"Conflict brewing between PGA Tour, caddie association"

Rex Hoggard with the increasingly tense back-and-forth between the PGA Tour and the Association of Professional Tour Caddies over loopers entering into sponsorship arrangements along with other matters.

Letters have been written...

According to the letter, caddies were also told that any potential sponsor that would conflict with an existing marketing partnership the Tour has would also not be allowed; yet players aren’t subject to the same rules. Lee Westwood, for example, has an endorsement agreement with UPS which would appear to be in direct conflict with FedEx which sponsors the circuit’s season-long points race as well as an annual tournament in Memphis.

Officers with the APTC were also told that any sponsorship agreements involving the caddie bib would not be allowed and that the circuit already has an “exclusive agreement” with Nature Valley for headwear, a deal that also includes a “caddie pool” that awards an estimated $500,000 to caddies based on the performance of their player.

“The caddies have not joined in any ‘exclusive agreement,’” the letter read. “Through the Tour’s actions, caddies have affectively been restrained from competition in the marketplace.”

Comments

[V60golfrrr]

There are so many sponsors seen every week, what difference does it make if a caddie has valvoline or Vaseline on his cap. The tour is acting like a bunch of money grubbing ninnies.

[No longer]

First of all players and caddies are different. No one buys a ticket or tunes into an event to see Fluff or any other famous caddie do their job. The Tour needs to keep their sponsors happy. If you are the Fed Ex guy cutting a check for zillions each year, how would you feel if all the caddies not only wore UPS hats, but also dressed like UPS delivery men. You may not write a zillion dollar check next year.

I caddied in a handful of tour events, but can easily see the tour's perspective.

[mehstg]

@ No longer - If what you say is true about the players being the attraction, who cares about what the looper wears as long as it conforms with on-course requirements. Your argument is self-defeating and also will not stand up in courts on either side of the Atlantic.

If I chose to caddy for a player and had a Taylor Made hat, Footjoy shoes and Adidas clothes and were paid for it, good for me. Besides, there is more and more a preference for the player and looper to 'match'.

[4PuttAficionado (F3PA)]

Speak for yourself No Longer. I have been known to tune in just to keep an eye on perennial top 5 player, Patrick Reed's smoke show caddie/wife.
I see Stricker has his wife back on the bag as well.
I propose that loopers who are the Wife and/or Girlfriend (WAG) of a player should be called a 'BAG WAG'. Let's add BAG WAG to the golf vernacular.
All in favor say "aye"

[dgs]

Don't see why caddies cannot make their own deals, they are just as much a "contractor" as the player they carry for. Interesting contrast, since the PGA Tour as a whole, is on the more conservative ideology side of political thought and loves the "free market" concept, but strangely that "free Market" turns into something rather monopolistic, when threatened.

[Mountain Man]

"A showdown is brewing." There is no showdown when one side has no leverage, unless Rex really believes that players will choose caddies over the tour if they had to take sides. He might. And then my favorite: "According to a letter obtained by Golf Channel." Translation: A letter one of the caddie association officers sent me and begged me to write about. But it isn't juicy enough to be written by Golf Channel Digital.

[Brad Fritsch]

There seems to be a lot of miscommunication going on. Caddies are not prohibited from entering into sponsorship agreements on their own. MY caddy has two logos on his shirt, and I'm nobody. It's the bib they want advertising control over, and my overall point when it comes to that is, there's certain things that you sign up for when I hire you. Show up on time, carry my bag, do what I ask, and wear the bib with my name on it. You don't want to do that, then you may be out of a job. Be careful what you wish for, fellas. You don't want to be treated like players. Cuz if you do, those pee tests are gonna be a one way ticket to the unemployment line.

[Johnnnycz]

Great comments Brad!

Quick guess: over/under...approx how many loopers will not pass the IOC piss test? I say easily it's 2/3.

[Louis Friend]

Brad Fritsch, interesting insights. Thanks for your point of view.

Perhaps the caddies should learn something from what happened to MLB umpires who went on strike about 15 years ago. They were all summarily replaced, and those that were re-hired basically had to grovel their way back into a job.

[Brad Fritsch]

I prefer not to speculate. :)

[Brad Fritsch]

There are a few things that I completely support that they are trying to accomplish, by the way. For example, a consistent standard of services/amenities available to them each week. Access to bathrooms, a safe shelter, good food, etc.

