Phil Mickelson & Caleb Surratt Storm PGA Tour Caddie Yard For 2 Veterans
Golf week has been informed by sources that Phil Mickelson and Caleb Surratt of LIV Golf have entered the PGA Tour caddie ranks for a pair of regular caddies.
After caddying for Phil Mickelson for the previous eight years, notably during the 2021 PGA Championship victory at Kiawah, Tim, his younger brother, has announced on social media that he is retiring from the role.
He did, however, not designate a successor. It has been revealed to Golf week that seasoned caddie Jon Yarbrough would be in the bag for the LIV Golf Miami event commencing next week and the Masters the week after that.
Having caddied for Scott Stallings for the last ten years, Yarbrough will not be carrying his bag at this week’s Tour tournament in Houston. Yarbrough has been with the tour for almost twenty years. In the past, Yarbrough has caddied for players like Kelly Robbins, Morgan Pressel, Suzanne Pettersen, Gary Woodland, Bill Haas, and Smylie Kaufman during the LPGA.
The 39-year-old Stallings qualified for the 2022 Tour Championship, but he hasn’t won since the Farmers Insurance Open in 2014, and he’s missed the cut in five of his eight starts so far this year.
This week, Stallings is anticipated to travel with his swing coach. Stallings and Yarbrough are good friends, but the guaranteed sum of money promised “was incredible,” according to a source. When contacted by phone, Yarbrough refused to respond.
There have been several changes made to the LIV Golf caddy. In order to replace him, veteran Tour caddy Brian Dilley, who was on Akshay Bhatia’s bag, has been courted by Caleb Surratt, who signed with LIV out of Tennessee earlier this year and joined Jon Rahm‘s Legion XIII.
Dilley, who has collaborated with Aaron Wise, Billy Horschel, and the LPGA’s Gerina Piller, among others, was mentioned by Surratt through text.
“I believe Brian Dilley will be able to assist me in reaching that stage. I’m still learning, developing, and working on everything because I’m starting to realize what I need as a player in order to advance and be able to compete at the greatest level.”
“He has been a top-notch caddie for more years than I have been alive, so having his eyes on my game will surely be beneficial. He is well-liked by everyone on my team, and I can’t wait to collaborate with him in the upcoming weeks. So far, the journey has been rather delightful, and I’m eager to continue developing myself, master the professional game, and ultimately become one of the greatest golfers in the world.”
Thus, even if the league has been looting the Tour caddy yard, the defections to LIV may have halted temporarily while the Tour and PIF negotiate.
