Why Are PGA Tour Caddies Wearing Custom Bibs at CJ Cup Byron Nelson?

“Play COD with mates,” reads Stuart Davidson’s bib. The Scotsman is the long-time caddie of Australian pro Min Woo Lee. “Take a Knapp” (yes, Jake Knapp). That’s etched on the bib of Mark Hubbard’s caddie. Look closely, and you will spot more at the CJ Cup, Byron Nelson.

May is mental health awareness month, and caddies are wearing custom bibs to support that initiative within the PGA Tour. It all dates back to 1968, when the Salesmanship Club of Dallas first hosted the McKinney event. Over the years, the scale and scope have only increased.

The PGA Tour has contributed $185 million to charities

Established in 1920, the Salesmanship Club of Dallas is actively involved in various charities. The 600-member club does fundraisers for the Momentus Institute, a team of psychologists specializing in mental health services and professional and clinical training. The custom bibs for caddies are part of the initiative to make it more fun and engaging.

The Tour has generated over $185 million for the institute since the 1960s. This year, the PGA Tour has pledged to donate $1000 for every birdie made in the signature par-3 17th. Till the second round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, 58 birdies have been made at Ranch 17. Moreover, last November, during the annual luncheon of the Dallas Salesmanship Club, the PGA Tour Wives Association donated $45,000 to the Momentus Institute. 

This year, players and supporters will also wear green apparel to showcase their support for mental health. “Having professional athletes at this level recognize and talk about the importance of mental health is critical for helping to end the stigma around the issue,” Jon Drago, tournament director of THE CJ CUP, told PGATour.com. Aside from this, the CJ Cup Byron Nelson also offers unique opportunities to local golfers and school students.

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson supports junior golfers

Parallel to Salesmanship Clubs’ focus on children, the CJ Group also took the initiative for aspiring golfers. Started in 2017, the ‘Bridge Kids’ groups PGA Tour Pros with junior golfers from the area. Filled with Q&A sessions, mini-games, and other skill-building activities, CJ Group seeks to inspire junior golfers. 

Moreover, fifth graders from the local momentous school, located 33 miles from TPC Craig Ranch, caddied for the pros on the par-3, 7th, on Wednesday’s Pro-Am. CJ Cup Byron Nelson has been the launchpad for rising stars. Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler, two of Texas’s brightest stars, debuted here seven years apart. Spieth was 16, and Scheffler was 17. This year, too, Kris Kim, a 16-year-old amateur from England, kicked off his PGA Tour journey at Craig Ranch.