Phil Mickelson has turned to the PGA Tour to find a new caddie after his brother Tim retired this week, and another LIV Golf star has found a new man on the bag with help from Jon Rahm.
Phil Mickelson wasted no time in finding a replacement for his brother Tim, who recently retired as his caddie. The six-time major champion swiftly sought out a new caddie from the PGA Tour.
The brother of the LIV Golf star has served as his caddie for a span of eight years, which includes his victory at the 2021 PGA Championship. However, the siblings have recently declared the termination of their professional partnership. Expressing his gratitude, the 53-year-old stated, “Throughout my career, I have achieved remarkable feats, and having the opportunity to share those moments with my brother Tim has been truly extraordinary. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had him as my caddie for the past eight years, as well as my lifelong brother.”
Tim may be retiring from caddying, but I will forever treasure the wonderful memories we’ve made on the course and I can’t wait for more unforgettable moments together outside of it.
Mickelson acted swiftly in finding a replacement, bringing on Jon Yarbrough, as reported by GolfWeek. Yarbrough is set to start his new role at LIV Golf Miami next week, then move on to The Masters at Augusta National. With a decade of experience as a caddie for PGA Tour pro Scott Stallings, Yarbrough has also worked with Gary Woodland, Smylie Kaufman, and Bill Haas in the past.
Yarbrough and Stallings maintain a strong friendship, however, the substantial financial offer from Mickelson influenced his choice. Stallings, who secured his last victory on the PGA Tour in 2014, handled the separation with grace.
The 39-year-old will need to secure a new caddie ahead of the Houston Open on Thursday, as he expressed his gratitude on Instagram: “Cheers to an amazing 10 years. You helped me improve as a player on the course and as a person off it. I appreciate everything.”
In preparation for the upcoming tournament in Miami starting on April 5th, it seems that Yarbrough is not the only PGA Tour caddie making a move to LIV Golf. Caleb Surratt, a teammate of Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII, has successfully recruited Brian Dilley, who has previously worked with the promising PGA Tour player Akshay Bhatia.
It is worth noting that Dilley shares a close friendship with Rahm’s caddie, Adam Hayes, and it is believed that their connection played a significant role in facilitating Dilley’s transition to work with Surratt. Surratt himself recently joined LIV Golf at the beginning of this season after his time at the University of Tennessee.
I’m constantly learning, evolving, and striving to understand what I require as a player to improve and compete at the highest level. Brian Dilley, I believe, will play a crucial role in guiding me towards that goal,” Surratt shared with the media.
He has been a caddie at a remarkably high standard for a longer period than my lifespan, and unquestionably will provide valuable insights for my golf game. All members of my team have praised him highly, and I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to collaborate with him in the upcoming weeks.
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