Looking at the European player and caddie line up, the caddies have more experience amongst them of Ryder Cups and Major victories than the players do. If you were suspicious of infiltrators then look no further than the two American caddies working for Europeans.
Gerry Higginbottom, from California has got a wealth of experience in pressure golf. He worked for Mark O'Meara for eight years, including two Majors and numerous Ryder and Presidents cups. Now he's on Sergio Garcia's bag. Chosen by the Garcia camp back in May, after his split with O'Meara, his experience and familiarity with the American scene was crucial in his selection. His allegiance will be with his player.
Lance Ten Broek, is American and an ex-US tour player. He has played in over 150 competitive rounds on the US tour, entitling him to a tour pension. Although relatively inexperienced as a caddie, his knowledge gained as a player will outweigh that. Watching his handling of Jesper Parnevik in deep rough at Carnoustie earlier this year, when his level headedness kept Parnevik from total self destruction, he will be ready for all Ryder Cup scenarios.
Graeme Heinrich, is Australian and makes the yardage books on the European tour. He got the call up from Jean Van De Velde a few weeks back after the Frenchman decided that his caddie wasn't up to the job anymore. Graeme has produced the Brookline yardage book for the team because his product has always been preferred by Europeans to the official American book. Graeme worked for Nick Faldo some years back when Fanny was injured, he has also worked on occasions for Mark McNulty including a Presidents Cup with him. He is a perfectionist and shouldn't have any difficulties with the yardage book.
Billy Foster, a Yorkshire man working for Darren Clarke, is almost a Ryder Cup veteran. He has been involved with Gordon Brand Jnr, Seve and of course Darren in past contests. Liable to get up to some tricks, he has the ability to ease locker room tension. A frustrated acrobat perhaps. He jumped into the water at the 17th at Valderrama when Europe won there in 1997. He also leaped off a hotel balcony in Akron a few weeks back into what he thought was a swimming pool, it was actually a much harder surface. He doesn't seem any the worse for it.
Alastair McLean, a Scot, has worked for Monty for as long as he's been the invincible player that he is. He is a graduate of Edinburgh University and was a good amateur golfer until caddying took over. He has a wealth of Ryder Cup experience and tournament winning savvy as well. He has been there before.
Mick Doran, is English and started his caddying career as a local looper at Wentworth. He came out on tour and after a bad first couple of weeks where he had his bag and passport stolen on an overnight train to Italy, he slotted into a winning routine with Costantino Rocca. A month after separating with Rocca, he got the call up from Lee Westwood. Mick has no shortage of winning experience and Ryder Cup competition. You can rely on Mick.
Tim King, alias "Toff" due to his Oxford University education and rather grand English accent. As an honours graduate in Physics and Chemistry he is unlikely to be intellectually intimidated by his American counterparts. After a brief spell on Monty's bag some 10 years ago, Tim moved into the Scandinavian camp. He has caddied in two successful Ryder Cups with Per Ulrik Johansson. He has won several tournaments with him. He was working for aspiring Dane Soren Hansen when he got the call up from Jarmo Sandelin. Although he's an excellent mimic, he might struggle with an impression of Mark James. Downside: not as attractive as Jarmo's previous caddie Linda.
Richard Roberts, will only be the second South African to caddie in the cup. He made a big career move in 1993 when he recognised the merits of carrying Ernie Els' bag instead of Derrick Cooper's. He went on to have great success with Ernie until they split at the end of last year. He is no stranger to Majors, having won two US Opens with Els. He has been with him for three Presidents Cups, so he is familiar with the formats involved in this event. His experienced hand will be vital to his rookie player Andrew Coltart. The only danger with Rickie is breaking a basic caddie rule; being mistaken for a player, as he enjoys dressing like a pro.
Dave McNeilly, who hails from Northern Ireland, is making his second appearance in the event (having previously partnered Nick Faldo ) and will tote Padraig Harrington's bag as he has done successfully all year. Every team needs a character who will keep morale high and find humour in even the most serious situation - Dave is such a person and, if for no other reason, will be an asset to the European caddie team. Behind his jocular attitude is the serious side. The Irishman is the hardest working and most conscientious on tour and calls on a wealth of experience from both the American and European tours. There will be plenty of laughs from the European locker room with Dave around - especially when he relates stories of his days as a deck-chair attendant at the Belfast Loch.
Brendan McCartain, is English and one of the first caddies to use the curriculum vitae as a means of getting a bag on tour. With the help of his then employer Peter Mitchell, he sent a c.v. to all the management groups at the end of last year in search of a new bag. The result was a trial period with Jose Maria Olazabal which ended with a dramatic victory in the Masters. This new approach to getting a bag was frowned upon in the caddie shack, but is standard procedure in normal life. He's won a major with Jose, why not a Ryder Cup?
Eduardo Gardino, despite being the second Argentine to caddie in this event, has a strong European connection through his Scottish grandmother. A good golfer in his own right, Eduardo has played on the Canadian and South American tours. He and his player, Migel-Angel Jiminez, have had a great deal of success since joining forces, highlighted by wins in the 1998 Lancome Trophy and this years Andalucian Open. Although he's relatively inexperienced at such a level, if the caddies get a chance to go out at night, he's got some competent dance floor action. A real latin charmer.
Paddy Byrne, the tour rookie who will not have woken up from his European fairytale yet, is the second Irish caddie at Brookline. Based in the Middle East, he was rescued from another sweltering summer by Paul Lawrie earlier in the year, Paddy hasn't looked back. A win in Qatar in his second week with Paul, their success continued with winning the Open Championship in July. Paddy has a major under his belt as a novice toter. Hopefully the reverie can continue with a fruitful Ryder Cup. He's having the year of his life, how can this fairytale end?
A notable absentee is the Ryder Cup `caddie-daddy' of them all, Pete Coleman. With almost as many appearances at the event as the present team put together, his experience will be missed. With Fanny not being present it leaves an all male locker room. Hopefully the softer female influence will not be missed.
The caddies from both sides will be in the same dining and recreational area, unlike the players who have separate locker rooms and dining areas. So diplomacy will be necessary in the combined `caddie shack'.
