Golf: Caddie Pays Price for Wie Errors
Michelle Wie has sacked her caddie Greg Johnston following her dismal dispay at the British Open.
Nothing is permanent in golf but it seems nothing is less permanent than the job of carrying the bag for Michelle Wie.
In her short career the 16-year-old has had more bagmen than Spinal Tap had drummers. The latest victim of her fickleness is Greg Johnston, who carried her bag as she finished 26th on Sunday in the women's British Open only to be told a day later his services were no longer required. The news was delivered by Wie's agent. "I was extremely disappointed that no one named Wie gave me the news. I was shocked and surprised. I thought we'd had a successful year," Johnston said.
He had been with Wie since she turned pro last October and has picked up about 7½% of her $720,000 (£380,000) winnings, but she has not won a tournament. Nor has she impressed with her ignorance of the rules. She was disqualified from the Samsung World Championship - her debut as a professional - for an illegal drop and last week she was penalised two shots for grounding her club in a bunker. Johnston was by her side both times.
The caddie is acknowledged to be one of the best on the LPGA tour having carried Juli Inkster's bag for 12 years during which time she won four majors. He left Inkster when he received an offer to caddie for Wie. Given that the teenager was expected to be one of the most prolific money-earners this seemed a wise decision, although as an experienced caddie Johnston should have known that golfers can be capricious employers. If he didn't, he does now.
In her short career the 16-year-old has had more bagmen than Spinal Tap had drummers. The latest victim of her fickleness is Greg Johnston, who carried her bag as she finished 26th on Sunday in the women's British Open only to be told a day later his services were no longer required. The news was delivered by Wie's agent. "I was extremely disappointed that no one named Wie gave me the news. I was shocked and surprised. I thought we'd had a successful year," Johnston said.
He had been with Wie since she turned pro last October and has picked up about 7½% of her $720,000 (£380,000) winnings, but she has not won a tournament. Nor has she impressed with her ignorance of the rules. She was disqualified from the Samsung World Championship - her debut as a professional - for an illegal drop and last week she was penalised two shots for grounding her club in a bunker. Johnston was by her side both times.
The caddie is acknowledged to be one of the best on the LPGA tour having carried Juli Inkster's bag for 12 years during which time she won four majors. He left Inkster when he received an offer to caddie for Wie. Given that the teenager was expected to be one of the most prolific money-earners this seemed a wise decision, although as an experienced caddie Johnston should have known that golfers can be capricious employers. If he didn't, he does now.
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