Jim “Bones” Mackay last caddied at Waialae Country Club before Justin Thomas was born, but he was transported back in time Tuesday when he picked up the bag for the FedExCup champion.
The former long-time looper for Phil Mickelson last pounded these fairways in 1992 and has had over six months off since ending his 25-year run with the World Golf Hall of Famer.
But the more things change – the more they stay the same.
Out for a one-off week with Thomas while his regular caddie Jimmy Johnson recovers from plantar fasciitis, Mackay couldn’t help but smile as he watched over a highly-charged, friendly match involving Thomas and Tom Lovelady against Jordan Spieth and Smylie Kaufman.
Mickelson has always been famous for his pre-tournament competitive rounds against fellow TOUR pros with a spattering of trash talk always on the menu.
On Tuesday at Waialae the new breed was continuing the traditions.
“It was nice. It was fun to feel the weight of the bag on your shoulder and even better to be part of a competitive match with a lot of talk involved,” Mackay said.
“It’s always fun as a caddie being involved in something like that. There was a little trash talking on a few putts and I really was lucky for 25 years with Phil to have those kinds of Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so to have that out here today just made it so much more fun.”