Sure, we’ve had our shouting matches. That never goes away and it still drives me.
He was with me when his first child was born.’One of those splits came in 1998. I feel for both parties." For established caddies, it’s about $1 000 a week, which usually covers living expenses.Get the Compleatgolfer newsletter delivered to your Inbox! He’s had a taste of the Majors and I think if he wins one he’ll win a few. The broad smile on Roberts’ face as they walked off the tee said it all.In 1993 Els and Roberts were at a tournament in Spain. It’s a lot more involved than people think. He knew Els was a great player. And I think the record speaks for itself. But we’re like family. As much as he and I like to have a good time, the golf course is business.‘Look, we’ve been around each other for nearly 27 years. At end of day we were in that era and had to deal with it.‘I mean, the way Woods putted in 2000 and 2001, nobody has ever putted like that in the history of this game. But that’s part of it. We also have serious talent in South Africa. Yes, I’ve been around a long time and the caddie game has certainly changed.‘When I first started you went out and made your own yardage books. I guess we’re both stubborn bastards. He looked at me and said, “Relax. But Tiger’s putting in 2000 and 2001 was the best I think we’ve ever seen.’Roberts is as impressed as most of us with the new talent in the game, but he does have reservations.‘There’s a lot of talent around. It’s a tough game. Having spent 27 years as Ernie Els’ caddie, friend, punch bag, brother and psychologist, Roberts remains a fan of the job he does and the man he works for. He feared Ernie. And Spieth is a great talent. I would’ve loved that bag.’But it’s been his time with Els that he will forever be remembered for, and they will go down as one of the great player-caddie relationships in the history of golf.‘Ernie and I have always had this love-hate relationship, but the chemistry is right there. I’m closer to him than my own brother’In one sentence, Ricci Roberts sums up everything you need to know about what it takes to be a world-class caddie.‘When your man needs to let off some steam and vent, do you think he’s going to be able to do that if it’s his wife, girlfriend, or friend on the bag?’With that question, Roberts makes it quite clear this is a serious business beyond just having somebody to carry a golf bag, and that the man swinging the clubs comes first.
The guy was a freak. 'As questions still linger over Roberts' long-term health and availability, Els made it clear that Byrne will still share at least some of the caddying duties during the 2013 season. The golfer is married to Liezl Els , his starsign is Libra and he is now 50 years of age. Probably 12. Who knows? The hard part is when he’s not on his game and it’s not coming out the middle of the club and you’re trying to decipher what is the right club.’The pressure at a Major championship is also not just something felt by the golfer.‘The pressure in a Major is huge.
We were both fired up, and things were said. ‘Tiger never feared Mickelson or anybody else. I also think technology has taken something away from the really great players and brought everybody closer together.’Roberts has worked with Mark McNulty, Nick Price, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel and Trevor Immelman. 'I really didn't want to let Colin go, and if Ricci breaks down and Colin takes another bag, then I'm starting from scratch,' he noted. I feel for both parties." What the f***k do you think of that then?”’Els birdied the hole, which would prove deciding as Adam Scott made the last of four bogeys that lost him The Open and handed the title to Els, by a single stroke.‘When he’s playing well you’re thinking the same things,’ Roberts said of that perfect moment when caddie and golfer connect.So what was he thinking when Els ignored his advice on that final hole at Lytham?It didn’t matter. He pulled a 5-iron and hit one of the greatest shots in a Major championship.’But at Muirfield in 2002, during a playoff with Stuart Appleby, Thomas Levet and Steve Elkington, Roberts made several calls which Els heeded as they claimed their first Claret Jug together.And then there was Lytham in 2012. We make Liz Taylor and Richard Burton look like novices in terms of how many break-ups we’ve had. 'Tiger Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open in historic fashion. You can’t be right all the time.’As this year’s US Open heads back to Congressional Country Club, where Els won his second US Open in 1997, Roberts recalls the moment he got it wrong. And he was happy for it.‘We were on the 71st hole [the notoriously difficult par-four 17th]. ‘Sometimes it was a pure frustration thing, and other times it was health- and injury-related. On 17-10-1969 Ernie Els (nickname: Ernie) was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. We got on each other’s nerves.’Most caddies make 10% of the player’s earnings on a victory.
They put up with a lot.’Roberts’ version is: ‘He wasn’t in a good place at that time. 'They both decided, you know, agreed to a bag share this year, and we'll see how it goes from there. Players typically pay their caddies about 8% on other top-10 finishes; about 6% on finishes out of the top 10. I fully understand it only takes a few seconds to sign on the dotted line. Copyright © 1996 - As I remember it, he was going through a management change. Colin Montgomerie had missed the green right. I’ll take driver.”’As Roberts remembers it, Els hit a magnificent fade.‘Ernie didn’t even finish looking at the shot. Woods just had a mind nobody’s ever seen before.’But having a front-row seat to the best part of Woods’ career is something Roberts feels extremely privileged to have witnessed.‘I consider myself among the most fortunate people on the planet to be in that era with Tiger Woods. If he hadn’t been around, how many Majors would Ernie have won?