Vijay Singh’s Ex-Caddie Laughs Back at His First Salary: “I Started Too Low”
GLF-PGACHAMP Vijay Singh smiles during a practice round, Monday August 9, 2010, for the PGA, Golf Herren Championship at Whistling Straights in Haven, Wisconsin. Tom Lynn/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT Haven WI USA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx 1092551 TomxLynnx krtphotoslive432936
GLF-PGACHAMP Vijay Singh smiles during a practice round, Monday August 9, 2010, for the PGA, Golf Herren Championship at Whistling Straights in Haven, Wisconsin. Tom Lynn/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT Haven WI USA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx 1092551 TomxLynnx krtphotoslive432936
What does the caddie of a golfer earning $71.2 Million get paid?
With 34 career wins and 506/638 cuts made, Vijay Singh has a Hall of Fame career. But one wrong move led his former caddie, Kip Henley, to settle for a low paycheck.
During his appearance on Golf’s Subpar podcast with Drew Stoltz and Colt Knost, Henley laughingly revealed one of the best aspects of working with Singh. And it was all about the money.
Henley recalled, “The great thing about Vijay, I’ll just tell you when I went to work for him, this is how many ever years ago, he says, ‘What I need to pay you?’ I go, ‘Well, I was making 2,000 straight ten at my last job.’ He goes, ‘You got it.’”
“And I went, ‘Holy smokes!’ On the phone, I said, ‘I started too low, didn’t I?’”
The American Family Insurance Championship Day 1 Vijay Singh watches his tee shot from hole 2 during round 1 of The American Family Insurance Championship at TPC Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, on June 6. Madison Wisconsin United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xRossxHarriedx originalFilename:harried-theameri250606_npNQt.jpg
The American Family Insurance Championship Day 1 Vijay Singh watches his tee shot from hole 2 during round 1 of The American Family Insurance Championship at TPC Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, on June 6. Madison Wisconsin United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xRossxHarriedx originalFilename:harried-theameri250606_npNQt.jpg
The three-time major champion agreed, claiming Henley could have gotten more money than what he asked for. Vijay Singh had one thing clarified.
“You never reaching your wallet when you’re on Vijay’s team.”
Henley and Singh didn’t spend too long on the golf course. They connected just before the 2017 Masters Tournament and split up shortly after THE PLAYERS Championship, the same season.
During their brief time together, Singh won the PGA Tour Champions’ Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf.
But now, Singh’s earnings have gotten him a chance to play again.
Vijay Singh Got Himself a Spot at the 2026 Sony Open Because of His Earnings
Despite being a 62-year-old golfer who has been out of action since 2021, Singh entered the 2026 Sony Open. How? He used a one-time career money exemption that’s set for the top-50 earners.
Having earned way more than $70 million, Singh ranks sixth on the all-time list. And this participation held a meaning that went beyond the cash-ins.
It was a move that showed Singh can still compete. And his performance proved his stance. He scored 68 and 70 to wrap up round two at -2, just seven shots behind the leaders. Yes, there’s a stark difference between his current position and his 2005 Sony Open victory.
But from caddie paychecks to career exemptions, Singh continues to command respect across eras.
Written by
Krushna Pattnaik
Edited by
Oajaswini Prabhu