Jordan Spieth’s use of collective rather than individual terminology when analysing his success is endearing. The 22-year-old’s delight was therefore understandable when Michael Greller was presented with the Caddie of the Year award in Shanghai by his peers.
Greller’s own tale is as noteworthy as that of Spieth. He was a high school maths teacher before being picked up by an emerging golfer who has just earned $22m (£14.5m) in a single season and won back-to-back major championships in the middle of it.
I trust him as the best in the world and he trusts me. That's what made our partnership so great so far over the last few years.
On Friday, Greller did not so much decline an opportunity to speak about his personal recognition as watch on as a member of Spieth’s management team did it for him. For all that it was disappointing, Spieth filled the gap. “I kind of figured the award was coming,” said Spieth, who was in attendance for the presentation. “I trust Michael as the best in the world and he trusts me. That’s what has made our partnership so great over the last few years. It certainly worked this year; it was well deserved and it was cool to see him up on stage there.
Congratulations to the HSBC Caddy of the Year - @JordanSpieth 's bag man Michael Greller #greatjob #HSBCChampions pic.twitter.com/0qHBwOAQw5
— IMG Golf (@IMGgolf) November 6, 2015
“We understand each other well. It is really more him understanding me, knowing when is the right time to step in and say something, knowing when is the right time to back off, knowing how to judge the wind, knowing what shots I’m thinking about playing. We have had a lot of rounds under our belt now and we get better and better each week, I think.”
Greller’s unconventional route to the top has afforded him extra respect among caddies. “It was obvious when we started that he didn’t come from a golfing background,” said Spieth with a smile. “It was a bit of an adjustment through the Web.com Tour and early on the PGA Tour season. We were just riding momentum at the right time.
“He has found a group of guys he really gets along with and [they] work really, really hard at what they do. I wasn’t planning on bringing him out of teaching, just give him four months and send him back. I planned on us having success. Obviously things have progressed quicker than we could have imagined.”