Xander Schauffele heads to the Championship Sunday with a long-time friend in his bag. Austin Kaiser has been looping for the seven-time PGA Tour winner for the past ten years. Together, they have weathered the tumultuous Ryder Cup storm last year, as they had enjoyed the thrashing two years prior.

As both knock on the doors of another silverware at THE PLAYERS Championship, it’s worth looking back at how the partnership started. And also the time when Kaiser thought he was going to get fired.

Austin Kaiser feels he has the best job in the world

Xander Schauffele met his caddie while playing collegiate golf at San Diego State University. Kaiser, though, didn’t want to pursue a career in golf. Rather, he aimed to become a detective. However, when Schauffele gave him the proposal to work for him, he didn’t think twice. 

“We have a perfect balance of professionalism and friendship,” the San Diego Union-Tribune quoted Kaiser as saying. Sure, there are great player-caddie partnerships—Tiger Woods-Steve Williams, Phil Mickelson-Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay, but the friendship that preceded their professional relationship is very own for Kaiser and Schauffele.

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That’s precious for Kaiser as well. The Broncos fan even said that he wouldn’t have said yes to anyone other than his former teammate. Kaiser added, “I told him (Xander Schauffele) many times that I don’t think I’d work for anyone else. If Xander fired me and Tiger or any of those guys came up to me, I wouldn’t caddie for anybody else. Because I don’t have that emotional attachment.”

For Austin Kaiser, “It’s like being drafted by your favorite team growing up. You can’t get that with anyone else. I think I have the best job in the world.” He had his fair share of collegiate golf experience, having made 12 appearances for San Diego State University. Kaiser’s best-place finish was at the Lamkin Grips SD Classic, where he tied for the sixth spot, while Schauffele was tied for 3rd. Not surprising, Kaiser dubbed this “the best job in the world.” However, there was a time when he was on the verge of losing it, or so he thought.

A wasted Kaiser was sure Xander Schauffele would fire him

The story dates back to Schauffele’s rookie year on the Tour, which is 2016. The PGA Tour rookie missed the cut at the 2016 AT&T Byron Nelson. Regardless, Schauffele wanted to get in the range at 7 a.m. the next morning. 

Kaiser, though, headed out that night with a friend in Dallas. And, of course, they ended up in a bar. “Next thing you know, I drink a fifth of Grey Goose and end up in the middle of a thunderstorm, dumping rain, in a cemetery, doing snow angels,” Kaiser said in the Golf Subpar podcast last year. Kaiser informed his wife, who then called Schauffele at 2.30 a.m. 

Kaiser’s wife tracked his phone and sent a screenshot to his employer. Some time later, he heard a car honking. Schauffele arrived. “I’m literally hugging a tree blacked out,” the San Diego alum said. But not just that; Kaiser was also covered in mud. “He had me take my shirt off. He has pictures of it,” concluded Kaiser.

It’s a good thing that Schauffele took it lightly. Because, only a year later, the duo recorded their maiden triumph. That was the only start of a stellar partnership that has paid both Schauffele and his caddie generously. 

Xander Schauffele had a surprise gift for his caddie

The crowning achievement of their long partnership was the Olympic triumph. Schauffele birdied his final hole at Kasumigaseki Country Club to finish 18-under and take home the gold medal. But what about Austin Kaiser, though? 

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Schauffele, for his part, did something surprisingly pleasant for his long-time friend. He couldn’t change the Olympics committee’s mind, but he gifted his caddie a golden ring, with the Olympics insignia etched on top of it. “We ordered it such a long time ago so I tried to, I had to, I got a big mouth sometimes, so I had to keep my mouth shut on his gift just so it would be really special. It was cool. I have that medal to carry with me and now he has that ring as a piece of memorabilia, so he can always cherish that,” Schauffele said. 

Xander Schauffele will tee off at 1.40 p.m. ET, paired up with Wyndham Clark, whom he usurped yesterday for the top spot. Interestingly, at the Golf Subpar podcast, sitting beside him was John Ellis, Wyndham Clark’s caddie. The two will meet at the greens once again on Championship Sunday.

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