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Is Rose Zhang's caddie the unsung hero behind her stellar performances at the Paris Olympics?

Rose Zhang entered the 2024 season with a new caddie! Ever since she turned pro in May last year, she had Jason Gilroyed on her bags. Gilroyed was by her side when she won her first-ever title on the LPGA Tour at the Mizuho Americas Open in 2023. However, just a few months later, in October 2023, she found a new caddie for herself.

Olly Brett took up caddying duties for the 21-year-old, starting with the Maybank Championship in Malaysia. and has been in her bag ever since. Brett is also accompanying Zhang at the 2024 Paris Olympics as she competes for the red, white and blue!

Rose Zhang’s partner on the greens

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Rose Zhang’s current caddie is Olly Brett, who used to caddie for Danielle Kang in late 2017, with whom he has even won five times on the LPGA Tour and has also appeared at the Solheim Cup with Kang in 2019 and 2021. “After Solheim, I just felt like for me to really bring myself out, I wanted maybe a little bit of a different voice on the golf course just to change it up,” said Zhang, and she handed Brett over with the caddie duties.

Olly Brett was born and brought up in Leicester, England and has been caddying for golfers since the age of 17 or 18. He even made yardage books for the men’s and ladies European Tours. Although he joined in the initial days, all he was asked to do for the first three years was fill in for players during his week off. However, with time, his talent was finally recognized.

“Not before too long a player on the Men’s European Tour asked me to start full time. I accepted, and the journey began,” said Brett. Olly Brett once shared that he enjoys the responsibilities of caddying because it gives him the opportunity to witness the competition up close and enjoys being part of the action. Some of his favorite courses to fulfill his professional duties are the Old Course in St. Andrews, Murifield and Augusta National.

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Is Rose Zhang's caddie the unsung hero behind her stellar performances at the Paris Olympics?

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He has also caddied for players like Mel Reid, Sandra Gal, Steve Lewton, and Espen Kofstad. Oliver Brett’s relationship with the golf world goes way beyond just caddying for golfers. His passion for the sport ended up helping him find the love of his life as well, Danish professional golfer Emily Pedersen. However, when it came to his work, he is a thorough professional and has even caddied for one of Emily Pedersen’s opponents.

The time when Emily Pedersen and Olly Brett had a face-off

Back in August 2020 at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open. Olly Brett was still caddying for Danielle Kang. He continued the role through September 2021, and accompanied Kang at the Inverness Club in Toledo.

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However, it was not much of a concern for Pedersen, although it felt weird for the initial few minutes. They did not exchange a word with each other, and that was the only thing Pedersen did not like. Otherwise, she appreciated the duo and even said, “They make a good team, and I respect the work. At the end of the day, this is my job, and it’s his job, and we are both professionals. We just have to learn to deal with it. I think the first time is always a little odd.”

But now she has gotten accustomed to it and to the fact that her boyfriend is absolutely in love with his caddie duties. She has no intentions of coming between him and his passion, just as he respects her own pursuits.

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