Generous Garrigus in caddies’ corner

Robert Garrigus is always giving back, even though it’s usually done behind the scenes and without a big shiny press release. He often picks up the food tab at the caddie trailer for the entire week. He’s thrown in a big-screen TV for the winner of the caddies’ closest-to-the-pin contest on Wednesday of The Players Championship. He’s paid the fees for the Caddies’ Tournament golf course, along with the $10K purse, the past several years.

This time, Garrigus, who earned a career-high $3.2 million in 2012, is taking it a step further and making things more official. He’s setting up a “Caddie Emergency Fund,” where PGA Tour caddies will have access to $100,000 for — yep, you guessed it — emergencies, and a scholarship foundation for caddies’ kids, which will probably be called Professional Tournament Caddie Association (PTCA) Foundation. (continue reading…)

The caddie races on the 16th have become part of the festivities at the famed Waste Management Phoenix Open, known for the rowdy, drunk crowds, not to mention ginormous — 179,022 fans attended on Saturday, setting the all-time single-day record in pro golf history.

And it sure was memorable. Phil Mickelson continued to wow the crowds, posting a seven-under 64 for a 54-hole total of 24-under, six shots clear of the next nearest competitor, Brandt Snedeker. But really, the highlight of the day was the Henley Brothers putting on an epic show No. 16.

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Hunter preying

Many fell prey to the heat that scorched Congressional Country Club on Friday afternoon, but not Hunter Mahan, whose sweet swing and cool demeanor helped him en route to a blistering six-under 65 in the second round of the AT&T National, which included birdies on two of the last three holes.

Heading into what’s expected to be another super hot and humid weekend, Mahan, -7, leads by two strokes over Brendon de Jonge, Jimmy Walker and Robert Garrigus. Mahan, 30, kept hydrated and played so well that the record-high temperatures didn’t bother him or affect him mentally. (continue reading…)

Just kidding, of course. Well, Rory did knock his shot into the water and ended up making a double-bogey in the first round on Thursday.

During Wednesday’s practice round, Rory McIlroy’s looper J.P. Fitzgerald knocked it closer than his boss on No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass during the annual caddies closest-to-the-pin contest at The Players Championship.

Rory and J.P. had a side bet of their own. The wager? Rory had to carry his bag for the rest of the hole. (continue reading…)