Most golfers spend their careers trying to fire the person carrying their bag. Vijay Singh dealt with the opposite drama last week. His caddie actually quit on him right before a major tournament. It is a rare reversal of the usual player-caddie split.
The breakup happened on a Tuesday. This was only a few days before the SAS Championship at Prestonwood. Singh admitted the tension was high.
A lucky phone call to Wayne De Haas
Losing your caddie right before a big event usually ruins your week. For Singh, it set the stage for a massive win. He managed to find Wayne De Haas to step in at the last second. The timing was pure luck. According to Yahoo Sports, De Haas had just lost his job on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Singh did not hesitate to reach out. “All a coincidence. He lost his job on the Korn Ferry, and my caddie fired me this week, and I just called up Wayne, and I said, ‘Hey, are you ready?'” Singh revealed. The move worked. De Haas, a former pro on the DP World Tour, helped Singh shoot three straight rounds of 3-under 69. That 9-under 207 total earned him a two-shot victory over Ernie Els.
Winning through the chaos
The victory was more than just a paycheck. It was a huge boost for Singh’s standing. His standing in the Charles Schwab Cup improved from 57th to 33rd following the victory. Since 2023, this represents his inaugural PGA Tour Champions title. This was his sixth total win on the senior circuit.
The win was emotional for the new team. De Haas had previously caddied for Singh at the Masters. He also worked for players like Cameron Young and Ernie Els. However, the weekend was heavy for De Haas.
