scientifique. C’est à dire à recueillir, documenter et analyser ses résultats pour améliorer ses performances, au grand jeu mais surtout au petit jeu. Et notamment au putting, secteur de jeu où les professionnels gagnent beaucoup de coups et où les amateurs en perdent souvent le plus.
Mais plus maintenant…

En effet, PrivateCaddie vous propose en partenariat avec CaddiePlayer*, de bénéficier d’une véritable analyse statistique de vos scores (fairways & greens en régulation, nombre et distance moyenne de vos putts, pénalités, etc.) et d’un suivi de vos performances. Concrètement, Private Caddie enregistre pour vous tous vos coups joués sur le parcours ainsi que leurs résultats lorsqu’il vous accompagne.

Une fois vos scores analysés, PrivateCaddie vous remet un diagnostic pour vous permettre de mieux cibler vos entrainements & leçons et également vous aider à adapter (ou définir) vos stratégies de jeu. Le but, vous apprendre comment scorer & mieux gérer vos performances comme les pros !

* CaddiePlayer est le résultat d’une étude approfondie sur le putting réalisée en 2011 par Stéphane Barras, professionnel de golf PGA à Crans-Montana en Suisse. Le succès de CaddiePlayer a été validé par le joueur professionnel Emiliano Grillo (2^ème au Dubai Desert Classic devant Rory Mcilroy) et recommandé par et Christian Cévaer (plusieurs victoires sur le tour Européen).

RORY McIlroy opened up a mammoth lead over his rivals in The Race to Dubai with his third win in as many outings as he delivered a battling performance in near darkness to win his second Major championship of the season at the US PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club.

The Northern Irishman looks to be in unstoppable form having enjoyed a spectacular few weeks that has also seen him claim The Open Championship and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. His victory in Kentucky, which saw him become the first player since Padraig Harrington in 2008 to win back-to-back Majors, and, at 25 years and 98 days, the third youngest player in modern history to win four Majors, was perhaps the most impressive of the bunch.

McIlroy took a one-stroke lead into a rain-delayed final round but found himself three off the pace at the turn as Rickie Fowler took the lead. But a stunning eagle three on the tenth followed by birdies on 13 and 17 saw him complete a gritty back-nine fight back as he signed for three-under-par 68 to win by one from Phil Mickelson with a 16-under-par total of 268.

“I didn’t think in my wildest dreams I would have a summer like this,” said McIlroy after being presented with the huge Wanamaker Trophy for the second time in his career. I just played the best golf of my life.

“I gutted it out today, it was a little different to my previous Major wins. I think I showed a lot of guts to get the job done.”

The record single-season prize money total on The European Tour is the €5,519,118 McIlroy himself amassed in 2012 as he topped The Race to Dubai and won the DP World Tour Championship. But with 100 days to go until this year’s season-ending showcase, taking place at Jumeirah Golf Estates from Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 November, and the big-money Final Series still to come, McIlroy, with four wins under his belt, already has an eye-watering €5,120,709 with Sergio Garcia in second place on €2,273,917.

It was another great weekend for European Tour players as defending DP World Tour Championship and Race to Dubai champion Henrik Stenson went out in a breathtaking 30 shots in the final round at Valhalla and signed for five-under-par 66 to take a share of third place with Rickie Fowler on 14-under-par, which moves him up to fourth place on The Race to Dubai with €1,696,231.

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen continued his fine season by taking a share of seventh place on 11-under-par while South Africa’s Ernie Els and Frenchman Victor Dubuisson also reached the same total. Inaugural DP World Tour Championship winner Lee Westwood, who was tied for the lead after the opening round, finished tied 15^th on nine-under-par and was joined by Louis Oosthuizen, Mark Warren and Charl Schwartzel.

All will be in the line-up when the DP World Tour Championship gets underway in November, forming what promises to be one of the most star-studded fields since the tournament began in 2009.

Source: EuropeanTour

CaddiePlayer Stats from Rory at the PGA

Crans-Montana, Switzerland August 6^th

Thanks to ShotLink PGATour Track System, I could "CaddiePlayer"  Rory, Adam and Tano during the World Golf Championships Bridgestone-Invitational.

 Rory regained the World Number one ranking by winning the tournament and moves Adam  to second place. Tano finish last.

CaddiePlayer will show you what you can make of it. 

• Rory overall game was outstanding! 

(Since CaddiePlayer is the only System that calculates a "SwingScore", you can see below the comparison between Rory’s "SwingScores" and his RealScores... there are all under par!)

• Adam overall game was inconsistent! However Adam's perfect short game could manage an impressive 65 on day 3 with only 23 putts.

(You can see below significant variations between Adam's RealScores and "SwingScores", on day 3 up to 10 shots difference).

• Tano struggled with his long game!

(Day 2, Tano's "SwingScore" 86, dropping too many shots with his tee shots to go up the leaderboard. Still a nice USD 50’000 cash in to finish last).

To understand more about the "SwingScore" and how CaddiePlayer can help your game,  do not hesitate to contact me. CaddiePlayer act as a road map to the top!  To learn more register now

Best regards. Stéphane Barras, CaddiePlayer Founder