After the third round at the World Wide Technology Championship at the El Cardonal, Matt Kuchar is tied at the top spot alongside Colombian golfer Camilo Villegas. After the Fortinet Championship in September, once again the veteran golfer finds himself within the top ten spot on the leaderboard. But this time, a title seems within reach. 

Guiding him in every hole is his trusted accomplice for the past three years, Brian Reed. The American caddie has been in the business for more than 20 years and is providing the veteran golfer with crucial inputs. Let’s take a look at the golfer’s current caddie and his previous bagmen. 

Matt Kuchar’s current caddie

After parting ways with John Wood, Kuchar linked up with veteran caddie Brian Reed in August 2020. Reed, has a history of caddying for Kyle Stanley, Martin Laird, Brian Davis, Troy Merritt, Chez Reavie, and Kevin Stadler. 

With Stadler, the American caddie won the Johnny Walker Classic in Perth in 2006, a victory the caddie still holds close to his heart.  He has also caddied for Troy Merrit, who is teeing off at the El Cardonal against Kuchar, winning the Kodak Challenge in 2016. However, with his current employer, he has yet to win any trophy.

Before becoming a caddie in 2000, the St. Petersburg native was playing college golf for Florida State. As per The Caddie Network, for the experienced bagman, the North Berwick is the favorite course to tee it up whenever time allows him.

Read More: 2023 WWT Championship: Power Rankings, Defending Champion, Prize Money and Major Details

Who has caddied for Matt Kuchar earlier?

Previously, Kuchar had John Wood under his bag. The duo worked together since 2015. In the four years, the Kuchar earned an Olympic Bronze, a Ryder Cup victory in 2016, and the Sony Open title in 2019.

Wood, like Reed, has played college golf previously at UC Berkley. He came on board with 19 years of work experience with players such as Hunter Mahan, Kevin Sutherland, and Chris Riley.

According to Kuchar, it was Wood who felt they needed to split up. The decision came after the four-time Ryder Cupper failed to make the cut at the PGA Championship 2019. After their split, his wife Sybi Kuchar caddied for him for a brief period.

When Kuchar underpaid his caddie

In the 2018 Mayakoba Classic, in Mexico, Kuchar linked up with a local caddie David Giral Ortiz to fill in his regular caddie’s absence. As per Kuchar, they had a deal where the golfer would pay the fill-in caddie $1000 if failed to make the cut, $2000 for making the cut, $3000 for a top 20 finish, and $4000 for a top-10. Apparently, a winner’s payout was not in the bargain.

But then that’s what happened. Kuchar shot a final round 69, and despite some shaky play was able to pip Kiwi golfer Danny Lee at the post. However, the sweet taste of victory after four and half years was awfully short-lived for the American golfer.

Matt Kuchar was quick to make amends

A full-time caddie generally gets a ten percent share of the total payout if the golfer wins the tournament. So, when, the nine-time PGA Tour winner bagged the Mayakoba Classic title and pocketed  $1,296,000 for the victory, the Mexican caddie rightfully asked for $50,000, less than half the amount of a regular caddie. 

Kuchar, realizing the mistake later, paid him the full $50,000, which still amounted to less than five percent of the total earnings. However, Ortiz was satisfied with the amount. The 45-year-old golfer also reportedly paid an undisclosed amount to the Mayakoba tournament charities. 

In an interview with the New York Post later, the caddie revealed he harbored no resentment for the golfer. “I’m not angry. Everything is good. Not paying was not good. But I have no anger.’’ Interestingly enough, Wood too came to the golfer’s aid speaking against the sideswipe at that time, saying it’s wrong to fling mud at Matt Kuchar for one mistake.

Kuchar has now left all that behind and looks to forge a sunnier path with his new caddie at the World Wide Technology Open. With a title title and $1,476,000 on the cards, the PGA Tour pro has a lot to play for.

Watch this story | Amid Recent Penalty Humiliation, a Potential $25 Million PGA Tour Investment Gets Brutally Squandered