Jazz Janewattananond has made a lot of friends this week at the US PGA Championship but he might not be the most popular member of his team on Long Island.
Jack Miller works in a supermarket day to day but he is also a veteran caddie at Bethpage State Park BK Course and this week he has been carrying the bag of the talented 23-year-old Thai.
After Janewattananond's planned local caddie was unable to perform his duties, Miller was drafted in and he only met his boss for the week three days before the tournament started.
"The guy who had the loop first got hurt and he replaced him with me so I came and met him on Monday," he said. "I've only known him six days right now.
"Each day we're getting better and better. It started off a little awkward with the language. He was having a problem with my New York accent! But we got it going and yesterday was really good."
Yesterday was the third round when Janewattananond captured the imagination of the raucous New York crowd with a 67 that moved him right up the leaderboard on a tough day for scoring.
Being a local, Miller is familiar with the vociferous nature of his friends and neighbours, something Janewattananond took in his stride.
"He's a kid," said the caddie. "He's 23 years old. He laughs and fools around with everybody and then the next thing you know, when it comes to a golf shot, he's so focused on it. He's a true pro.
"He's loving it. At first I was like 'are you alright with this?' and he's like 'yeah, I'm alright with it'. It's cool.
"When I'm with him I'm fine, he's cool, we're calm. For a 23-year-old it's amazing how he carries himself."
He's loving it. At first I was like 'are you alright with this?' and he's like 'yeah, I'm alright with it'. It's cool
While playing golf in front of crowds is just the day job for Janewattananond, Miller's day to day routine is quite different.
He works in a local supermarket but it is clear from listening to him that his passion for golf is undimmed.
"Caddie is a great job, it's fun and I love being on the golf course all the time but I've also got to pay bills and get benefits so I work in the supermarket," he said.
"I'm the opener in the store so I get there at five o'clock in the morning, run around, do my stuff, and then I get my butt up here and do what I've got to do here."
The pair will now go their separate ways, one travelling the world playing golf and the other doing the early shift at the supermarket and, while their lives will be very different, they will never forget their week together on Long Island.
