[PHOTO: Raj Mehta]
How much do PGA Tour caddies make? Well, it depends on who their golfer is. And how well that golfer is playing. Given Scottie Scheffler’s historic season, there have been plenty of things written about his caddie Ted Scott’s earnings in 2024, but, obviously, most loopers aren’t getting rich out there.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of guys doing well, though. And one of those guys, Bryan Kopsick, offered a detailed breakdown of his finances for the past year. And like when PGA Tour pro Ben Griffin detailed his average weekly expenses last year, we appreciated this look under the bonnet.
Kopsick caddies for Ben Silverman, a 36-year-old Canadian coming off his best PGA Tour season, finishing 110th on the old moneylist with more than $US1.2 million in earnings. So what kind of cut did Kopsick get? Here’s how the candid caddie broke it down.
How much are PGA Tour caddies paid?
Ben’s 2024 earnings – $1,262,599
Events played – 24$1,262,599 x .08 = $101,007.92
24 events x $2,000 = $48,000.00Total on course earnings $149,007.92
This does not include sponsorship/off course income OR travel expenses
Ask whatever
— Bryan K (@InvestingCaddy) November 2, 2024
OK, so that’s a base pay of $US2,000 per event, plus eight percent of Silverman’s earnings – significantly higher than the standard 5/7/10 system based on top 10s and wins – and it came out to $US149,000 for the year.
All what the player wants to pay. Ben is a great guy
— Bryan K (@InvestingCaddy) November 3, 2024
However, as Kopsick noted in his follow-up tweet, he estimates he’s going to have about $US50,000 in travel/professional expenses, so that takes him down to about $US100,000 for the year.
Still, not too shabby. And Kopsick also noted that caddies make extra money from sponsors and that he has several, although he didn’t specify how much he makes from those deals. That being said, he acknowledges that this was a very good year and that there have been some lean years in the past, especially when Ben was still on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Those are HIS earnings
— Bryan K (@InvestingCaddy) November 2, 2024
Kopsick was also asked about comparing the money to working at a high-end golf course.
I worked at a high end course. You can make 80-100k all cash at highest end. But if not in ideal climate it can be 40-60k easy…
It’s tough but we don’t do it for the money. It’s extremely rewarding to try and help someone succeed at what they’re truly good at.
— Bryan K (@InvestingCaddy) November 3, 2024
“We don’t do it for the money,” is not something you hear often today in regards to pro golf, so that’s refreshing to hear. But Bryan believes he has “the coolest job in the entire world”.
1. Fuck yes I am. I have the coolest job in the entire world
2. Oh yes I do. Beyond fair. I have zero pro golf talent and can eat ice cream the night before a round.— Bryan K (@InvestingCaddy) November 2, 2024
Good for you, Bryan. Hey, do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life, right?
