Tommy Fleetwood’s caddie Ian Finnis reveals reason for absence

When Tommy Fleetwood told reporters ahead of the Masters that long-time caddie and close friend Ian Finnis “has not been well all year”, no one really quite knew the extent of the bagman’s illness.

The pair began working together in 2016, but Fleetwood’s Masters preparation took an unexpected turn the week before the opening major of the season when he revealed Finnis wouldn’t make it to Georgia.

“At the moment he’s at home trying to recover and get the right treatment,” the Englishman explained. “Hopefully he’ll be back out sooner rather than later.”

Fleetwood hired Gray Moore, a former caddie master at Augusta National, for the week, and the pair finished in a tie for third.

• Brian Harman regrets ‘curt’ remarks at last year’s Open

• Brandel Chamblee makes bold Tiger Woods claim

• Rory McIlroy sings karaoke after RBC Heritage win

It is not known when Fleetwood’s regular caddie, known as Fino, will return – but it doesn’t look like it will be any time soon after he revealed the reason why he had been absent in recent weeks.

In an Instagram post, Finnis wrote: “Open heart surgery done! Massive thanks to all the NHS staff. The road to recovery has started.”

He added: “Thanks for all the love.”

Since teaming up, Fleetwood and Finnis have won six DP World Tour titles and represented Team Europe in three Ryder Cups, winning two. They also have eight major championship top-tens.

The week following the Masters, Fleetwood had Adrian Rietveld, a senior manager at TaylorMade who works closely with the manufacturer’s tour staff, on the bag at the RBC Heritage.

He then took on caddying duties himself in last week’s UAE Challenge at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in Abu Dhabi, where he carried for 17-year-old stepson Oscar Craig.

Alex Perry is the Associate Editor of bunkered. A journalist for more than 20 years, he has been a golf industry stalwart for the majority of his career and, in a five-year spell at ESPN, covered every sporting event you can think of. He completed his own Grand Slam at the 2023 Masters, having fallen in love with the sport at his hometown club of Okehampton and on the links of nearby Bude & North Cornwall.

Associate Editor