Eric 'Big E' Schwartz: Ryder Cup caddie captain

Golf is an individual sport; the Ryder Cup is the ultimate team competition. Wives, caddies, co-captains all play an integral part. Speculation was Tiger might be kept off the team because of the wives’ reaction, but their input is second to the caddies especially the Ryder Cup captain’s caddie.

Freddie Burns, Hal Sutton’s longtime caddie and friend, was the caddie captain for Hal and Paul Azinger. “They included me in meetings and asked my opinion on everything. I was like their eyes and ears behind the scene, gopher, confidant, and sounding board, whatever they needed.”

During the 35th Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills C.C., I watched Freddie and Jimmy Johnson fetch towels, water, sandwiches running themselves ragged making sure the players and caddies were comfortable. Corey Pavin’s caddie, Eric “Big E” Schwartz, will do the same.

Nobody knows a player better than his caddie and over a few cold ones you can find out who’s playing well, who’s hurt, and which players get along together. When Hal announced his Tiger-Phil pairing Thursday at Oakland Hills I was in the caddie lounge. Nobody said a word but the facial expressions were, “what the @#%&$ is Hal thinking?” They didn’t listen to Freddie on that one.

Eric and Corey have been a good team for over a decade. “Big E” is an eternal caddie, a better-than-scratch golfer, and he’s well respected by players and caddies. He quietly speaks his mind and will be behind the scene all week providing Corey with vital information. Eric will have his own cart and radio, there for whatever Corey and the team needs.

My brother caddied for Lee Janzen at the 1993 Ryder Cup captained by Tom Watson. The caddies were at every evening meeting and Tom’s caddie Bruce Edwards was cheerleader, motivator, and evening prankster. Eric won’t be as outgoing but he’ll provide a lot of strength during tense moments.

And after the round he’ll be sipping a cold one, talking strategy, comparing yardage books, gathering information and sharing stories with his comrades getting ready for tomorrow.

It ain’t about the money this week. The caddies get a salary from the PGA, a nice wardrobe of clothes, and all their travel expenses. But, ask any of them the experience is better than a win, except maybe a major.

Eric will work the hardest of any caddie and never lift a bag.