The alternating two caddie policy employed by Ernie Els means that Dan Quinn – rather than Irish Times columnist Colin Byrne – will be on the South African's bag at the US Open in Merion. Byrne performed the job at the Masters.

Quinn is a former professional ice hockey player, who started to caddie for Els in 2010 after their daughters became friendly while living in Florida.

Accidental caddie
If there is an element of the accidental caddie about how Quinn landed the part-time job caddying for Els, there is nothing accidental about his love of the game.

In his teenage years before pursuing his ice hockey career, Quinn had a myriad of tasks – including working in the cart shed, the bag room and helping out in the pro shop – at his local course in Ontario.

Oh; and there was some caddying too!