NORTON, Mass. -- I have been happily surprised at the response, not only from those of you outside the ropes, but also those of you inside them who've repeatedly asked why we aren't doing Caddie Confidential on a more frequent basis. Well ... you demand, I'll supply.
For those of you checking this out for the first time, here's how it works: I'll talk to a caddie after a round of a tournament and get the inside scoop on what it was like and what experiences happened during the day. For that information, I promise to keep the identity of the caddies confidential so as to not put them in a situation that would compromise their jobs. With the rules established, here's Sunday's Caddie Confidential.
Michael Collins: What was different about the course on Sunday compared to Friday and Saturday?
Caddie: Wind direction was different. But [the course] didn't play much different. Might have been a little bit firmer. Fairways ran out a little farther. Greens held, even that s----y one Gil Hanse redesigned on 18.
Collins: Which is a tougher wind, 20 mph all day from the same direction or 7 mph and switching directions throughout the round?
Caddie: It's tougher when there's variables. Like gusts. Well that's the kicker, though. Seven mph isn't going to affect solid [hit] flighted shots. It's like playing in Europe. Scotland, you gotta flight the ball. You can't be launching it up.
Collins: Is one side of the golf course harder than the other side?
Caddie: Yeah, I think so. Well it depends on hole locations though, right? But generally the back nine out here I think plays a little easier. I think the finish on this golf course isn't very difficult at all. You got a wedge in your hands on 15. [The 16th hole] is a short par-3, wedge in your hand on 17, and 18. ... Well, it used to be reachable but now there's nowhere to play from around the green. It's almost wiser to lay up on the hole, unless you got the right number.
Collins: Curious to find out how a caddie feels about the short reachable par-4 fourth hole?
Caddie: Uuuuhh ... Yeah I like it. It's better than it used to be. Do you remember that little dogleg right where you could never hit the fairway? That was brutal.
Collins: Is it tougher to caddie when a player starts with three or four birdies in a row [trying to keep momentum going] or when a guy makes three bogeys in the first five holes?
Caddie: Well, it [would] have to be bogeys.
Collins: Why?
Caddie: Well, then you gotta work harder. If he's gonna run birdies in, you just watch. Carry on the rest of the day, ya know? You should never bogey [the first hole since] you've got a wedge in your hand. [On the second hole] the only way you're gonna make bogey is to 3-putt it or go for it in two [it's a par-5], which I don't recommend. ... But if you're gonna play a good tournament here, you're gonna have to play the first four holes minus-8 or minus-9 for the week.
Collins: What's the hardest part of this golf course?
Caddie: Probably not punching one of these greasy, nasty Boston fans in the face.
Collins: Why's that?
Caddie: They're rude. Not all of them. It only takes one. Nah, I don't know the hardest part about this golf course ... just managing yourself properly around this golf course cause you're gonna get so many looks [at birdie]. If ya just manage it. You don't have to, all of a sudden, start trying to make three on a par-5 cause you're gonna have so many wedges all week long. ... Isn't [it] always about minus-20 that wins this golf tournament?... And then you always see somebody come in and birdie the last four holes on it.
