Dash and carry
Mickelson caddie makes the rounds
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NORTON - His desire to have it both - a family commitment and a passion for his work - needed cooperation from Mother Nature yesterday morning. Jim Mackay is counting his blessings he got it.
And because he did, the longtime caddie for Phil Mickelson was in position to make a hectic schedule work to his liking. A brother's wedding? Check. Another day on the bag? Check.
"Somehow, things worked out. Earlier in the week I didn't know if they would, but I got lucky," said Mackay, who is Robin to Mickelson's Batman, or Watson to the lefthander's Holmes. That is, a seemingly irreplaceable part of an impressive team.
They have been together since the first tournament of Mickelson's professional career, the 1992 US Open at Pebble Beach, and wherever and whenever you've seen Mickelson for these past 16 years, you've seen Mackay, or "Bones" as he is known.
This week's
When he tees off in Round 3, Mickelson again will be accompanied by Mackay, and that speaks volumes for the caddie's devotion. He left TPC Boston minutes after the second round, went to his brother's wedding in Barnard, Vt., and had every intention to be back in Norton for this morning's duty, which starts at 8:05.
"He had the option to take the day off, the week off, whatever he wanted," said Mickelson. "But it shows what he's like. He's truly the best at what he does."
When his brother announced his wedding date, "I knew the schedule and where we'd be," said Mackay. "Obviously, I knew we needed to go late [Friday] and early [Saturday]. Fortunately, that's the way it broke."
He was referring to Mickelson's tee times - 1:07 p.m. Friday, 8:22 a.m. yesterday. That afforded Mackay the chance to head toward Vermont right after Round 2, taking a private plane. Had Mickelson been assigned an early tee time Friday and a late one in Round 2, "obviously, I would have been at the wedding, as much as it would kill me to miss work."
Yes, he meant it.
Mackay is widely regarded as one of the best in the business, and his loyalty is not open for debate; consider that he's been there for every round for more than 16 years. Check that, "because there was one I missed," he said. It was Round 4 in Tucson in 1993, and Steve Loy, Mickelson's agent, worked the bag that day.
Alternative plans had been drawn up (one called for John Wood, the caddie for Hunter Mahan, to do double duty), but they were not needed. Instead, Mackay was dependent only on smooth transportation concerns, last night's flight and the chauffeured ride back so he can get some sleep in time for today's duty.
There was no chance, said Mackay, that he'd miss Round 3.
"I love my job. I love what I do," said Mackay. "I'd ride my bike back, if that's what it took."
