My caddie’s not afraid to kick me up the backside (she is my wife after all!)
Golfer tells how teaming up with spouse boosts his game
WHEN David Drysdale steps out on to the first tee at the UK’s biggest golf tournament this week, the woman he has shared his life with for 23 years will be by his side – but this time, as his caddie.
His wife Victoria will be the secret weapon in the Scotsman’s armoury as he faces the world’s top golfers at The Open at Royal Birkdale.
The pair decided to become a permanent partnership on the fairways after Drysdale, 42, had tried a number of caddies and found few of them worked as well for him as his spouse.
For the past few weeks they have been inseparable on and off the golf course, with her carrying his supersized tour bag and advising him on shots and yardages.
Laughing, she said: ‘So far, there haven’t been any fights, despite us being with each other 24/7.
‘The other wives and caddies have been really great about it. At first I worried the other caddies would be growling that I was stealing their job but they’ve been fine.
‘A couple of golfers have admitted that they’d also asked their wives to caddie for them but they’d refused.’
She added: ‘I’ve travelled with David around the world for years and it sort of made sense that I should end up doing this. We’re a strong couple and the few times I’ve done any caddying for him before it worked out fairly well.
‘It’s a bit different from being on the other side of the ropes, where if he ever missed a shot previously I would think, “How the heck could he do that?”.
‘Now that I’m caddying for him full-time, I understand it all better. It’s not as easy as it looks and I’m still on a steep learning curve.’
Although she dabbled with golf as a youngster, she did not stick with the sport, so has been taking lessons for several months from her husband’s coach, Jamie Gough – brother of former Rangers and Scotland defender Richard.
Drysdale, who has been approached by other caddies but is sticking with his wife, said: ‘I’ve had some good caddies in the past but I think ultimately they are a bit scared – understandably, perhaps, because you are paying their wages – to give you a proper kick up the backside when you get a little bit down during a round or become annoyed about something. I’ve no fears there with Vicky. ‘She’s not afraid to tell me the truth and I really need that. ‘But she’s also so positive around me. She helps me to focus on each shot and free my mind to concentrate on the game in hand. ‘She is also such a determined character and carries that big golf bag without any problems, even though I offered her a smaller one.’ The couple, who live on a farm near Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, met at Dunbar Grammar School, East Lothian, where they were both pupils in the same year. They started dating at the age of 19 after ‘bumping into each other’ one day in the town. Mrs Drysdale, also 42, used to work for a pharmaceutical company but has devoted the past ten years to helping her husband to pursue his golfing ambitions – while walking mile after mile around the world’s courses.
She said: ‘I know David so well. I know how he ticks.’
But she admitted it is a nomadic existence that she is still getting used to – and one made worse now she is his full-time caddie.
With a smile, she explained: ‘As his unofficial manager previously, I used to only be at the golf course at the end of each week and had my own time to do things before the competitions got under way.
‘Now there’s no normality. It’s difficult to get certain things done. I haven’t had my nails or roots done for weeks.’
So far, however, the partnership is working well and with his wife at his side, Drysdale produced what has been widely acknowledged as the best performance of his career – claiming the fourth spot and £211,000 at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open last weekend.
It secured him a place in this week’s 146th Open, which will be his wife’s first major as his caddie.
She said: ‘I’m a bit nervous but I’m sure I’ll be OK.’
She added that despite the couple being married since 2004, she has discovered new things about her husband since spending even more time in his company.
She added: ‘I never realised how superstitious he actually is. I only recently found out he has to have four tees in his pockets on the course and if one gets broken, he has to get another from the bag instantly. I’m not sure why, but it’s obviously working for him at the moment. Long may it continue.’