Caddie Confidential

11 questions on the secrets to the Masters.

- Max Adler

WHEN IT comes to predicting who’s going to play well and who isn’t, caddies are the ultimate source. They’re even closer to the pulse during Masters Week as the tradition of players hanging out at the “caddie shack” beside the practice range has grown. In keeping with the other grand structures on the property, the comfortable spread of food, TVs, and chairs creates a nice break away from it all. Indeed, only rookies and former champions tend to use the busier main clubhouse. For the first time, Golf Digest has partnered with The Caddie Network to bring you the uncensored thoughts of five caddies who will be working the 2019 Masters. (You’ve heard of The Caddie Network? Yet another sign of the rising station of loopers, the media entity opened in 2018 and has more than 150 caddies who receive equity in the company for their cooperation in creating content.) All we’ll divulge about the following five voices is that, in aggregate, they’ve caddied in 67 Masters and been a part of 22 top-10 finishes and three wins. For a more cohesive reading experience, we’ve assigned them aliases using Augusta National hole names: Tea Olive, Juniper, Carolina Cherry, White Dogwood and Firethorn.

1 WHO’S GOING TO WIN THIS YEAR?

WHITE DOGWOOD: Dustin Johnson. When he’s on, he’s the best in the world. Mentally, he’s perfect for Augusta because he doesn’t get rattled by a tough break, and he doesn’t give an F about anyone else. I’m still dumbfounded that he hasn’t won the Masters. I think he knows it’s time to prove to his boy Brooks Koepka that he’s still No. 1.

JUNIPER: Ditto on Dustin. Augusta is getting longer and longer, so driving is becoming even more important.