David “El Tucán” Ortiz (l) and Matt Kuchar (r) after Kuchar won the 2018 Mayakoba Golf Classic at the El Camaleón Golf Club in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, México (Photo via Mayakoba Golf Classic’s media page)
PGA golfer Matt Kuchar has finally realized that he messed up.
Earlier this week, Kuchar thought that his initial payout of $5,000 to Mexican caddie David “El Tucán” Ortiz for a $1.296 million Mayakoba Golf Classic victory last year in Mexico was “fair and good“.
“It’s done. Listen, I feel like I was fair and good,” Kuchar said on Wednesday. “So I certainly don’t lose sleep over this. This is something that I’m quite happy with, and I was really happy for him to have a great week and make a good sum of money. Making $5,000 is a great week.”
Ortiz was Kuchar’s substitute caddie for that victory. They had agreed to a sum, but that was before Kuchar won $1.296 million. Caddies can get as much 10 percent if a golfer wins a PGA tour event.
“For a guy who makes $200 a day, a $5,000 week is a really big week.”
Matt Kuchar shares his side of the caddie-payment controversy: https://t.co/G65Kopn36r pic.twitter.com/WcunXUvZSG
— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) February 14, 2019
Then, Ortiz spoke out , as well as bad headlines.
On Friday, Kuchar issued this apology and has given Ortiz $50,000.
Statement from Matt Kuchar pic.twitter.com/fZWsK8RjzE
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) February 15, 2019
It hasn’t been a good week for Kuchar, if Twitter is any indication:
I’d love to see how little Matt Kuchar tips at fine dining establishments. What a bum.
— BeatinTheBookie.com™ (@BeatinTheBookie) February 13, 2019
Just reading about this Matt Kuchar story about only paying his caddie $3,000 after winning $1,296,000…. Thats barely 2% of the winnings. Tour caddies make upwards of 10% earnings… I liked Kuchar, but if this is all true I lost a lot of respect for him. That’s not right.
— Thomas (@T_Baumann8) February 12, 2019
“Go low Kuch, go low. Just not on the gratuity! -6th tee fan @genesisopen after Matt Kuchar‘s tee shot
— Geoff Shackelford (@GeoffShac) February 15, 2019
If you won $1.3 MILLION dollars in a PGA tournament using a fill in caddy, how much would you tip him? Customary is 10%. Keep in mind he bagged you for the win and it was your first win in 4 years.
Matt Kuchar thought a $5,000 tip was good enough. pic.twitter.com/IZH4zjMfl5
— BeatinTheBookie.com™ (@BeatinTheBookie) February 13, 2019
No longer support Matt Kuchar golf. He had a fill-in caddie down in Mexico and only gave him $5K after coming in first and winning a $1.296M.. @bridgestonegolf @Workday pic.twitter.com/SU4atOX2z3
— Edward Fowler (@E_Fowl44) February 15, 2019
Great that this worker got his due and the matter was resolved. Workers are winners too.