Golf writer fills in as caddie for PGA Tour player
By Adam Fonseca · September 11, 2018
This week, one of golf media’s own got an opportunity of a lifetime in the rain-delayed BMW Championship that concluded on Monday.
Jason Sobel of The Action Network was in the right place at the right time when PGA Tour player Brendan Steele suddenly found himself in need of a caddie. As heavy rains pushed the final round of the BMW Championship into Monday, Steele’s usual caddie — Christian Donald — was faced with either catching his regularly scheduled flight home early Monday, or changing his flight and carrying for his boss one more day. Steele, who was near the bottom of the leaderboard and unlikely to qualify for the Tour Championship, told Donald to keep his flight plans.
RELATED: It was a week that wouldn’t end for caddies at the BMW Championship
Steele then asked Sobel, who was on site covering the event, if he’d be willing to caddie for him on Monday. Sobel agreed, albeit begrudgingly, and was on the bag as Steele played his final round with Brian Harman and Phil Mickelson.
No big deal, right?
We ready. pic.twitter.com/nsJhAN1ic9
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) September 10, 2018
Sobel was understandably nervous as he took the reigns of Steele’s giant red Wilson Staff bag, but is no stranger to the looper game. He had previously caddied on the pro circuit during the 2007 Chattanooga Classic for Roland Thatcher on the Nationwide Tour. Thatcher missed the cut… but let’s not bring up old stuff, shall we?
How did Sobel fare during Monday’s round? According to him, surprisingly well.
“In my first round caddying on the PGA Tour, my loop Brendan Steele shot 68, I didn’t screw up too badly and we genuinely had a fun time walking around the golf course together,” Sobel wrote in his post-round summary.
What a fun day. My man @Brendan_Steele shot 68 and I didn’t lose any clubs or cough in anyone’s backswing. That’s a huge win. Will write more later. pic.twitter.com/bPBJeMMws4
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) September 10, 2018
Other highlights from Sobel’s gig with Steele include a pre-round pep-talk from eventual winner Keegan Bradley’s caddie, Chad Reynolds, some pleasantly encouraging exchanges with Phil Mickelson during the round, and Steele making a donation to the Western Golf Association in lieu of paying Sobel for his efforts.
