The Shocking Payout: How Much Masters Caddies Really Make (Winner's Haul Revealed)

The Masters Tournament is the most prestigious event in golf, a stage where legends are made and fortunes are won. While the spotlight shines brightly on the players chasing the coveted Green Jacket, the figures in the iconic white jumpsuits—the caddies—are often the unsung heroes of Augusta National. Their earnings, however, are far from modest, especially for those whose player finds success on the hallowed grounds.

As of the Masters, the financial reward for a caddie is a dynamic mix of a guaranteed weekly salary and a life-changing bonus structure tied directly to their player's performance. The difference between a caddie whose player wins the tournament and one whose player misses the cut can be hundreds of thousands of dollars, making the Masters one of the most lucrative weeks in the caddie profession.

The Man with the Bag: A Look at Masters Champion Caddie Ted Scott

To truly understand the earning potential at Augusta, one must look at the career of a caddie like Ted Scott, bagman for 2024 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler. Scott's story is the perfect illustration of how a caddie's career can be transformed by success at a major championship.

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• Full Name: Ted Scott
• Born: Los Angeles, California
• Hometown/Upbringing: Lafayette, Louisiana
• PGA Tour Caddie Debut: 2000
• Notable Previous Players: Grant Waite (2000-2003), Paul Azinger (2003-2005), Olin Browne (2005), and most famously, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson (for 15 years).
• Current Player: Scottie Scheffler (began in late 2021)
• Masters Wins as Caddie: 3 (Two with Bubba Watson, One with Scottie Scheffler)
• Estimated 2024 Masters Earnings: Approximately $360,000 (plus weekly fee)

Scott's partnership with Scheffler has been one of the most successful in recent memory, resulting in multiple major wins and a massive payday at the 2024 Masters. His three Green Jacket victories solidify his status as one of the highest-earning caddies in golf history, demonstrating that the player-caddie relationship is a true partnership on the course and in the bank account.

The Masters Caddie Pay Structure: Base Salary vs. Bonus Percentage

A Masters caddie's income is not a simple flat fee. It is a nuanced, two-part system designed to incentivize performance. This structure is generally consistent across the PGA Tour, but the Masters' massive prize purse elevates the potential earnings to extraordinary levels.

The Weekly Base Wage: Covering the Expenses

Every caddie at the Masters receives a guaranteed weekly salary from their player, regardless of whether the player makes the cut. This payment is crucial for covering travel, accommodation, and other expenses for the week at Augusta, Georgia.

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• Standard Weekly Rate: The base pay typically ranges from $1,500 to $4,000 per week.
• The Missed Cut Payout: If a player fails to make the cut after the first two rounds, the caddie still walks away with their guaranteed weekly wage. For a caddie on the higher end of the scale, this could be around $2,500 to $4,000.

While a few thousand dollars is a respectable paycheck for a week's work, the real financial motivation lies in the tournament's prize money, which is where the bonus structure comes into play.

The Life-Changing Performance Bonus

The vast majority of a Masters caddie's income comes from a negotiated percentage of the player's prize money. This is where the caddie's role transitions from a service provider to a direct partner in the player's success.

• The Standard Bonus Breakdown:
  • The Winner's Share: 10% of the winner's prize money.
  • Top-10 Finish: 7% of the player's winnings.
  • All Other Finishes (Made Cut): 5% of the player's winnings.

This tiered system ensures that the caddie is deeply invested in every shot, as a single stroke can mean the difference between a top-10 finish (7%) and a top-15 finish (5%), a swing that can represent tens of thousands of dollars.

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The Numbers Game: Comparing Caddie Earnings at the 2024 Masters

To put the payment structure into perspective, we can look at the official 2024 Masters purse, which was an all-time high of $20 million. The winner's share alone was $3.6 million, setting the stage for one of the most significant caddie paydays in golf history.

Scenario 1: The Masters Champion Caddie (The $360,000 Haul)

When Scottie Scheffler claimed his second Green Jacket in 2024, his caddie, Ted Scott, secured a massive payout.

• Winner's Prize Money: $3,600,000
• Caddie Bonus (10%): $360,000
• Weekly Base Pay (Estimate): +$4,000
• Total Estimated Earnings: ~$364,000

This single week's income is more than the average annual salary of a doctor or lawyer in the United States, highlighting the immense value of a top-tier caddie to a major champion. Furthermore, if the Masters purse continues to rise, as some estimates suggest for the 2025 tournament, the winning caddie's take-home could exceed $400,000.

Scenario 2: The Top-10 Caddie (The Six-Figure Payday)

Even without winning, a top-10 finish at the Masters guarantees a life-changing sum for the caddie. For example, the runner-up in the 2024 Masters earned $2.16 million.

• Runner-Up Prize Money: $2,160,000
• Caddie Bonus (7%): $151,200
• Weekly Base Pay (Estimate): +$3,000
• Total Estimated Earnings: ~$154,200

A six-figure earning for one week's work is a testament to the importance of the caddie in course management, reading putts, and providing psychological support under the intense pressure of Augusta National.

Scenario 3: The Caddie Who Misses the Cut (The Guaranteed Minimum)

For the caddies whose players struggle and fail to make it to the weekend, the paycheck is significantly smaller, but still a guaranteed income that covers the expenses of the week.

• Player Prize Money: $0 (No cut made)
• Caddie Bonus: $0
• Weekly Base Pay (Estimate): $2,000 – $3,000
• Total Estimated Earnings: ~$2,000 – $3,000

This minimal guaranteed salary is a safety net for professional caddies, a necessary part of the job given the volatility of performance on the PGA Tour.

Beyond the Money: The Iconic Caddie Traditions at Augusta

While the earnings are a major draw, the Masters caddie experience is also defined by unique traditions that set it apart from every other tournament.

The most recognizable of these is the mandatory uniform. Every caddie at the Masters, regardless of the player they represent, must wear the iconic white jumpsuit and a green cap. This tradition dates back decades and was originally enforced when players were required to use local Augusta National caddies. Although the rule was amended in 1982 to allow players to bring their own professional caddies, the uniform remains a symbol of the tournament's history.

The caddies also enjoy perks that reflect the club's hospitality, including a dedicated and well-stocked caddie shack where they can order anything from steak sandwiches to chicken strips, a small but important tradition that provides a moment of comfort amidst the pressure. Ultimately, the Masters is not just a high-paying week; it is a chance for a caddie to become a part of golf history, a partner in the quest for the legendary Green Jacket.