Thoughts from a Former Caddy on Presidents Cup Captains Mike Weir and Jim Furyk

If you’ve followed the story behind Low Chaser Golf, you might know that I spent a decade caddying at Ballybunion in the late 1990s and early 2000s. With the Presidents Cup just around the corner, I thought it would be worth sharing a few personal stories that explain why I hold both of these captains, Mike Weir and Jim Furyk, in such high regard.

First up is Jim Furyk. While I didn’t caddy for Jim directly, I did hear plenty from his actual caddy that day. At the time, I was caddying for Payne Stewart, who was playing alongside Tiger Woods and Mark O’Meara.

Two things stood out from what I learned about Jim that day. First, he shot an incredible round of 67. For context, Mark O’Meara shot around 70 (just a week before his Open Championship win), Payne shot level par (including a hole-in-one), and Tiger was a couple of strokes over par. Later that evening, I was in Ernie Els' group, and even he didn’t come close to Furyk's 67.

But what really impressed me about Jim was his down-to-earth nature. Tiger, Payne, and Mark were all nice guys, but with all the committee members, fans, and the overall buzz surrounding them (including the fact that they flew in by helicopter), it felt like a major occasion. Jim, on the other hand, arrived with three of his regular friends. While everyone else was caught up in the excitement in the clubhouse, Jim carried all four bags to the van, loaded them up, and drove so his friends could enjoy a few beers. A simple gesture, but one that made me cheer for him whenever he was in contention.

A year or two later, I had the chance to caddy for Mike Weir when he came to Ballybunion. Out of all the players I caddied for over the years, Mike was by far the most impressive in terms of ball control and scoring, especially in tough wind conditions. He didn’t have Tiger's power, but his precision was unmatched.

I believe he shot level par that day, but I can only recall him missing one green—and that was due to a long iron that flew a bit too far. Faced with a tricky downhill chip that would have led to bogey or worse for most golfers, Mike played a checking wedge to within a foot for par. It was an incredible display of skill.

Another memorable moment came when Mike hit a driver into a quartering headwind. I gave him a line based on a pole in the background. Not only did he start the ball perfectly on that line, but he also put just enough spin on it to hold its path in the wind. I’d caddied for dozens, if not hundreds, of scratch golfers and international players used to windy conditions, but Mike was hands down the best shot-shaper I’d ever seen.

A few weeks later, Mike left us all with a lasting impression. While we caddies received a generous tip on the day, about four weeks later, we each received a package at home—a brand new Titleist 975D driver and a dozen Pro V1 balls. A touch of class from a truly wonderful guy.