[meefer]

Thanks, Brad. Any suggestions as to which caddies might get me the best 'tips' ;-)

[ol Harv]

Rex hosted Matt Adams' radio show on Sirius/XM Thursday and guess what, he had I believe Ryan Palmer's caddie on who is the Pres of the caddies assoc. According to this guy they were told they are a private contractor for a private contractor. The guy was comparing caddies to horse jockey's who now have sponsorship apparently on their bibs or legs. I'm typically sympathetic to stuff like this but honestly the attitude that they are a part of the "show" was kind of annoying to listen to. He kept saying that they deserved health care benefits just like others and then went on to say how much they were spending each month. But no one has put a gun to their heads and told them they have to do this. I would think that is something they would have to weigh when choosing that career. And if they are valuable to their player then I would think maybe they would step up and help with that. Have not read the article yet and it might be in there, but the assoc is getting legal advise from the same firm who represented the rules officials in their grievance with the PGA Tour.

[v60golfer]

LOL. The tour should threaten to pee test them. Then bye bye conflict.

[chico]

My caddie aws my employee. If he didnt like my terms and conditions he was free to look elsewhere. Caddies are so much better off now and so much better looked after. Not sure I agree with them on this one.

[digsouth]

If there is a company that counts ''exposures'' of names/logos (there is ) then the caddycould be viewed as a possible carrer of said logo/exposure.

I have always been POed that certain players are given minutes ofcoverage dong non golfing actvitues, while other worthy players never get a peak, other than their tap in on 18, and a mention of the 63 they shot. These ''others'' deserve TV time, and the sponsors who expect o have their logo shown are getting zip: meanwhile Ticky Fowler, who looks lke a clown or a county prisoner from one day to another, gets multiple exposures as he misses the cut.

Yes again I'll say it... no one ever ''quietly moves up the leaderboard'', the crummy director and producer overlook players, be it intentional or by hangover...intentional? is there payola in golf coverage? :) :(

Brad, do players talk about ''TV time'' and getting dissed? I know cops live for making the 10 oclock news.

[Ted B. (Charging Rhino)]

I'm not as concerned about all this talk of "conflict" as some as both sides need to explore -- and shoot-down -- differing ideas and options. There certainly have been Tour venues where the caddies as-a-group have been treated shabbily, and certainly a few have been treated shabbily by their players on-purpose, or just out of benign thoughtlessness. Coming from a construction-background, I see similar issues all the time where you have subcontractors of sub-contractors at cross-purposes to the general contractor of the project-owner. and there will be missteps and missed-cues.

That-said, I think that pursuing "hat-deals" and "shirt logos" really isn't addressing the logical needs of the caddies, and ignores the real benefits and efficiencies of scale if the Caddies Assoc. could work some package deals for insurance, travel and retirement for the association. And some basic standards and understandings on amenities and professional courtesy at Tour events should be resolved.

[smails]

tour should ban all logos on caddies.

[No Longer]

mehstg, you miss my point all together, read Brad's comments, caddies do have sponsorship opportunities, but the Tour doesn't want a caddy's sponsor to conflict with the tournament sponsor. A caddie shouldn't wear a Pepsi Logo at a Coke sponsored tournament.

Brad, if you are still out there, does your caddie read putts? If i were a tour player I would try to find a looper that I could trust to read putts.

[Brad Fritsch]

I *think* the Tour's position is that a blanket "caddy sponsor" would not be able to conflict with a Tour sponsor. For example, if the association got UPS for all of its hats, then no, that wouldn't be acceptable. But if one caddy wore a UPS logo on his sleeve? I'm pretty sure that would be ok. And it SHOULD be ok. Because we as players can do it too.

@ No longer - absolutely my caddy reads putts. I'd put down any amount of money that he's the best on Tour. When I first started working with him in 2012, I quickly found out how good he was. I spent the rest of the season just standing there, waiting for his read. Best I've ever putted.

[mehstg]

@ No Longer - See Mr Fritsch's comments.

[DTF]

Brad, that's an awesome endorsement of your caddie's putt reading acumen but you might want to tone down the rhetoric lest he get picked off ;)

I would be interested in an example of how he communicates the read to you, could you share an example of this with us? How does he phrase information about break/speed/grade?

[elf]

If the PGA Tour negotiates a deal & gets paid for it, and he deal involves the caddies, then the caddies should have a say pure and simple. Clearly the sponsor involved thinks the space is worth money. And if the PGA tour wants to say that they are independent contractors of independent contractors ergo no health insurance, then you also don't get to make rules about what they can and can't do/wear.

PGA Tour caddy at this point is a professional position & it should be treated as such. They have a value to the player & the player compensates them accordingly and they have an agreement. The caddy also has a value to the tour, and the tour should deal with them as professionals. Hired help has rights.

[Alan Bundee]

"The caddy also has a value to the tour"

Explain?

[John]

Considering Humana sponsors an event, you'd think the Tour could manage to get health care for the caddies. Though as Tour employees would tell you, Humana flat-out sucks as a provider. But it does beat nothing.

[No Longer]

mehstag, now I disagree with both you and Brad. Caddies and players have different roles and should be treated differently.

[elf]

@Alan - the tour sells the caddie bibs that they require the caddie to wear to a sponsor. So the tour is making money off of caddies.