Tiger Woods winning his first Masters. Constantino Rocca making a 100-foot putt at St Andrews. The legendary caddie Mick Doran has witnessed it all. But after 38 years, 35 wins, and seven Ryder Cups, Doran is ready to hang up his bag.

The 56-year-old Englishman announced his retirement before this week’s Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship on the DP World Tour. He is caddying for Eddie Pepperell at this event, which will be his last tournament.

The event, held at Real Club de Golf El Prat in Barcelona, marks the end of a career that began around 1987-88 when Doran and a group of friends rode their bikes to Wentworth to start looping on the European Tour.

"There were seven of us who went on Tour around 1987-88, and we just travelled together," Doran told the DP World Tour. "Four of us are still caddying today. Unbelievable."

His reason for stepping away is straightforward.

"I've just lost the drive," he said. "I used to look forward to getting on the course, and that's kind of gone now. All my friends are kind of finishing now. I thought, why not? I've had a good time."

Over almost 40 years, Doran worked with top golfers like Lee Westwood, Justin Rose, David Howell, Francesco Molinari, and Luke Donald. He helped Justin Rose win his first tournament in Johannesburg and was also part of Rose’s success in winning the Order of Merit.

"Westwood's distance control was unbelievable in his heyday," Doran said. "Every time he got on a leaderboard, he won, more or less."

Eddie Pepperell on what made Mick Doran truly special

Pepperell won both of his DP World Tour titles in 2018 with Doran as his caddie. He said Doran stood out because he stayed calm and made the right calls when it really mattered most.

"Mick's biggest strength is when you are in the hunt," Pepperell said. "He is a confident caddie, and even if it is not always correct, at least he talks with a lot of confidence, and a player feeds off that."

The respect ran both ways. Doran called Pepperell "very old school" and backed him to win again.

"If you get Eddie in contention, he'll win a tournament, that's for sure," Doran said.

What Doran says he'll miss most isn't the wins or the majors. It's simpler than that. "Friends, caddies," he said. "It's a good, fantastic bunch of lads, that's for sure."

Happy retirement to Mick Doran from Club Golf!

Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason