Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm have been involved in LIV Golf caddie moves this week (Image: Stuart Kerr/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Phil Mickelson has turned to the PGA Tour to find a new caddie after his brother Tim retired this week, and another LIV Golf star has found a new man on the bag with help from Jon Rahm
Phil Mickelson has moved quickly to fill his caddie vacancy after the surprise retirement of his brother, Tim, with the six-time major champion turning to the PGA Tour to find a replacement.
The LIV Golf star’s brother has been on the bag for eight years, including his 2021 PGA Championship triumph, but the siblings announced the end of their working relationship on Tuesday. The 53-year-old said: “I’ve had some great accomplishments in my career and getting to share them with my brother Tim has been beyond special. I’m very lucky to have had him on the bag for me the past eight years and as my brother for life.
“While Tim is retiring from caddying, I’ll always cherish the many great moments we’ve shared on the course and I look forward to many more special moments off the course too.”
Mickelson has wasted no time sorting a replacement, hiring Jon Yarbrough, according to GolfWeek. Yarbrough will make his debut on the bag at LIV Golf Miami next week, quickly followed by The Masters at Augusta National. Yarbrough has been the looper for PGA Tour veteran Scott Stallings for the past 10 years and has previously worked with Gary Woodland, Smylie Kaufman and Bill Haas.
Yarbrough and Stallings remain close friends, but the “incredible” guaranteed money on offer with Mickelson swayed his decision. Stallings, who last won on the PGA Tour in 2014, responded classily to the split.
The 39-year-old, who will have to find a new caddie before Thursday’s Houston open, posted on Instagram: “Here’s to a great 10 years. You made me a better player inside the ropes and a better man outside of them. Thank you for everything.”
Yarbrough is not the only PGA Tour caddie to head to LIV Golf ahead of the tournament in Miami, which begins on April 5. Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII teammate Caleb Surratt has lured Brian Dilley, who has been on the bag of rising PGA Tour star Akshay Bhatia.
Dilley is good friends with Rahm’s caddie, Adam Hayes, and it is believed their relationship opened the door for him to work with Surratt, who joined LIV at the start of this season from the University of Tennessee.
“I’m still learning, growing, and working on everything that I’m beginning to see what I need as a player in order to grow and be able to compete to the highest level, and I think Brian Dilley‘s gonna be able to help me get to that point,” Surratt told GolfWeek.
“He has caddied at an extremely high level for longer than I’ve been alive, and undoubtedly will be a great set of eyes to have on my golf game. Everyone on my team around me speaks very highly of him, and I’m very excited to get to work with him in the coming weeks.”
