This PGA Tour season has been eventful as far as player-caddie breakups are concerned. First, Phil Mickelson and longtime caddie Jim "Bones" MacKay announced they were mutually parting ways after 25 years together. Then, Rory McIlroy parted with J.P. Fitzgerland after nine years and four major victories. Now, a major winner and former world no.1 ranked player is making a surprising move, per George Savaricas of the Golf Channel.
Have it confirmed @JDayGolf is making a change on the bag this week @BMWchamps will have Luke Reardon caddy for him
— George Savaricas (@GeorgeSavaricas) September 13, 2017
More on Luke Reardon he's longtime friends with @JDayGolf & former roommate at Hills College, their live-in golf academy back in Australia
— George Savaricas (@GeorgeSavaricas) September 13, 2017
From what I'm hearing this is a permanent change and not a 1-week deal for @JDayGolf to Luke Reardon on bag, will confirm w/J Day today
— George Savaricas (@GeorgeSavaricas) September 13, 2017
Reardon will be replacing Col Swatton, who's been with Day since the player was a teenager. Swatton has filled the role of coach, caddie, and father figure for Day, who lost his father to cancer when he was only 12. The duo have been together ever since and frequently spoke of their bond on and off the course.
The moves comes as a surprise like the aforementioned splits did, but they all follow a generally similar pattern. I won't pretend to know the internal workings of these relationships, but on the surface, Day was experiencing a down year like Mickelson and McIlroy were. There are a number of factors that play into those results, but at the end of the day, these players all felt like a fresh perspective was needed, and unfortunately, that means these on-course partnerships we've grown accustomed to seeing are no more.
For what it's worth, Swatton will still be Day's coach, per Ben Everill of the PGA Tour. We also won't have to wait long to see if this new dynamic pays off, as Day tees off Thursday at 12:06 p.m. CT
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