My 13th year as a professional caddy is over – here’s what I learned this season and what I’m looking forward to in 2026, writes tour caddy Chris Simmons
There are few better places to spend your last working day of 2025 than Dubai and Jumeirah Golf Estates – host venue of the DP World Tour Championship. It can be easy to dwell on the negative parts of your job – like the travelling for caddies – but let’s be honest, this is one of the best jobs in the world and after 13 years I can honestly say I still love what I do.
I turned 34 in November and given this is a tough job with some uncertainty, I’m very lucky to be on a great bag with Matt Jordan and have the chance to travel the world, sometimes with my young family, and make my living from the game.
On the course this season, Matt had a great start. Being in contention at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa in December – and ultimately finishing in a tie for second place – was awesome and set him up for a good campaign.
We were then part of the Team Cup – and a GB&I win – which was one of my favourite weeks of my career to-date.
Matt then had a decent spring with a few top 10s – and qualified for the US Open as well as being part of The Open Championship at Royal Portrush – but his game wasn’t where it needed to be in the second half of the year.
That said, he showed some real grit in Abu Dhabi in the penultimate event of the year – shooting 64 on Friday and then pushing on to go 11 under-par for the weekend, finish T15, and make it to the Tour Championship on the cut mark. Getting to Dubai is one of those targets you set at the start of the season and it’s a good one to get – particularly when you’ve gone through some ups and downs.
Personally, I’ve had so many great weeks this season – particularly the ones when my family has been able to come out. Both of my kids are racking up the air miles and having them out on tour has been fantastic.
When I reflect on the time with Matt this year, it’s been up and down. The role of a caddy is to be exactly what your player needs when they need it. Sometimes they need you to help leave no stone unturned as they try to improve. Golf has never been a game of consistent, upward trends so you also need to be supportive while remaining realistic.
For me, being a good friend is really important. Sometimes that means being a caddy, then a nutritionist, then a psychologist. Then you’re a mam, a dad, a big brother, a little brother… Like all of us, players face key moments and changes in their lives and their careers, and us caddies are in a place to be the friend they need as well as working for them.
So, while it looked at one stage like it might be the best year I’ve had on tour, it was still inside the top five and I’m looking forward to getting the 2026 season underway.
It might be quite odd to be 13 years into a job and still have the hunger to do it better, but that’s exactly how I feel. I’ll set the same goal as normal – to be a bit fitter next season – but really it’s all about continuing to learn in this game. If you do that and take nothing for granted, it’ll serve you well.
