CHARACTER SPORTS PROGRAMMING: JORDAN SPIETH’S CADDIE SIMPLY LENDS AN EAR

At 21 years old, Jordan Spieth won the Masters and tied the tournament record previously set by Tiger Woods in the process.

The guy who helped Spieth the most on the course was his caddie, Michael Greller. A PGA caddie has to know the distance to the pin, the hills, the wind, and everything about the golf course to help advise his golfer.

A caddie also has to know his golfer. He has to know his moods, how he handles the ups and downs, and when to talk and when to be quiet.

This is where Michael Greller seems to excel. However, there are still other caddies who have much more experience and knowledge about golf than Greller. As Spieth got better and better many people expected him to drop Greller, and pick up a more experienced caddie.

The start of Greller’s golf career began when he was at a tournament near his home in Washington. He saw a golfer struggling and offered to carry his clubs for him the next day in the tournament. That person recommended Greller to a fellow golfer when another tournament came around.

When Spieth was playing in a tournament near Greller’s home, that golfer also recommended Greller. Once Spieth turned pro, he asked Greller to give up his job as a middle school math teacher and caddie for him full-time.

Everything was going very well for Spieth through most of that tournament. On the second to last hole on the next to the last day, it took Spieth a couple of extra strokes to finish that hole. His whole tournament could have gone bad if he let that bad hole get into his head.

What did Greller do? He says he mostly just listened. He didn’t have a lot of advice. He just let his golfer talk.

“Ninety percent of caddying is getting along with your pro,” said Adam Hayes, who caddies for Russell Henley. “Knowing when to keep it light or be serious. He obviously keeps Jordan comfortable.” (Wall Street Journal)

Michael Greller knows that to help keep someone calm and comfortable, all you have to do is listen.

Something To Talk About

1. Michael Greller was a middle school math teacher who one day offered to help a golfer carry his bags. Now, Michael Greller will make hundreds of thousands of dollars per year as a caddie. Michael Greller simply offered to do a good deed and see where it got him? What is the last good deed you did for someone? Look for more opportunities to do good deeds today.

2. Perhaps the thing that helped Jordan Spieth the most was that his caddie (and friend) just listened. What makes just listening to someone so hard?

3. How might listening to someone without interrupting them to give your opinion or advice help them?

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