Needing a fill-in looper for the event, Pan convinced his wife, Michelle, to step in for the week. It just might take even more convincing the next time. Check out this interview Pan did with CBS’ Amanda Balionis during a weather delay on Saturday. In a clip captured by Golfweek’s Bill Speros, Pan says his success at the Wyndham “was a coincidence,” that “she doesn’t help me much,” and, referring to a familiar caddie saying, that “she just needs to show up, keep up, and shut up, I guess.” Ouch.

RELATED: Inside the drama of the PGA Tour’s most merciless event

To be fair, Pan said all this stuff with a smile, and he later pointed out Michelle helped him with the mental side of his game. Anyway, check out the clip:

Guessing CT Pan will be apologizing for a while today. @WyndhamChamp pic.twitter.com/jcbYCiITpY

— Bill Speros (@billsperos) August 18, 2018

Pan also seemed to really enjoy his extra time with Michelle during the week, which he prefaced by joking on Twitter that the tournament would be “the true test of my marriage.”

Guess who is on my bag this week? This is the true test of my marriage; hopefully, she will still be with me by the end of tournament. @wyndhamchamp #pgatour #golf #liveunderpar #therealboss #teamPan #golfishard pic.twitter.com/h3YCe3xceD

— C.T. Pan (@ctpangolf) August 14, 2018

And he was quick to help carry his heavy staff bag on numerous occasions.

Streeter Lecka

Icon Sportswire

Kevin C. Cox

What a gentleman.

After the partnership proved successful to the tune of a $528,000 payday (No word on Michelle’s cut), Pan tweeted this on Sunday night:

Thank you everyone (fans, volunteers and staffs) @wyndhamchamp and congrats to Brandt Snedeker for the W. Had an unbelievable experience here with my wife on the bag. #pgatour #liveunderpar #golf #caddygirls #appreciationpost pic.twitter.com/6UaFjXeI3S

— C.T. Pan (@ctpangolf) August 20, 2018

Aww. And here’s proof that Michelle is still smiling after a long week as well:

Jared C. Tilton

That’s nice to see.

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Luckily, Masters.com coverage of Amen Corner picked it up, though, and while we aren’t allowed to show you that video, we have transcribed the conversation that lasted about 90 seconds (Yes, that’s a bit long to take on a shot, but Shh… It’s the final round of THE MASTERS!) before Spieth hit a spectacular shot to set up an eagle attempt from about eight feet. Here’s the back-and-forth between player and caddie that led to one of the tournament’s most memorable moments:

GRELLER: You got, 211, 230, adjusted.

SPIETH: It’s a 4-iron, right? Stock 4-iron? What’s it to fly (inaudible)? I could hit hybrid as well and play a fade. What’s the wind doing?

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GRELLER: East-Northeast off the right. . . . I like the hybrid more than that.

SPIETH: It’s 230 hole?

GRELLER: Yeah.

SPIETH: How do you feel?

GRELLER: I see it fits the the shape of the hole better, it gives you more margin or room. You know? I feel like a 4-iron is perfect. But if it gets right at all. . .

SPIETH: The lie’s OK, I kind of have to hit it a groove low.

GRELLER: OK.

SPIETH: But I still like this. If I hit it long left, it’s still not bad, you know?

GRELLER: No, I agree. What’s your start line?

SPIETH: I’m at the middle of the green bunker. You said it’s off the right a little?

GRELLER: Yeah, I just don’t feel much right here.

SPIETH: Yeah, I know. But it’s not off the left. It’s no wind.

GRELLER: Correct, yeah. Look at your target.

It’s a good thing Spieth took the extra club as his shot barely cleared Rae’s creek before bounding up by the hole. Spieth wasn’t able to convert the eagle chance, but the tap-in birdie was part of his spectacular final-round 64 that nearly produced one of golf’s all-time greatest comebacks. And the scene was yet another reminder of why Spieth and Greller are one of the best — and most entertaining — tandems on tour.

