Having a great relationship with your caddie goes a long way on the golf course and it can be the defining factor between success and failure.
From Sir Nick Faldo and Fanny Sunesson to Phil Mickelson and Jim “Bones” Mackay, having the right person on your bag creates trust and friendships that go beyond the golf course.
And trusting your caddie’s advice goes a long way around Le Golf National.
Home of the 2018 HNA Open de France and The 2018 Ryder Cup, the course here boasts tight, hard fairways that are running fast, strategically placed bunkers and water hazards aplenty.
When you add to that a swirling wind, having in faith in your caddie’s advice is vital.
The final four holes arguably create one of the toughest closing stretches on the Tour, thanks to an abundance of water and tight fairways that put a premium on accuracy.
Take Ian Poulter for example. He had to put immense faith in his caddie Terry Mundy when he faced an approach shot of more than 200 yards, over water to an island green, at the par 4 18th hole.
Mundy’s response to Poulter saying: “Just a soft cut?”
“I like it.”
Take a look at what happened next:
For Jon Rahm, the 15th hole wasn’t kind to him over the first two days having made two double bogeys.
His tee shot on day three found the fescue and resulted in a long conversation between player and caddy about whether to drop the ball or play it as it lies.
Having decided to play the ball where it is, Rahm managed to hack the ball out and the pair went on to make one of the best pars of the tournament, if not the season.
With Chris Wood unsure on club selection at the 15th hole, his caddie Phillip Morbey gave a masterclass in instilling confidence in his player.
Before the ball has even had chance to come to rest he is praising the three time European Tour winner by saying: “Great shot, Woody.”
Take a look at how the bag man convinced his player this was the correct club, which would see them walk off the hole with a birdie.
