Phil Mickelson has new caddie ahead of Masters. Here’s what we know

When Phil Mickelson announced late last month that his brother, Tim, was retiring from caddying, it was natural to wonder who the six-time major champion would turn to next for a looper.

We didn’t have to wait long for that answer as Mickelson showed up for LIV Golf Miami this week with new caddie Jon Yarbrough in tow for what will be Mickelson’s last start before next week’s Masters.

Golfweek was first to report the new arrangement after Mickelson announced Tim’s retirement in an emotional social media post last week. Tim had caddied for his older brother since 2017, but recently had a second son, Phil said in the post, and seemed to indicate he was stepping away to spend more time with his family.

Yarbough, a 20-year veteran, had been on the bag of Scott Stallings for the past decade and the two are close, but Golfweek reported Mickelson offered Yarbough “incredible” guaranteed money that helped sway him. Yarbough has also worked for Gary Woodland, Bill Haas and Smylie Kaufman as well as LPGA players Kelly Robbins, Morgan Pressel and Suzann Pettersen.

Stallings, a mainstay on the PGA Tour for more than a decade, qualified for the Tour Championship in 2022, but barely finished in the top 125 last year and has made only three cuts in nine starts in 2024. He withdrew from last week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open with his swing coach on the bag.

As per a tweet by @ProGolfCritic on Twitter, Yarbough and Mickelson have already gone to Augusta National to assess the course for the upcoming first major of the year.

Mickelson, aged 52, achieved tied for second place last year at the Masters, making him the oldest golfer ever to finish that high at the tournament.

Mickelson’s former caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay, recently left his position with golfer Justin Thomas.

Prior to teaming up with his brother, Mickelson and Mackay had a successful partnership, winning five major tournaments together before ending their relationship in 2017.

After parting ways with Mickelson, Mackay transitioned to a role as an on-course reporter for NBC and Golf Channel. In 2021, he came out of retirement to work as Thomas’ caddie.

A meeting again with Mickelson was not expected for Mackay, as he had already tried out for NBC’s main analyst role earlier this year.

Mackay is currently working at Augusta for NBC and Golf Channel during the Augusta National Women’s Amateur tournament.