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“I never wanted it to turn into a toxic relationship where he’s taken me from where I am as a 12-year-old kid to where I am today, and I’m not talking to him anymore,” Day said Wednesday in explaining why he has replaced Colin Swatton, his swing coach and his only caddy since he turned professional, on his bag starting at this week’s BMW Championship.

“I was worried if I kept it going, it was going to head that way, and I love him too much to have him not in my life because of how special he is to me.”

While Swatton will remain Day’s swing coach, his departure from his star pupil’s bag might be the most surprising in a year that hadn’t already seen Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy split with their longtime sidekicks.

Swatton has been more than just Day’s instructor and caddie. He was the golf instructor at the Kooralbyn International School in Queensland, Australia, when Day, then 12, arrived shortly after his father’s death. In essence, Swatton has been a surrogate father to the 2015 PGA champion and former World No. 1.

As far back as 2012, Day had been contemplating making a switch, but after going winless this year and falling to No. 9 in the world, the 29-year-old Aussie felt that he could wait no longer, and he made the switch last week. He has brought in a friend from home, Luke Reardon, who was his roommate at the Hills International College in Australia.

“He came over [and] my buddy Andy got him a job roofing. Now he’s on the bag for me in the third FedEx playoff event,” said Day, who plans to employ another friend, former Web.com Tour player David Lutterus, in two weeks at the Presidents Cup at Liberty National.

Swatton, Day said, was stunned by the decision. Day, wanting to finish the year strong, figured he finally had to pull the trigger after marinating about a change in his mind for so long. Just to extend his season, he will have to perform well here at Conway Farms Golf Club to reach the Tour Championship. He enters the week 28th in the FedEx Cup points standings; the top 30 advance to the season finale at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

Good thing Day knows the course. Two years ago he blitzed it with a 61-63 opening on the way to a 22-under 262 total and six-stroke victory. It was his fifth win of 2015 and elevated Day to No. 1 for the first time.

“Obviously, this is a very hard time for both of us,” said Day, whose last win was the 2016 Players. “It’s hard because we’ve been a team for so long. Like I said, he was an amazing caddie, amazing coach, amazing person.

“He’s done pretty much everything he can to get me where I’m going. He’s a father figure for me ever since I was a kid, and I wanted to make sure that it’s still there.”

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On Sunday in the final round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, the CBS cameras captured a great moment between Hoffman and his caddy, Brett Waldman, which gave a bit of insight into how the veteran tour pro feels about his run of close calls this year. Standing 282 yards out on the “monster” par-5 16th at Firestone’s South course, and three shots off the lead, Waldman tried to tell Hoffman to lay up. Charley was having NONE of that.

“I’m trying to win a golf tournament!”

Charley Hoffman ignores his caddie’s advice and takes on the green at the 667 yard 16th hole. pic.twitter.com/j5LjMVL8F9

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) August 6, 2017

“I’m three back with three to play, I mean, I’m trying to win a golf tournament,” Hoffman says, adding, “I’m tired of finishing in second.”

Not only did Hoffman call off his caddie, but then he pulled off the shot, like a boss. Unfortunately, a poor chip and putt led to a disappointing par, and Hoffman wound up finishing six back of winner Hideki Matsuyama. Still though, it’s an awesome conversation between player and caddie we rarely get to see.

Who says Charley Hoffman isn’t entertaining?

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Jim (Bones) Mackay will bring 25 years of expertise as a caddy for Phil Mickelson to a new occupation as an on-course reporter for Golf Channel and NBC. Sources have confirmed that Mackay will sign a multi-year deal, debut at The Open Championship and work the FedEx Cup Playoffs and the Presidents Cup in August and September.

“When Phil and I split up, several people got in touch,” Mackay said Tuesday in explaining how this career change happened in 16 days. “People have been nice enough over the years to say something to me about how they thought [broadcasting] was something maybe I could do at some point in my life. It was always something I’d say thank you to, and personally thought about. When Phil and I split, I got several phone calls, and it became a bigger opportunity, really seriously, the last few weeks.”

