Jim Mackay Detailed PGA Tour Caddie Compensation
Veteran caddie Jim Mackay revealed how professional golf bags are compensated through base salaries and performance cuts.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Golf
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Longtime professional caddie Jim Mackay outlined the financial realities of working on the PGA Tour, noting that caddies rely on a mix of weekly base pay and tournament earnings. These professionals are responsible for covering their own travel and lodging expenses, which can total up to $50,000 per year.
Why it matters
Understanding the compensation structure sheds light on the high-risk, high-reward nature of the profession, where income is directly tied to a golfer's weekly performance. Because agreements are week-to-week, caddies face significant personal financial vulnerability when players miss the cut.
Caddies earn a base weekly rate of $1,500 to $3,000 but receive no additional payment if a player misses the cut. Compensation for made cuts typically ranges from 5 percent for poor finishes to 10 percent for tournament victories.
The players
Jim Mackay
A veteran caddie who worked with Phil Mickelson for 25 years and is widely known as Bones.
Phil Mickelson
A professional golfer who has earned over $117 million throughout his career across the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
The details
Mackay noted that caddies must independently fund their own travel and living costs, spending between $40,000 and $50,000 annually. Compensation is heavily performance-based, with earnings significantly tied to high finishes in competitive fields.
Timeline
Jim Mackay began his long-running partnership with Phil Mickelson in 1992.
The professional collaboration between Mackay and Mickelson concluded in 2017.
Season Trajectory
The caddie profession operates under an independent contractor model, which starkly contrasts with the guaranteed salary structures found in major team sports. This week-to-week financial reality shifts the focus to high-stakes performance and impacts how caddies manage their careers across a full season.
A missed cut results in zero tournament income for the caddie beyond their base pay, creating immediate financial exposure for those traveling on the tour. Given the $40,000 to $50,000 annual overhead, caddies are essentially incentivized to maximize a player's earnings to offset substantial personal expenses.
The takeaway
The caddie profession functions as a high-stakes partnership where financial stability depends entirely on the player's consistency and tournament results. Aspiring professionals in the industry must account for significant out-of-pocket costs when managing their seasonal income expectations.
Further reading
For more on the financial dynamics of the sport, visit the Golf section.
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