In professional golf, the relationship between a player and his caddie often becomes one of the most personal partnerships in the sport.

Jim “Bones” Mackay knows that better than most. He spent 25 years on the bag for Phil Mickelson, one of the longest player-caddie partnerships on the PGA Tour.

In an interview, Mackay said the value of that relationship is difficult to overstate. “You are going to spend more time with this guy than your wife.”

While a caddie's primary job is to carry a heavy golf bag and help with strategy, they often provide emotional support during tournaments, helping players stay focused during a round.

However, the profession also comes with uncertainty. Most caddies do not work under a long-term contract and their job security is dependent on the player's performance. Frequent caddie changes on the PGA Tour have earned the nickname “caddie carousel.”

One recent split shows just how quickly those partnerships can unravel.

A Difficult Split Between Close Friends

Player-caddie partnerships in golf do not always last. When they end, many in the sport compare the split to a “divorce.” Max Homa and his longtime caddie, Joe Greiner, learned that firsthand.

Greiner stepped away from Homa during the 2025 Players Championship, saying it was the right move for both their futures and their friendship.

Greiner told Homa at the time that he believed the golfer did not need him to succeed. “You are already great without me.”

Homa acknowledged that he still missed seeing his close friend every day. While he recognized that they had their good times, he also admitted that the bad times became heavier because of the strong personal connection.

Homa now works with Lance Bennett as his caddie, and has said the partnership carries a different dynamic from the one he shared with Greiner.

Greiner, now working with Akshay Bhatia, has celebrated success by helping him secure a victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The switch has already proven successful for both.

The change shows how quickly caddie-player partnerships evolve on the PGA Tour.

Read more at Daily Club Golf!

Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav