‘Three to four years is the usual time span for the player-caddie relationship. After that, you tend to get sick of each other. You sense when the end is near’

Irish interest in the Ryder Cup doesn’t stop at the three players and the two vice-captains. There’s also a trio of bagmen keeping their employers on the short grass. Charlie Mulqueen explains

JP FITZGERALD

MOST Februaries, JP Fitzgerald takes off the week of the AT&T pro-am at Pebble Beach, leaving his regular bag to link up with financier Dermot Desmond. They have met with mixed success over the years while always enjoying the experience, and after their endeavours this year Fitzgerald was asked if there was anything in Dermot’s game that reminded him of his current employer, Rory McIlroy. Sensing a trap, Fitzgerald, replied: “They’re both very nice people.”