Who Is Nasa Hataoka’s Caddie? All You Need to Know About the Most Trusted Bagman of the Japanese LPGA Star

A rising star in the game of golf, Nasa Hataoka, was able to make her mark in the game owing to her scintillating performances on the course. The Japanese professional was able to dub herself a talented player with the help of her many accolades, including six wins on the LPGA Tour and the LPGA of Japan Tour. But none of it would have been possible without the ample support that she received on the greens.

The athlete has managed to turn many heads her way once again in the wake of an amazing showcase of skills at the Toto Japan Classic. She should be credited with all the success and accomplishments that have come her way. However, there is another person who has extended a hand of support to the Japanese, whose role can’t be discounted—none other than her caddie!

Meet the caddie of Nasa Hataoka

Haraoka employed Greg Johnston as her looper back in the year 2019, two years after turning professional. He has been on the bag for the young athlete for close to four years now. The duo has seen a lot of success in their partnership as the golfer, has managed to garner a total of six victories on both circuits.

Johnston has had an eventful career as a caddie for many players on the LPGA Tour. He was able to work with different golfers, including the likes of Michelle Wie West when she started out, Juli Inkster, the Hall of Famer, with whom he had a successful collaboration, Lorena Ochoa, Brittany Lincicome, and Suzann Pettersen.

Johnston’s career before Hataoka

The looper is famous for his iconic stint on the LPGA Tour with Inkster. The legend of the game saw herself having a very prosperous time of 12 years with the bagman, as the duo had won a total of four major championships, along with a number of other victories. However, the decade-plus-long-standing partnership with Johnston came to an end when he decided to leave the 31X PGA Tour winner in 2005.

The decision came as a result of the emergence of a young player in the game, none other than West. The Hawaiian athlete employed Johnston on her bags. After the then-16-year-old turned professional in 2005, the looper teamed up with the young prodigy, following which they had a commendable time together.

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However, in a surprising move of sorts, the bagman was fired the day after the duo finished in the 26th position in the 2006 Weetabix Women’s British Open. The decision came as a shock to the looper, who found out the same from the professional’s agent while waiting for his flight at the Manchester airport gate on his way back home.

“I was shocked and surprised; I thought we had a successful year,” said the unemployed caddie in an exclusive interview, as he expressed his disappointment all the while mentioning how they could have carried it out differently. The pair was able to place themselves inside the top five out of the seven appearances that they have had together on the LPGA Tour. Moreover, the teenage West had managed to garner around $720,000 through her finishes that year.

The American was able to get back on his feet and work on himself, owing to which he began to carry the bags for Cristie Kerr, followed by his current golfer in 2019. However, although the caddie has seen a lot of professionals’ bags throughout the years, one thing remained the same for him: the love he has for his family.

Johnston and his family

At the 2015 U.S. Open at the Lancaster Country Club, after assisting Kerr on the greens, he always took a short drive to West Lampeter Township, where his brother was staying. The duo would then spend the rest of the day relaxing under the sun by the pool in his sibling’s backyard.

Christopher, his older brother, was the business manager for Penn Manor School District back then. The Johnston duo would grill their food out every time the youngest one came visiting. Their parents have a total of three sons. The trio attended Sayre High School, with the future looper ending up at Bloomsburg College after the same. He started his caddying job a year after graduating from college when a friend asked him to carry the bags at a golf club in Corning.

One can’t help but look at the looper in awe and respect, as the amount of hard work and years he put in managed to help his golfers on the course. Well, one thing is for sure: the Hataoka-Johnston duo has not seen the end of their run!

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