Dean Burmester has been associated with his current caddie, Jason Reynolds, for the last four years. Reynolds, in fact, has been in his bag for three DP World Tour victories. The partnership, which first started in 2019, has weathered the storm of a massive career shift for Burmester.

Their collaboration has been successful across the DP World Tour, the PGA Tour, and now LIV Golf. As the South African Pro eyes his second LIV Golf victory at Fanling Golf Course, here is everything you need to know about his trusted bagman.

Exploring Dean Burmester and Jason Reynold’s victories together 

Burmester earned his maiden title before partnering with Reynolds. However, his second piece of silverware came four years after his first. The first two years were an uphill journey as the South African Pro made two top-10 finishes from his 27 outings in 2019. Next year, it was three of 23 events. 2021 is when the 34-year-old found his mojo back, netting seven top-ten spots, including a victory at the Tenerife Open.

Up until that point, Reynolds hasn’t tasted victory on the European Tour. Speaking after the five-shot triumph over Nicolai Von Dellingshausen, the Zimbabwe-born star said, “It’s four years of struggle, hard work. Jason (Reynolds) and I have been together two years… He’s never won; it’s his first one, and he deserves it. He’s been with me through thick and thin.” It was, however, two more years of grinding before the duo saw another individual triumph.

Much changed in between, however. Burmester traveled stateside in 2022, playing nine events with one top-10 finish. Life, however, shifted gears quickly as the South African pro got a chance to join his compatriots in Stinger GC. Despite the backlash and furor, Reynolds stuck with his employer. And the duo was rewarded as well. 

Burmester ranked 14th in the season-long individual leaderboard, and Stinger GC was fifth last year. Reynolds shared the stage with Burmester as Stinger GC hoisted the team trophy at LIV Tulsa last year. In fact, Reynolds got a chance to tee off himself as well at the LIV Golf Jeddah Caddie Championship. Although they couldn’t manage a top-three spot, it was a fun event under the lights at Royal Green Golf & Country Club. Burmester also netted two back-to-back DP World Tour victories with Reynolds by his side. The first one came in late November last year at the JoBurg Open.

That was special for the veteran bagman as well, as Burmester punched his ticket to Royal Troon for the 2024 Open Championship. A week later, at the South African Open Championship, the 34-year-old once again sniffed the title. Interestingly, there was a time when Burmester and Reynolds were on the opposing side in a thrilling match.

When Reynolds was on his opponent’s side

Back in 2016, Reynolds was looping for Jaco Phillipus van Zyl. As fate would have it, Van Zyl and Burmester locked horns at the Eye of Africa PGA Championship. After tying at 20-under after the final round, both headed for a playoff.

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The playoff, however, didn’t last for more than one round. Van Zyl edged past Burmester in the first hole with a par to seal the victory and a stand on the Eye of Arica Estate. However, Golf Monthly reported that Van Zyl gave the stand to his caddie, Reynolds. Evidently, the veteran looper has gained a wealth of experience. Not all, however, were pleasant. 

A rain-soaked day at Oak Hill overwhelmed Reynolds

The 2023 PGA Championship had all the caddies exhausted, annoyed, and exasperated. But perhaps no one expressed it better than Jason Reynolds. It was raining throughout the day, and the veteran looper had to keep the grips and clubheads dry. And then Reynolds had to place himself properly so that his employer wouldn’t get wet while taking a shot. 

Shane Ryan of Golf Digest asked Reynolds how exhausting it was. “F***ing brutal,” Reynolds said before repeating the phrase three times. “There’s no words; it’s just f***ing brutal. It. Is. F***ing. Brutal.”

Elaborating further, Jason Reynolds added, “Just from the start, you’re running around; you’re trying to keep everything dry. Your player is losing his head because the course is demanding. For us, as caddies, we don’t take the umbrella whatsoever; we just accept that we’re going to get wet. But then, when you’re standing there over a shot, you’ve discussed everything, and your player goes and hits; he leaves you with the umbrella; you’ve got four towels on you; then he takes off after hitting a bad shot. Now you’re left with everything, and you don’t have enough hands. It’s just mentally draining.”

Thankfully, the weather at Fanling has been pleasant, and Reynolds hasn’t had to hold an umbrella for Dean Burmester so far. Heading to the final round, the LIV Golf Pro has to recover from the second round slip-up that saw him fall from the top to the seventh spot.

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