First-time Masters caddie returns to hometown

First-time Masters Tour­nament caddie Alex Boyd didn’t need directions to Augusta.

Boyd returned to his hometown to carry the bag for Ben Martin, a friend and former golf teammate at Clem­son University. Next week’s RBC Heritage tournament at Hilton Head Island, S.C., marks one year for the golfer-caddie team.

Returning to Augusta for the Masters has been the highlight of the past year, with Martin’s October win in Las Vegas a close second, Boyd said.

“Winning is pretty high up there, but what makes winning so great is knowing that you’re coming here (to the Mas­ters). Without a doubt, this is by far the pinnacle of the year,” Boyd said after Martin finished his round Thursday. Martin was 4-over-par after his second round Friday.

Boyd graduated from Au­gus­ta’s Academy of Rich­mond County in 2007 before playing golf at Clemson. Martin was two years ahead of him in school.

When Martin decided to switch caddies last year, he phoned his former teammate. Boyd made the tough decision to put aside his professional golf pursuits to carry the bag for his friend.

“Obviously, the dream was to play. That didn’t quite pan out. This opportunity come up to work for Ben and it was just too good to pass up,” Boyd said. “He and I are such a good team together that it made sense to forgo playing. It’s different caddying than playing, but it’s still just as much fun to be out here.”

Boyd, 26, has played Au­gus­ta National four times and even worked at the driving range for two years during the Masters. Caddying has forced him to look at the course differently.

“It’s a course you learn something different every day,” he said. “It is so much different during the week than it is playing it.”

Boyd said the Masters is a different experience than other tournaments because it is in his hometown. He saw familiar faces in the galleries, slept at his family’s house, enjoyed home-cooked food and didn’t have to learn his way around town.

“Growing up, the Masters is in our blood. Getting to be here and working is a blast from start to finish,” he said.