Fleetwood’s caddie raising much-needed funds for struggling bagmen

John Craven
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Tommy Fleetwood and Ian Finnis (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

John Craven

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Ian Finnis, Tour caddie to professional golfer come ATM machine, Tommy Fleetwood is putting his best foot forward to help out-of-work caddies to get through this COVID-19 pandemic.

Finnis has reached out to his colleagues to compile a collection of golf memorabilia that has been auctioned off in recent times to generate funds that will be given to the European Tour Caddies Association for distribution amongst those in need.

So far his efforts have generated more than €40,000 with items like a Tiger Woods signed 2019 Masters flag, some Rory McIlroy signed flags donated by Harry Diamond and a Phil Kenyon-designed putter boosting funds for Finnis’ fellow loopers.

“I know for a fact that a lot of caddies are going to be struggling with their families and children and when I caddied for Tommy originally, we had a bit of a rough start, maybe four missed cuts in a row,” said Finnis.

“So I just thought, maybe I could try and help people. I started off with the Ryder Cup bib which obviously there’s only a couple [of bibs] and it’s just gone a bit mental since!

“The majority of caddies are living week by week and waiting for that one big week. Obviously I’ve been really lucky with Tommy in the end, we stuck it out and persevered and I am doing a lot better than some of them now and that’s why I wanted to help because since I’ve caddied, from day one all the other caddies have always helped me.”

This is brilliant work from Finnis who stood by his employer Fleetwood’s side last year at Royal Portrush as the pair came up against a brick wall in Shane Lowry at the Open. Fleetwood’s popularity was further boosted by his grace in defeat that Sunday on the Dunluce and it looks like the Englishman has picked a winner in Ian who’ll hopefully carry him to major glory one day too.

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