Golf: 'Keep your money' - Short-changed caddie says no to increased payday from Matt Kuchar

Matt Kuchar has been accused of short-changing his caddie after winning a tournament in Mexico in November last year. Photo / Getty

A caddie who was short-changed by American golfer Matt Kuchar after he won a tournament last year has reportedly turned down an offer for more money from the world number 34.

Last month Kuchar was accused of short-changing local caddie David Girl Ortiz, known as El Tucan, who helped him break a four-year winless streak when he took his bag for the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico.

Kuchar needed the ring-in as his regular bagman John Wood was at a reunion.

It did the trick, with 22-under Kuchar winning the title by one stroke over Kiwi Danny Lee - for a winner's cheque of US$1.296 million ($1.9 million).

Former PGA player Tom Gillis brought the situation into the open on social media when Kuchar was leading the Sony Open in Hawaii last month.

Gillis tweeted: "If Kuchar wins this weekend let's hope he pays his man more than ($3,000) like the last win. ($45 million) in (career) earnings. Could've changed the man's life."

On the general 10 per cent rule, El Tucan was due about $190,000, although those in the know say that a local caddie would not usually be paid that percentage.

Kuchar, a former world number four, denied it was that low but wasn't giving any more details when questioned last month.

Kuchar said: "That's not a story. It wasn't 10 percent, it wasn't $3,000. It's not a story. We had an agreement to start the week. He was excited to go to work that week."

According the golf.com, Kuchar paid Ortiz $5000 but after reports hit the media he offered to increase the payday by an extra $15,000.

The Mexican turned him down. "No thank you. They can keep their money," he told golf.com.

"Matt is a good person and a great player. He treated me very well. I am only disappointed by how it all finished," he added.

Ortiz said he spent the $5000 on painting his house, new curtains, a mirror and flying his daughter home for Christmas.

"He was definitely my lucky charm," Kuchar said after winning the tournament.

"He brought me good luck and certainly some extra crowd support and did a great job as well. He did just what I was hoping for and looking for."

In an interview with golf.com, Kuchar responded to the controversy saying he was surprised by Ortiz's hurt feelings.

"I kind of think someone got in his ear," Kuchar said. "I was very clear and very upfront on Tuesday [of the tournament week]. And he said, 'OK.' He had the ability, with bonuses, to make up to $4,000.

"For a guy who makes $200 a day, a $5,000 week is a really big week."

"I try to look at the bright side of everything," Kuchar added. "I hope he's happy, I hope things are really good in his life. I have to think, if he was given the same opportunity to do it again, he'd say, `Yeah.' He has a nice personality. He's easy to be with. The photo of the two of us with the trophy, that will always be on the wall in my office."

When asked if he had a reputation of being a frugal tipper, he replied: "I think if you ask locker room attendants, they'll tell you that they're happy to see me. I'm no Phil Mickelson, but these guys are like, 'Matt's coming our way.'"