Golf: Big test facing Kiwi bagman

New Zealand caddy Anthony Knight faces a challenging assignment after agreeing to carry the bag for temperamental Spanish star Sergio Garcia.

Knight will make his first appearance in Garcia's bib at the Colonial Classic on the US PGA Tour starting today in Fort Worth, Texas.

World No 5 Garcia approached Knight because his regular caddy, Glen Murray, of South Africa, has a serious stomach ailment.

Murray has been advised to rest for an indefinite period and Garcia has told Knight their arrangement could last up to a year.

"I'm really happy I've got the job, but unfortunately a friend of mine is pretty sick as well," Knight said.

"The offer came out of the blue. He [Garcia] is a good guy, he's good to work for and very exciting to watch."

Knight's mother, Diana, said in Tauranga yesterday that "as a parent I am absolutely over the moon for him."

She said her son was told by Garcia that he was delighted to have him as his caddy, but "the moment Glen gets better, then Glen would go right back on the bag."

Originally from Whangarei, Knight, 33, most recently worked for South African David Frost.

Knight will become the second New Zealander to work closely with the game's elite. Steve Williams has been bagman for world No 1 Tiger Woods since March 1999.

Williams and Knight are good friends.

They met when Williams was playing a tournament in Whangarei in 1989 when Knight was an apprentice club pro.

Several months later Williams arranged for Knight to work for a visiting US pro at the New Zealand Open and he has since caddied all around the world for such players as Frank Nobilo, Phil Tataurangi and Greg Turner, as well as Australians Peter O'Malley and Robert Allenby.

Garcia, 22, a European Ryder Cup representative, has earned more than $4.5 million in the US and Europe this year.

Caddies can expect to be paid between 5 and 10 per cent of a golfer's tournament income. Some of the more generous players even pay their caddies a retainer and cover their expenses.

Garcia has won eight times since turning pro in 1999.

During a brief but spectacular career, Garcia has also earned a reputation for churlish behaviour, which has strained his working relationship with caddies. He has gone through more than his share of them, the most notable being Jerry Higginbotham and Fanny Sunesson.

Sunesson, who is now back working with Briton Nick Faldo, lasted just eight tournaments with Garcia.

- NZPA