Phil Mickelson, who had caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay on his bag for 25 years, will have his brother, Tim, doing that duty full-time when the 2017-18 season continues after the first of the year.
Lagardere Sports announced that Tim Mickelson, who coached Jon Rahm of Spain at Arizona State and then managed the young superstar once he turned pro in 2016, has left the company to work for his brother after serving as Lefty’s caddie for part of last season.
“Coach Mickelson will always be important to me and has done many good things to support my career, and I wish him and Phil well in their new partnership,” Rahm, ranked fourth in the world after winning on the PGA Tour and European Tour last season, said in a statement.
Steve Loy, head of Lagardere’s golf division, will be Rahm’s primary agent, with Jeff Koski in the United States and Jamie Evans in Europe handling his daily affairs.
The 47-year-old Mickelson won 42 times on the PGA Tour, including five majors, with Mackay carrying his bag, but their last victory came in the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield.
“I do want to say for the record that I did not use my ‘veto’ (with Mickelson) this year,” Mackay said when he parted ways with Lefty in June. “I would like to pass it along to Tim, in all its glory.”
McKay has moved on to a new career as an on-course reporter for NBC/ Golf Channel.
