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Jason Day of Australia exchanges clubs with his caddie Colin Swatton.
JASON Day’s caddie has been at the Queenslander’s side throughout his meteoric rise in the golfing world, and now he’s being handsomely rewarded.
Long-time family friend of Day, Colin Swatton has guided the golfer to five tour titles this year, culminating in the 27-year-old claiming the world number one rank this week after winning the BMW Championship.
Cashing his percentage of Day’s winner’s cheques along the way, the caddie’s salary is now equal to and in some cases greater than some of Australia’s most high profile athletes, according to a report in the Australian Financial Review.
Jason Day takes his putter from caddie Colin Swatton on the ninth hole during the Final Round of the BMW Championship.Source:Getty Images
Swatton has earned approximately $1.28 million in 2015, not including bonuses. That’s more than top Australian pro golfer Karrie Webb made last year, but Swatton never swung a club.
According to BRW’s top 50 Australian sports earners list for 2014, AFL star Gary Ablett Jnr and rugby hero Israel Folau are the only footy code stars to earn more than Swatton, with a reported salary of $1.5 million each.
Meanwhile, NRL big names Greg Inglis ($850,000) and Jonathan Thurston ($900,000) don’t even come close to Swatton’s pay cheque this year.
Taking big hits every week, or carrying the bag for the best golfer in the world?
Swatton has certainly found himself in an enviable position.