How Much Do Open Championship Caddies Earn?
Caddies at the Open Championship receive a flat-rate weekly retainer before any performance bonuses. This base fee typically ranges between £1,150 and £3,100 to cover travel, accommodation and food expenses during the tournament week, according to industry standards.
Winner's Share: Life-Changing Money
If a caddie's player wins the Claret Jug, the bagman receives a 10% cut of the first-place prize. With the champion's share set at £2.4 million, the winning caddie takes home £240,000.
Bonuses for Top Finishes
For finishes within the top 10, caddies earn a 7% cut of the player's tournament payout. Even if a golfer struggles but makes the 36-hole cut, the caddie receives 5% of the overall winnings for any finish outside the top 10.
Rory McIlroy's Caddie: Harry Diamond
Harry Diamond, McIlroy's caddie since 2017, is one of the highest-earning bagmen in golf history. Thanks to McIlroy's success, Diamond regularly earns well over £1 million annually. His cut from McIlroy's Masters title victory alone was estimated at over £330,000. Over their partnership, Diamond's career share has reached millions of pounds.
