Earlier in April, whispers of a financial fallout between Phil Mickelson and his longtime caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay, began to make the headlines. The duo was together for nearly 25 years, winning five majors, including three green jackets, before they parted ways in 2017. At the time, it was revealed that money lay at the heart of their split. And only now, the curtain has finally been lifted on exactly how deep the financial rift ran.

On the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast, golf insider Alan Shipnuck, who wrote ‘Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography’ revealed the jaw-dropping details. “You know, Phil lost a lot of fans over how he treated his caddy, Jim Mackay, famously known as Bones. And this all came out in my book. It had never really been reported before that he owed Bones about $900,000 through the years,” Shipnuck stated on the podcast. 

He explained that when the FedEx Cup was first introduced in 2007, “the guy who ever won $10 million, like 9 million of it, went to his retirement account.” So, most of it was deferred, and caddies didn’t receive most of their dues. “And then the deferred compensation went away, but it was still like this new thing that every player and Caddy had to kind of account for because it wasn’t really traditional earnings. It’s a bonus. Caddy deserves some. So, this was not an unusual negotiation. And so, Phil and Bones talked it out, but Phil never paid…” Shipnuck added. 

Over the years, the sum began accumulating as Mickelson succeeded, won tournaments, but never really gave Bones his due. “And finally, eventually, when they decide to part ways, Phil sends him two checks, and it totals 800,000, not 900…and it wasn’t a written contract, it’s not like Bones is going to sue him in a court of law it so he just had to swallow it,” Shipnuck pointed out. And there was little Bones could do legally.

Bones had to let go of the $100,000 with no written contract in place. But for Bones, it wasn’t just about the money; it was years of hard work, loyalty, and patience. He helped Mickelson rack up 42 PGA Tour victories and more than $80 million in winnings. And not to forget, the only time Phil Mickelson was able to win the Open was in 2013 with Bones on his bag. So he had every right to feel betrayed.

And even more so when Mickelson publicly called him “one of the most knowledgeable and dedicated caddies in the world.” He even called Bones “one of the most important and special people in my life since the day we met” and that their relationship “far exceeds golf.” But behind the curtains, it was a whole different story.

Despite the rift, Jim “Bones” Mackay revealed a side of the story that many hadn’t expected.

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Phil Mickelson’s ex-caddie revealed how he was treated

Earlier this year, Jim Mackay went on the Glue Guys Podcast and reflected on his decades in golf, saying, “When I started in 1990, I never would have guessed that you would forge as many close relationships with the players as you ultimately do…” For Mackay, the job was about far more than carrying bags — it was about trust, loyalty, and shared experiences, often extending to dinners, weddings, and even international golf trips.

“I’ve been on golf trips with Phil to Ireland and Scotland and places like that,” Mackay pointed out, quite the contrary to what many would have believed given the financial rift between them. “I’ve always been very impressed by how welcoming and friendly the players are to the caddies, and how inclusive they are in terms of what goes on,” he said.

He also painted a picture of the camaraderie behind the tournament grind. Living in Phoenix for years, Mackay organized annual dinners around the Waste Management Phoenix Open. “You’d invite 40 people, and 20 of them would come over — 20 players, 20 caddies — and you’d just have an absolute ball,” he recalled, pointing out that the caddie-player divide was hardly felt.

Even after parting ways with Mickelson, Mackay continued to work closely with top players, including a 2.5-year stint with Justin Thomas before parting ways with him before the 2024 Masters.