Here's our 2003 'Winning Caddy Interview' with John 'Cubby Burke:

Davis Love won again in 2003 at the TPC and Heritage golf tournaments and now again at the International.  John Burke was the 'winning caddy' on three of  those four wins this year.  He will be caddying for Davis at this week's PGA Championship where Davis Love will be trying to win his second major and second PGA Championship.   (For his only major win at Winged Foot his brother Mark was on the bag, as he was at the 2003 Heritage Golf Classic victory earlier this year in April.)  Here was our 'Winning Caddy Interview' with the 'Cub Man' from their first win this year at the 2003 AT and T Pebble Beach Pro Am:

John Burke has been a caddy on the PGA Tour for the past 18 years.  He caddied most notably for Brad Faxon from 1987 to 1999.  He is currently in his fourth year working for Davis Love,  'Cubby', has lost track of his wins but thinks he's been a part of about seven. And has been also in seven second place losses in playoffs.  With his player Davis Love playing real well and leading the tournament by two shots after 54 holes, he finds out that he will be paired with Wayne Gretzsky -'The Great One', in Sunday's final round at Pebble.  (Gretzsky was paired with Mike Weir as their amateur/pro team had made the cut). John was thrilled as Wayne Gretzsky was a child hood hero of his while growing up in his native home of Duluth Minnesota.

CaddyBytes.com -Ten under after 54 holes and Spyglass after Saturday's third round and a two stroke lead at this years AT and T Pebble Beach Celebrity Pro Am.  So you're paired with Mike Weir, Wayne Gretzsky and your amateur partner that week, John Linen, vice chairman of American Express.  How'd the day start out there on the front nine at Pebble?

John Burke -We chopped it around the easy holes -we played the first five two over bogied two and three.  At that point in time Mike (Weir) was making some birdies.  So after six holes Weir had a two shot lead over us.  We made birdie on 6.  Davis played the difficult holes incredibly.  He birdied 8, 9, and 10.

CaddyBytes.com -Notably the hardest stretch of holes there along and over the ocean.  How'd that go?

John Burke -He whiffed a three iron off the tee on # 8, then Davis hit a five iron to about 15 feet -one of the prettiest shots I've ever seen and made that.  He hit a three wood off the tee on # 9, and sand wedge from about 145 to the back of the green and he made about a 40 footer which broke about 8 feet for a birdie.  Then on the tenth hole he hit 3 wood again and a 9 iron second shot to about 14 feet and drained that one.  

CaddyBytes.com -Three birdies in a row, now you're back in the lead again?

John Burke -We're back in the lead again.  We parred # 11.  We got a good break off a photographers leg on twelve kicking our ball back onto the green and then Davis made the putt.  Then we had a three shot lead.  We birdied thirteen hitting a driver way up there and then a 60 degree wedge to about 12 feet and made that one. 

CaddyBytes.com -You birdied twelve and thirteen?  How was the photographer after you guys hit em on 12?

John Burke -It was going long left and hit a photographer in the shin pads who reacted with a 'double scissors leg kick save' that prevented our ball from missing the green long and left and instead kicking it (inadvertently) back onto the green there.  And Davis then made the birdie putt!  

CaddyBytes.com -You have to always have some luck to win a golf tournament!  So you've birdied 8, 9, 10, 12, and 13.  Now what do you do on 14?

John Burke -Laid it up too close with our second shot (long par five) and made par. 

CaddyBytes.com -Two shot lead now?  How'd it go coming in from there down the stretch?

John Burke -Yeah because Lehman birdied it.  On 15 missed about an 8 footer from above the hole for birdie.  On sixteen, drove it in the right bunker got it in front about eight yards short of the green, chipped it up to about 15 feet and missed it for par.  Just before that Lehman, playing just in front of us,  made birdie to tie us.

CaddyBytes.com -So now you're going to the par three 17th hole tied for the lead.  What'd you hit off the tee there?

John Burke -We hit a five iron to the back right fringe and chipped it up to about six feet that hung up on the right side of the lip and fell in for par.

CaddyBytes.com -How'd you guys  play our 'Featured 18th Hole of the Week' now your 72nd hole and tied for the lead?

John Burke -He bombed a drive right down the gut, a beautiful shot!  218 (yards) in for his second shot -a perfect high fading cut four iron to about 12 feet and two putted for the win!

CaddyBytes.com -Your caddy career win #7 or #8?

John Burke -I don't know I've lost track!  

CaddyBytes.com -How'd you play the 18th hole the one other time you played it this week? (In the 72 hole tournament each competitor plays Spyglass, Poppy Hills, then Pebble Beach twice (if they make the cut there that week).

John Burke -We hit our drive into the right bunker, then laid it up and made a par five.

CaddyBytes.com -How did you play holes eight, nine, and ten in your one other round at Pebble that week?  (Our bonus holes with pix of the week)

John Burke -He played em good.  I think we played em at one under in the other round.

CaddyBytes.com -So that means that Davis played them four under for the week!  That will usually give you something over the rest of the field!? How was Gretzsky during all of this?

John Burke -He was scared S--tless!  Sweating.  Self admitted, told me himself.  Said if he didn't' make the first putt he'd have no chance the rest of the day.  He's got the best hands I've ever seen in hockey, and the worst putting stroke I've ever seen in my life!

  

Click Back to our Pebble Beach National Pro Am Tournament's Page!

Tournaments page - with more Winning Caddy Interviews

More CaddyBytes 'Featured Caddy Stories'

More CaddyBytes Caddy 'Haul' of Fame Interviews

The Virtual Golf Tours are great visual golf tours of some famous courses...

Our Resource of Caddy Books provides you with a bibliographical resource of all the books ever written on, about, or by golf caddies! (*Now with Book Reviews added!)

Visit our Affiliate Golf Links!

Signup for the CaddyBytes Newsletter Here: When you Submit your email address you will receive information about how to get a collectible BC PTCA Caddy Doll, as well as upcoming CaddyBytes News, Golf Product Specials and Giveaways! CaddyBytes.com will not share your email address with Anyone, Ever! (Also: We've recently updated our Email Security!)

CaddyBytes.com is not affiliated with the PGA Tour, PGA of America, or any other Professional Golf Organizations, their officers or agents -Just the Caddies! All Caddy Stories that appear on this web site are exclusively owned by CaddyBytes.com. Any duplication, or copying of the material presented on this site is prohibited without the expressed written consent of CaddyBytes.com and it's owner(s)!

Click Back to our Pebble Beach National Pro Am Tournament's Page!