In this new GolfWRX feature, called the “Caddie Corner,” we’ll be firing off questions to a different caddie every week on the PGA Tour.

Caddies, or “loopers,” as some call them, are the too-often-overlooked people who actually have a huge impact on players every week on the PGA Tour. They’re tasked with many objectives – everything from carrying the bag, raking bunkers and getting yardages, to playing psychologist on the golf course as their player competes for millions. If you’re curious to learn more about the caddies, as well as their stories, lifestyle and insights, then welcome to the “Caddie Corner.”

In our first iteration of the Caddie Corner, we spoke in-depth with Shannon “Shan” Wallis. Check that out hilarious and insightful interview here.

This week, I grilled Gerald “G.W.” Cable, a 14-year PGA Tour caddie and former tour player who currently loops for Kevin Chappell. He’s also formerly worked with names such as Steve Marino, Chris Kirk, Morgan Hoffmann, Heath Slocum, Matt Every and a slew of others.

Enjoy the talk below!

How’d you end up being a caddie on the PGA Tour, and what’s been your career progression before caddying?

So I played for 7 years professionally. Got to play in some tour events. Hurt my back, was a club pro for a couple years working down in South Florida and Steve Marino called me, he was having a few issues. He just asked me to come out for a few weeks. Then it turned into 14 years. That’s basically how it started.

What’s the best restaurant where you go and it’s like, I can’t wait for that event so I can go there to eat?

That’s a great question. I’m more of a dive bar guy (laughs). Hmm, best restaurant…I’m not too high class, so I can’t even give you one. Like I said, I’m more of a dive bar guy, so like I find a nice bar with shuffleboard in it and that’s where I head.

What’s your favorite sport aside from golf and who are some of your favorite teams and players?

I’m a D.C. guy, I grew up in the D.C. area, so I’m a Football Team fan. I root for the Virginia Cavaliers in college sports, and I’m really into football. It’s tough to beat last weekend in the playoffs, that was pretty amazing. But sports in general, I love following ’em.

What’s on your music playlist right now?

Man, I’ve got everything. I’ve got two little girls, a 3 and a 1 year old, so I’ve got some different kids songs. They love some of the teeny bopper s*** like NSYNC. My sisters used to play ’em, so I’ve gotten them into that. Then like, I can go with pretty much anything. Let’s see, what was a listening to? I was listening to some Haste the Day, like some screaming music on the way in. But yeah, I do it all. 

What’s been your most important lesson you’ve learned along the way about caddying?

So it’s crazy. You learn so much. Obviously when you play, for me it was hard to learn a lot of stuff. When you caddie, you really learn a lot more. It’s been really valuable in that way, just kind of seeing what…I don’t know how to put it, but it’s like you don’t really realize it when you’re playing, but you can see it in some of the players. You can give them some decent advice on mental things, or when they’re getting a little too quick. It’s kind of easy to see things in the future when you’re caddying, as opposed to when you’re playing, you’re kind of stuck in the moment, but you can see things snowballing. So it’s been kind of cool to see.

Aside from actually carrying the bag, what’s the most difficult part of your job?

There’s really not many tough things. You get to do this and see this type of stuff almost every week (the view at Torrey Pines). I mean there’s not many bad things, to be honest.

Life’s good.

It is. It really is. I can’t really give you one. Yeah, it’s all good.

Caddies are known for having the best stories. Without incriminating yourself too much, what’s the funniest story you have about caddie life?

I mean, I’ve done a lot of things for money. I’m not scared. A quick one: British Open trip. It’s pretty nasty, but I started it off with… it was a thing of dip, and somebody said, “Will you drink that for a thousand dollars?” And I chugged it, with the chew in it. So I made a quick grand on the way to the British Open. And then there was some stuff to follow that I’ll leave out. But it paid for my rent for the week.

What’s the biggest, “Uh oh, I messed up,” moment of your career with a player?

Oh man, there’s been a few. I’ve left a yardage book in a car one time and I had to run because I didn’t realize it. I had to run back to the car and we were on the tee, that was pretty bad, but I made it.

One of the guys I caddied for, all he wants is waters. And he was leading a tournament, ended up winning it. But I mean he was chugging water so fast, and I couldn’t keep enough. They were those little shot waters. I mean, I had five in the bag, I’m not kidding, and all five were gone and I’m asking people in the crowd to like give me some water, and they did. So that was pretty cool. But that was a pretty bad one. I was like, man, there’s nothing I can do. I was pretty prepared.

If your player’s a little bit nervous going into a first tee shot or last tee shot, what’s something you might say to calm them down?

You just gotta try to make fun of ’em or something. Something to get ’em off that topic or whatever they’re feeling. Yeah, lighten the mood up a little bit.

What’s your favorite tour stop to caddie at, whether it’s the course itself, the location, or the perks you get?

There’s a lot of them. Hilton Head is great. Torrey Pines is always great, it’s nice to come out west. Charlotte is pretty cool. Obviously, course wise, it’s always nice to get to The Masters, that place is so pure. Yeah, there’s so many it’s hard to pick one.

Based on working so closely with tour players throughout the years, what advice might you have for amateurs golfers trying to improve their games?

Ideally, it’s like the time you put in. I feel like, at least a lot of the amateurs I’ve been around, they think it should just happen overnight. And it’s just not the way it is. You just have to be a little gentle on yourself. People expect a lot, and I get it, but it’s just unrealistic. At the end of the day, if you put in the time you’re gonna get better, in my opinion. You see how it is out here, these guys work their butts off, and they still, they’re not the best all time. So it’s like, you gotta give yourself a break. But that’s all. If you put in the time, you’ll get better. There’s no secrets. Put in the work.