PGA Tour star to caddie at upcoming major

Gary Woodland isn’t currently exempt for the Masters or the PGA Championship, but he will make a major appearance in May.

The 40-year-old, who won the US Open in 2019, underwent brain surgery only five months ago but has already begun rebuilding his game.

Soon, however, he’ll discover how good his caddie skills are.

That’s because Woodland is set to swap gigs with long-term looper Brennan Little at the upcoming Senior PGA Championship.

The event will be played at Congressional Country Club for the first time from May 22-25, and the Little/Woodland pair are in the line-up.

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Woodland’s right-hand man qualified for the championship after coming through his local section and then surviving the National Club Pro stage in Oregon.

Speaking to Golf Channel’s Damon Hack during last week’s Cognizant Classic, Little revealed how the decision was made.

“He told me that when I turn 50, if I qualify for a major, he’d caddie for me,” Little said. “I qualified through my section and went to the National Club Pro out in Oregon.

“I got him panicked there for a while and almost blew it, but I ended up making it so I’m holding him to it.”

Despite being a professional caddie since 1999, Little is a top player in his own right.

A former New Mexico State player, he previously had a Handicap Index of two and has seven career victories in the PGA of America’s Northern Texas section.

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Meanwhile, as a caddie, the Canadian also has a win at The Masters, courtesy of countryman Mike Weir’s performance in 2003.

So, surely his experience will rub off on Woodland? Well, not quite.

“It’s very slim,” Woodland said of his caddying history. “Roles are going to be reversed; we’re going to struggle a little bit considering Butchy does everything for me out here – I just hit the shots.

“I’m going to have to learn really quickly how to do everything. But I’m really proud of him, it was pretty cool what he did, and I’m excited to be there.”

Days before discussing the move, Woodland was named the worthy recipient of the PGA Tour Courage Award for 2025.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.