Lydia Ko and her caddie Guy Wilson at last year's NZPGA at
The Hills. Photo supplied.
The NZPGA tournament tees off in Queenstown at the end of
next month and organisers are calling for help from the area's
caddies. More than 120 caddies are needed for the four-day PGA
Tour of Australasia tournament, which runs from February 28 to
March 3.
About 80 caddies are needed for the professional golfers and
40 for the amateurs and celebrities.
Up to 50 caddies are already signed up for the event, many of
them returning from the previous year.
Since the tournament increased its status to a tier 1 event
and its prize money to $600,000, each golfer would be in need
of caddie this year.
Caddy master and golf professional Andrew Whiley said they
were looking for people who ideally had some golfing
knowledge and a good fitness level.
''Caddying is as close as you can get to the heat of the
competition, being part of the event and inside the ropes at
a professional sports event of this calibre.''
Last year's event had attracted caddies aged 16 to 60 from a
range of backgrounds. Arrowtown golfer Nick Lynch was lucky
enough in 2012 to caddy for the tournament's biggest
celebrity name, Don Cheadle.
The length of the job depends on whether someone is caddying
for a professional or an amateur.
Professional caddies will need to be at The Hills from
February 26 for practice rounds. Caddies will receive payment
depending on how well their players perform.
Organisers have announced an impressive line-up of US Open
winner Hale Irwin, 103-ranked Japan's Toshinori Muto, top
Australian golfer Brendan Jones, and defending champion
Michael Hendry, of North Harbour.
A sport-themed celebrity base includes former English cricket
captain Sir Ian Botham, NZ teen golf sensation Lydia Ko,
Olympic rowing champion Mahe Drysdale, golfing legend Sir Bob
Charles, television presenter and former Black cap Mark
Richardson, All Black and wallaby greats Justin Marshall,
Nick Farr-Jones and George Gregan.
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