WAPL Contestant Lands PGA Tour Star As Caddie

By David Shefter, USGA

Erin, Wis. – As a youngster, it wasn’t too uncommon to see Jerry Kelly caddie for his father’s regular foursome at Maple Bluff Country Club in Madison, Wis.

But as Kelly got older and more proficient with his own game, which eventually led to the University of Hartford and then the PGA Tour, the days of schlepping bags over hill and dale would be left to somebody else.

PGA Tour pro Jerry Kelly put on a caddie bib Monday at the WAPL for contestant Kristina Merkle of Honolulu, Hawaii. (USGA Photo Archives)

So what was a two-time PGA Tour winner and $1,329,342 in season earnings doing at Erin Hills Golf Course Monday wearing a USGA caddie bib?

It was an odd scene, but the 41-year-old made a promise to a young Hawaiian girl that he intended to keep. So Kelly, fresh off of missing the cut in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, made the short drive from his Madison home to caddie Sunday and Monday for 16-year-old Kristina Merkle at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship.

Merkle, who shot a 3-over 76 in the first round of stroke-play qualifying, first met Kelly at a pro-junior event for the PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii three years ago. A friendship was struck and with the WAPL coming to Wisconsin, Kelly, the 2002 Sony Open champion, promised the high school senior-to-be that if she qualified, he would caddie. Because he had a commitment to play the Travelers Championship in Connecticut this week, Kelly could only provide his services for the final practice round and first round of stroke play.

Joking and smiling their way around the 6,153-yard layout, the two made quite a formidable pair. Having played the course last year, Kelly was able to provide helpful insight on how to play the course.

“She was great,” said Kelly, who has two runner-up and one third-place finish this year on Tour. “I told her it was like me playing a video game out there. I’d just tell her how far it was and the line to hit on and she just hit it right there.”

When asked how many shots Kelly saved her, Merkle responded: “A lot. A hundred. He’s an awesome caddie. He kept me laughing, he kept me calm and focused on the golf course.”

Added Kelly: “She’s seen a lot of Tour events. You can tell she knows how to think. We were on the same page. I didn’t tell her anything that she didn’t already know. I’m glad I was here for the practice round and not just showing up for the tournament. That was huge. These greens, you have to know where to land it.”

Merkle qualified for this championship last year and lost to Kristen Schelling, 3 and 2. Now a year older, Merkle hopes to improve upon that performance. It certainly does not hurt to get a few tips from a seasoned PGA Tour pro.

“I picked up a few things at Sony,” she said. “I think I definitely improved a lot.”

And Merkle got a bargain rate for someone with such a vast array of experience and knowledge. When asked what his caddie fee was, Kelly laughed.

“I get a percentage of her prize money,” he said smiling.

David Shefter is a USGA New Media staff writer. E-mail him with questions or comments at dshefter@usga.org.