Well now, if you been followin’ golf for any amount of time, ya might’ve heard a bit about this fella named Carl Smith. Ain’t no big ol’ name like Tiger Woods or nothin’, but he’s been out there, helpin’ them golfers make it through the rough patches, so to speak. Carl Smith, he’s been workin’ as a caddie for quite a while now, and I reckon a lot of folks don’t know how he ended up where he is today.
So, let’s start from the start. Carl Smith, he weren’t always just a caddie, no sir. He had a good run as a player and an assistant coach over at Pepperdine University. A lot of folks don’t realize it, but this man right here knows the game from the inside out. He wasn’t just some fella pickin’ up clubs, he had the know-how too. He got to coachin’ them youngins and teachin’ ’em what’s what on the golf course. But then, in 2015, he decided to step away from all that coachin’ business, and took up caddying. Not that he didn’t know what he was doin’, mind you, just that he thought it was a good time to try somethin’ different.
Now, it wasn’t like he just picked up a bag and said “Well, I’m gonna be a caddie now.” Nah, not at all. He started workin’ with a fella named Cameron Tringale. And let me tell ya, Tringale wasn’t a stranger to the golf scene either, so Carl got right into the thick of it, learnin’ the ropes, and making sure them clubs was ready for swingin’ when the time came. He did good, too. He learned fast, and by the time 2021 rolled around, he was caddying for none other than Sahith Theegala.
Now, Sahith Theegala, he’s a young fella, real bright, full of talent, tryin’ to make a name for himself on the PGA Tour. He hadn’t quite won himself that big ol’ trophy yet, but he had some good runs in 2021 and 2022. A couple of top-ten finishes, and that’s what got him his PGA Tour card. If you ask me, it’s not easy to get yourself noticed out there with all them big names, but ol’ Sahith managed to do it. And right there beside him, every step of the way, was Carl Smith, caddying and making sure everything was in place.
Now, Carl, he ain’t the type to boast or make a big deal about himself, but you can see he’s been a real help to Sahith. And let me tell ya, that man knows what it’s like to be out there on the course, under that hot sun, carryin’ all that gear. He’s been around enough to know what a player needs, when they need it, and how to keep ‘em calm when things get tough. And with Sahith lookin’ for his first win on the PGA Tour, it sure helps to have someone like Carl by your side. Carl’s been there for other golfers too, like Andrew Putnam, helpin’ ’em out when they needed it most.
So, let’s talk about what Carl’s been earnin’ these days. Now, the numbers ain’t always public, but I heard that Carl Smith made himself about $739,000 in 2024, sittin’ around 131st on the money list. Now, that’s a good bit of change, but in the world of golf, it’s just a drop in the bucket compared to them big names. But for a fella like Carl, that’s enough to make a livin’, and he ain’t complainin’. He’s got his hands full, runnin’ around the course, and makin’ sure things go smooth for his players.
And I gotta tell ya, Carl’s been a steady hand on the bag. He’s been there with Sahith through thick and thin. Don’t let them golfers fool ya, it ain’t just the swingin’ that gets them through the day. It’s the caddie that’s right there beside ’em, givin’ them the right advice, telling ’em when to take it easy, and when to push through. Carl’s been doin’ just that. And I reckon that’s part of the reason why Sahith and him been together since 2021. Some partnerships, they just work, you know?
Now, every so often, you hear about other caddies partin’ ways with their players. Ain’t all sunshine and roses, I reckon. Just look at Shane Lowry and his caddie, Martin, who split up after five years in 2023. But Sahith, he’s stuck by Carl, and I gotta say, that’s a good sign. There’s trust there, and without that, it’s mighty hard to succeed on the course.
Well, I reckon that’s about all there is to say about Carl Smith for now. He’s a quiet man, don’t make a fuss, but he sure does his job right. And for all those folks out there who think being a caddie’s an easy job, well, they don’t know the half of it. It takes patience, knowledge, and a steady hand. And Carl, he’s got all that in spades.
Tags：[Carl Smith, caddie, Sahith Theegala, golf caddy, PGA Tour, Cameron Tringale, Andrew Putnam, Pepperdine University, golf earnings, golf coach, PGA Tour caddy]
