It’s Time For Caddies To Stop Lining Up Players

I’ve seen Wyndham Clark’s putting routine one too many times. 

Apologies for singling out a player who has emerged as one of the top golfers in the world over the past year—he isn’t alone in this—but the way he operates on the greens goes too far for me. 

If you haven’t seen it, the gist is pretty simple: Clark relies heavily on his caddie, John Ellis, who spends ample time lining up his player. Ellis also regularly takes a wedge out to address the ball and “simulate” hitting the putt himself. 

In my eyes, the whole process goes beyond being tedious—it’s against the spirit of what the rules should be. 

It has me thinking that there should be an amendment to the current rule that limits the role of caddies when it comes to the alignment of golfers, particularly in the professional game. 

Namely, I don’t think caddies should be able to stand behind their player while the ball is being addressed, regardless of whether the player backs off and resets their routine to avoid a penalty. 

Along similar lines (pun intended), caddies should not be allowed to address the ball to get a “player’s perspective” of the putt. 

Let me explain why I think both of these elements are prime candidates for future rule changes. 

Green Reading Versus Alignment

Caddies are an integral, unique part of golf. It’s one of the most interesting elements of the game. 

I just feel there is one particular skill in golf where caddies should not be permitted to help their player. 

That skill is alignment. 

Alignment is a physical part of the golf swing or putting stroke. How you address the ball is fundamental to what will happen next and that responsibility should belong purely to the player. 

Green reading, in my opinion, falls under the “advice/strategy” category. Caddies provide input on break and speed but the player should have to create the stroke from scratch and execute the shot. 

Lining up correctly takes practice, especially in a game where one degree of difference can completely change an outcome. 

The governing bodies agree with this in principle. In 2019, Rule 10.2b was put in place to make sure caddies could not stand behind a player and tell them where to aim—unless the player backs away and restarts their routine—anywhere on the course. 

“Although a player may get advice from a caddie on the shot to be played, the line of play, and other similar matters, the ability to line up one’s feet and body accurately to a target line is a fundamental skill of the game for which the player alone should be responsible,” the USGA says. 

“Allowing a caddie to stand behind a player taking a stance so as to direct the player how to line up undermines the player’s need to use his or her own alignment skills and judgment.” 

The rollout of that rule had a few speed bumps, necessitating a clarification that the alignment aiding had to be deliberate. Exceptions were made where no penalty was necessary. 

For example, there is no penalty if a caddie does any of the following: 

• Rakes a bunker while in a direct line behind the player
• Stands behind as the player walks over to tap in a putt
• Accidentally stands on or close to an extension of the line of play behind the ball (not deliberately trying to help in lining up)
• Stands behind a player while holding an umbrella until it’s time to hit the shot. 

There is definitely some level of subjectivity to this rule, although it seems obvious that everyone involved knows when alignment aiding is intentional. 

For instance, some LPGA players were lined up by caddies for nearly every shot. You could see it was deliberate. The player would take their address, the caddie would confirm they were aiming correctly, the caddie would walk away and then the player would hit. The practice was ubiquitous across women’s golf, far more than the men’s game. This still exists but the player now has to back off and start over. 

Back to Clark. 

When his caddie lines him up for a “test alignment” to make sure Clark is aimed correctly, that is deliberate. 

To be clear, it is not in violation of the rules but it is essentially a loophole where Clark gets lined up by his caddie and then resets purely to avoid a penalty. 

When he comes back to hit the ball, his caddie’s input on his alignment is being used as it would if the rule wasn’t in place. The line on the ball—which the caddie helped with—is informing his alignment for the actual shot. 

I’m not calling Clark a cheater by any stretch of the imagination. The rule exists and he is taking advantage of what he can do. There are other players with similar routines. 

Most players don’t do it because they don’t necessarily want that level of granular input from their caddies. They want autonomy. 

It’s a skill to line yourself up properly—and players who are deficient in that skill (or want to use every resource possible) have the option of using a caddie to help them. 

To put it simply, I don’t think they should have that option. 

Why can’t the rule be amended so caddies can’t stand behind the line of play when the player addresses the ball? 

There is a rule about golfers only being able to wait 10 seconds if their ball is hanging on the lip of the hole. Why not clarify the current rule to where a caddie can’t stand behind their player at address for more than three seconds or whatever reasonable amount of time would make sense? 

Sure, a caddie could offer verbal advice on alignment from a different angle. I would love to see this go away as well, although it would probably be too difficult to police. 

That would still be an improvement on caddies getting a perfect vantage point to line up their players. 

Of course caddies should be able to assist in reading a putt—but deliberately lining up their player should not be allowed. 

Caddies Addressing The Ball Themselves

This might be an unpopular take but I feel like caddies addressing a putt to get a player’s perspective is something that doesn’t belong in tournament golf among the game’s best. 

If it happens at a resort where we’re taking caddies who just want to help? Yes, go ahead if you just want to have the best experience. Otherwise, I don’t think it should be allowed. 

All golf shots look different when you’re over the ball. Almost every shot looks simpler from behind the ball. 

How many times have you lined up a putt, stepped up to hit it and said to yourself, “It feels like I’m aimed too far to the left/right from this angle”? 

Being behind the ball and being in the shot provide different feels. The break could look different when you’re over the ball. Maybe how your feet feel over the ball runs counter to the line you pick out behind the ball. 

A part of the player’s responsibility in aiming is managing that. 

When a caddie comes in and uses another club to see what that view will look like, it’s critical information for aiding alignment. They are seeing where their feet are in relation to the ball and the break. 

Alignment is a skill that shouldn’t be influenced by a caddie. 

I get the argument that a caddie for recreational players might be able to help amateurs out by standing over a putt and getting a better sense of what they feel—but it is overkill for a PGA Tour player to get that kind of guidance. 

I’m a big believer that the actual execution of the shot should be completely undisturbed by caddies. Let the players have full responsibility. 

Players take in advice prior to the shot. They talk about line, club selection and other strategic elements with their caddie—then it’s all up to the player to perform. 

That should be standard for all shots on a golf course. 

Conclusion

I could see this being a local rule for high-level professional events only. 

It’s not something amateurs have to worry about too often but it applies to the pro game every week. 

Why is it necessary? I think it is more entertaining and creates a more level playing field when players have full responsibility for the execution of the shot. It’s faster and more enjoyable to watch. 

Would Clark still be a good putter without his routine? Probably. He’s a really good player either way. 

I just think the  existing rule should be clarified to make the game a little better to watch. 

Am I making too much out of this? Let me know below in the comments.