Ironically, writing #AskESPNCaddie on April Fools' Day as a former comic doesn't bring me any extra giggles. Sure, I have had a few great pranks on this date in years past, but taking your questions and turning them into jokes doesn't seem like a great April Fools' gag. So, I'm going to stick to my guns, answer your questions honestly and save the chuckles for later. Enjoy this non-April Fools' #AskESPNCaddie!
@ESPNCaddie what is the toughest course to figure out/crack the code? Tough landing areas, tough greens to read, conditions? #AskESPNCaddie
— ReGripped (@ReGripped) March 31, 2016
Augusta National by far! Fastest greens, biggest breaks, smallest landing areas ... while the course may be generous in what you can do off the tee, there are very specific places you must land the ball with your second shot if you want a realistic first putt.
@ESPNCaddie Besides show up, keep up, shut up what makes a great caddie? #AskESPNCaddie
— Bob DuCharme (@bducharm) March 31, 2016
A great caddie isn't afraid of getting fired. To be honest, nowadays, the "shut up" part of that saying isn't true and for good reason. No player wants his or her caddie to let them make a stupid decision that could have been prevented with a quick chat. A great caddie is like a great swing coach. Every player, like every swing, is different. How well the caddie adapts to their player can be the test for success.
#AskESPNCaddie was there ever a time when you looked back and thought 'dang if I had done ___ my player woulda won'
— Matthew Broach (@i_c_crazy_matt) March 31, 2016
Never. But there are two instances that still bother me years later. One was caddying for Scott Piercy in Puerto Rico, and I let him hit a 3-wood in a situation I shouldn't have on a par 5. Even though we spoke about it afterwards, it still burns me. The other was giving John Morgan a read I wasn't 100 percent committed to at a Monday qualifier in Miami. Missing that putt may have cost us getting into a playoff for a spot in the tournament. I know in my heart it didn't, but I still haven't forgiven myself for not just saying, "I don't see it."
@ESPNCaddie What on earth is going on with @HunterMahan? Not playing very well. #AskESPNCaddie
— Al from Cal (@alnorris2011) March 31, 2016
Even though he didn't have a great year in 2015, Hunter Mahan didn't miss his first cut until The Players Championship. This year, he has missed two cuts already and hasn't even sniffed a top 20. I think it's a combination of things. When Jason Sobel and I had him on the "Golf" Podcast last year, he spoke about how he was struggling with his time management with family and golf. He had lost his longtime caddie John Wood (now with Matt Kuchar), who was a big part of his team. Golf has its ebbs and flows, but this dip for Mahan seems like there is more to it than just the swing. Hopefully it will pass, but I would not expect anything groundbreaking in the near future.