In Mackay’s account of his mutual split with Mickelson, announced on June 20, being a broadcaster was not a subject they discussed. Mackay also confirmed he received calls from several golfers about continuing his career as a caddie that in his words were “very intriguing.”

Intriguing also would be a word to describe the decision Tommy Roy, NBC’s lead producer for its golf coverage, made to put Mackay on air. From Roy’s perspective, Mackay brings more than just the caddie perspective to the job. “First of all, he’s a great communicator,” Roy said Wednesday. “That’s the No. 1 attribute you have to have to be in this business as an announcer.” Roy picked that up in years of eavesdropping on conversations between Mickelson and Mackay during NBC broadcasts.

No. 2 is that Bones has been in the arena, as Roy said, “Under the most pressure packed circumstances, and to get through those with the highest highs and some of the lowest lows is an incredible wealth of experience to call on.”

No. 3 is something Roy experienced making Mackay and fellow caddie John Wood part of the Golf Channel and NBC coverage of the 2015 RSM Classic. Coming through that week on Sea Island, and in dinners Roy has shared with Mackay over the years, was Mackay’s understanding of the story lines beyond what he and Mickelson were doing, seeing the bigger picture at tournaments.

“To have that before getting into the TV business is astounding quite honestly,” Roy said. “So he’s got all these attributes that he can put to use and we can put them to use.”

Finally, there is the element of Mackay being a recognizable and well-respected personality in the golf world. “He’s as well known and maybe more known than some of the players and he’s very likeable, too,” Roy said. “There’s a ton of potential here.”

These words are flattering to Mackay.

“The first thing I’ll say is, I obviously have a ton to learn,” Mackay said. “Early on, my only goal is to get comfortable and get better. But for what I could bring is a caddie perspective, I may have something more to say about the dynamic of player and caddie going on out there. But again I have a lot to learn. Right now, it’s just a question of jumping in with both feet and learning as much as I possibly can, as quickly as I can.”

Interestingly, too, with his schedule, there remains the potential for Mackay to do some caddieing while also broadcasting. “I don’t think it rules anything out,” Mackay said. “I’m going to be working 20-odd weeks a year. I think being a caddie is always going to be in my blood, but right now it’s one thing at a time.”

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Following the split, Matthews spoke with Golf Digest/Golf World senior writer and Golf Channel insider Tim Rosaforte about the decision.

“In all honesty, there is no communication in the whole camp. You never know anything or are told anything,” said Matthews. “The agent [Michael Yim of IMG] called me on the Monday after Palm Springs and said, ‘She needed a change, we’re going with somebody else, but you can caddie in Hawaii.’

“I’m like well, never in 19 years have I been fired, and I’m still working for the person. What was so strange for me, we worked unbelievably well in Hawaii, the communication and everything was just phenomenal.”

Matthews, who has worked for Sergio Garcia, Anthony Kim, Trevor Immelman and Camilo Villegas, was told that Ko “needed a friend out there.” In a little more than three years, Ko has gone through nine caddies.

Matthews said Ko is a lovely person, but was blunt in his assessment.

“I wish her the best, but she’s gone through so many caddies, she needs to wake up on caddie-player relationships,” said Matthews. “Otherwise she’ll just keep doing it.”

This is not the first time Ko’s business rapport has come under fire. After parting ways with Ko in December, renowned instructor David Leadbetter was outspoken in the role Ko’s parents play in her life, saying it was time Lydia became captain of her own ship.

Matthews admitted he was initially hired on a tryout basis, but thought he had earned the full-time gig early in the season. He remains puzzled about the situation.

“I was like, ‘This is a bit strange; I didn’t think I did that bad of a job.'”

