PGA Tour Caddie Pay Structure and Base Salary
PGA Tour caddies typically earn a base salary ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 per tournament, with top caddies commanding higher guaranteed pay. This base covers travel and tournament week expenses before prize money bonuses apply. The exact figure depends on the player's status and the caddie's experience level. Most caddies also receive a percentage of the player's winnings, which forms the bulk of their income. According to industry reports and player interviews, the standard PGA Tour caddie contract includes a weekly base pay and a performance bonus tied to the player's finish Forbes.
The PGA Tour's official compensation rules for caddies are not publicly detailed in a single salary table, but player and caddie disclosures confirm the base-plus-percentage model. Caddies for top-50 world ranked players often negotiate higher base salaries and larger percentage splits than those carrying for players outside the top 125. The Tour's weekly purses and the cut line directly affect how much a caddie can earn in a given event. A caddie whose player misses the cut typically receives only the base salary or a reduced payout. This structure makes caddie income variable and heavily dependent on the player's weekly performance.
Caddie Percentage Cuts and Bonus Earnings
The standard caddie percentage cut from a player's winnings is 5% of the player's purse earnings, though this can range from 5% to 10% based on the player's finish. Top caddies who help players win major championships or World Golf Championships earn significantly more through these percentage bonuses. A caddie whose player wins a PGA Tour event typically receives 5% to 10% of the winner's check, which can be tens of thousands of dollars on a single event. The exact split is negotiated privately and is not disclosed by the PGA Tour or the players Forbes.
Bonus structures often include additional payouts for top-10, top-5, and victory finishes, with some caddies earning six-figure bonuses in a single season. The PGA Tour's FedEx Cup bonuses do not flow directly to caddies, but a player's increased earnings from a strong FedEx Cup season raise the caddie's overall take. Caddies for players who finish in the top 10 of the FedEx Cup standings can see a meaningful increase in their annual income. The caddie's total compensation is therefore a combination of base salary, percentage cuts, and performance bonuses across the full season PGA Tour.
Top PGA Tour Caddies and Annual Earnings
Top PGA Tour caddies such as those carrying for major champions and world number one ranked players can earn between $1 million and $2 million in a strong season. These elite caddies combine high base pay with large percentage cuts on tournament victories and deep runs in FedEx Cup events. The most famous caddie-player partnerships have generated multi-million dollar earnings over a career, with the caddie's share reflecting the player's total prize money. The PGA Tour does not publish a caddie earnings list, but player and caddie interviews confirm that the very top cadd