Michael Greller, Jordan Spieth’s caddie, made more than $3 million during the last PGA season
THIS man had such a successful season that he earned four times as much as Tiger Woods. He didn’t have to play any sport to do it.
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SO MANY people dream of one day playing professional golf.
Travelling the world, strolling along courses that encapsulate ocean-side cliffs and tropical palm trees. And of course there’s the money.
In fact, this man had such a good season that he earned more than 211 other PGA Tour members — and he didn’t even have to swing a club.
Jordan Spieth’s caddie Michael Greller was reported to have made $3 million over the course of the recent PGA Tour, a figure which, if accurate, would see him ranked 39th on this year’s PGA Tour money list.
Business Insider reported that the estimate is based on Spieth’s stellar season, in which he won five times (including two majors) and had 15 top-10 finishes. Those performances alone gave him more than $17 million in official earnings, but that figure jumps to nearly $33 million when you take into account his victory at the World Hero Challenge and his $14 million bonus for winning the FedEx Cup.
While caddies have their own individual agreements with players, standard practice is they receive 5 per cent of the prizemoney for making a cut, 7 per cent when they finish in the top 10 and 10 per cent if their boss wins a tournament.
If Spieth is using this same formula, and includes a 10 per cent pay-off for his FedEx Cup bonus, then Greller would have received $3 million. That’s more than four times what Tiger Woods earned in the same time frame, and just shy of Phil Mickelson’s earnings for the year.
Previously a teacher, Greller is no doubt thrilled he left his old job to caddie full-time for the 22-year-old American in 2013.
Spieth capped his trophy-laden season with more silverware on Monday, winning the PGA of America Player of the Year award as well as the prestigious Vardon Trophy.
He became the second youngest player to win the awards in the same year after Tiger Woods achieved the feat as a 21-year-old in 1997.
The accolades came after Spieth held his nerve to win Sunday’s Tour Championship, completing a remarkable season that also included wins in the Masters and US Open.
The season-ending awards are given for excellence by a PGA Tour professional.
On Sunday, Spieth carded a one-under-par 69 to claim the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, clinching the $14 million bonus on offer to the winner of the FedEx Cup. The win also restored Spieth’s world No.1 ranking ahead of Australia’s Jason Day.
The Vardon Trophy is given to the PGA Tour professional who posts the lowest scoring average each year.
Spieth averaged 68.911 through 91 complete rounds this season, just pipping PGA champion Day (69.161), who completed 75 rounds, by 0.25 strokes.
Spieth tallied 180 Player of the Year points, ahead of Day with 106, Bubba Watson with 52, Zach Johnson (46) and Rickie Fowler (44).
The points totals are calculated on a system factoring tournament wins, official money standings and scoring averages.
— with AFP
Originally published as Michael Greller, Jordan Spieth’s caddie, made more than $3 million during the last PGA season
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