Matthews, who lives in Dallas with his wife and two kids, has an upcoming tryout with Minjee Lee, hoping to remain on the LPGA Tour.

“I feel like I am the best, that’s how I look at myself. I took the job when she was No. 1 in the world,” Matthews said. “It’s what I strive for and thrive for.”

Ko is scheduled to play in next week’s Volunteers of America Texas Shootout. Her team is still looking for a new caddie.

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Thomas Bjorn, Europe’s freshly unveiled captain for the 2018 Ryder Cup matches in France, led the out-pouring of grief after Zechmann collapsed near the 13^th green on the opening morning of the Ladies European Tour event at Emirates Golf Club.

Zechmann, pictured (far right) caddying for France’s Anne-Lise Caudal just moments before he collapsed, later died in Rashid Hospital. He is survived by his wife Elinor and three sons Maximilian, Ryan and Marco and had reportedly retired to Dubai two years ago after winning with European Tour players Marcel Siem and Marcus Brier.

“Dreadful news out of Dubai this morning. Thoughts are with loved ones and everyone involved. RIP,” Bjorn said.

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen added: “We’ve lost another great guy. RIP Big Max”.

We've lost another great guy.. ?
RIP Big Max

— Mikko Ilonen (@MikkoIlonen) December 7, 2016

Carly Booth, the 24-year-old Scot playing alongside two-time LET winner Caudal and US star Blair O’Neal, described the experience as “horrendous”. “Tough start today for our group to experience something so horrendous. Thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Max #sadday”

At a loss for words. The tragedy that happened today in our group really puts life into perspective. My goes out to the family #ripMax

— Blair O'Neal (@BLAIRONEAL) December 7, 2016

Fellow bagman Gary Marshall tweeted; “R.I.P. Big Max Zechmann. A true gentleman. Well done @LETgolf for your act of respect too. Sad days.”

Marshall’s comments come after officials were heavily criticised for allowing play to continue when 52-year-old Zimbabwean Ian MacGregor, caddying for Scot Alastair Forsyth at the Madeira Islands Open in May 2014, died in similar circumstances.

Zechmann’s death is a double tragedy for Emirates Golf Club after founding member and former captain Ashok Bakshi, then 75, died after suffering cardiac arrest on the range before the Pro-Am at the 2015 Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Play was officially suspended at 10.30am on Wednesday and abandoned for the day shortly afterwards as a mark of respect for Zechmann and the “shocked” players, caddies and tournament staff.

The €500,000 tournament will now be decided over 54 holes with the first round resuming at 8.15am on Thursday (UAE time).

SEE ALSO
Dubai Ladies Masters rocked by death of caddy

Florentyna Parker tops the leaderboard at -7 after the 26-year-old Englishwoman negotiated the Majlis’ homeward nine (after teeing off on the 10^th) in a scarcely believable 30 stokes, her only blemishes being pars on the 11^th and 14^th holes.

Cheyenne Woods (USA) was second at -4 while Whitney Hillier and France’s Jade Schaeffer were a further shot back. Australian Hillier’s -3 total through five holes included a hole in one on the 171 yard 4th hole.

But it all paled into insignificance on a day when golf was secondary as LPGA Tour hopeful/social media influencer Paige Spiranac, +4 through six holes, so poignantly tweeted.

“Praying for the family and friends of the caddy. It just shows you that there’s so much more to life than a good or bad round.”

Praying for the family and friends of the caddie. It just shows you that there's so much more to life than a good or bad round https://t.co/Tizleg3nc0

— Paige Spiranac (@PaigeSpiranac) December 7, 2016

Dreadful news out of dubai this morning.
Thoughts are with loved ones and everyone involved.@LETgolf
RIP

— Thomas Bjørn (@thomasbjorngolf) December 7, 2016

R.I.P Big Max Zechmann. A true gentleman. Well done @LETgolf for your act of respect too. Sad days.

— Tartancaddy (@tartancaddy) December 7, 2016

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