Who Is Tommy Fleetwood’s Caddie?
Meet Ian Finnis, who has been his close friend's bagman since 2016
Who Is Tommy Fleetwood’s Caddie?
Without question, one of the best caddie/player relationships on Tour is that of Tommy Fleetwood and his bagman, Ian Finnis. While the two might stand at opposite ends of the height spectrum (Finnis is 6ft 7in, while Fleetwood is 5ft 8in) they clearly click on the course.
Ian Finnis is one Tommy Fleetwood’s oldest and closest friends. Both excellent amateur golfers, Finnis went on to become an assistant professional at Formby Hall near Southport. At first it seemed the two were destined to take very different career paths within the game. However, that all changed in the spring of 2016. Fleetwood was in a poor run of form and was struggling with the driver yips. After missing five cuts in seven weeks, the Englishman decided to make some changes to his team.
Fleetwood started working with the coach who had played a central role in his development through the amateur ranks, Alan Thompson. It was during this period that Finnis also received the call. Finnis and Fleetwood had worked together on the course during Fleetwood’s amateur days. The comfort and familiarity of having an old friend on the bag was what Fleetwood needed and his fortunes quickly improved. After missing the cut at the 145th Open at Royal Troon, Fleetwood’s form began to pick up and he finished the second half of 2016 with four top 10 finishes on the European Tour (now the DP World Tour).
Since then, the former amateur World No.1 has recorded six DP World Tour wins and won the 2017 Race To Dubai. He also came very close to winning the 2017 and 2018 US Open's and the 2019 Open Championship.
When Finnis, who is married to former England women’s goalkeeper Rachel Brown, agreed to become Fleetwood’s caddie, he did so on a temporary basis. However, he remains an invaluable part of the Englishman’s game.
How Much Does Tommy Fleetwood’s Caddie Make?
Fleetwood earned around $2.8m in the 2021/22 season. With caddies typically taking up to 10% of his boss’s winnings, that would leave Finnis with around 280,000 in earnings. However, in the initial turnaround in form that followed Finnis’s appointment, Fleetwood earned almost $4m two years running, so Finnis would likely have taken home nearer $400,000 in earnings in 2017/18 and 2018/19.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
In July 2023, Neil became just the 9th editor in Golf Monthly's 112-year history. Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he has also presented many Golf Monthly videos looking at all areas of the game from Tour player interviews to the rules of golf.
Throughout his time with the brand he has also covered equipment launches that date back well over a decade. He clearly remembers the launch of the Callaway and Nike square drivers as well as the white TaylorMade driver families, such as the RocketBallz! If you take a look at the Golf Monthly YouTube channel, you'll see his equipment videos dating back over a decade! He has also conducted 'What's In The Bag' interviews with many of the game's best players like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm. Over the years, Neil has tested a vast array of products in each category and at drastically different price-points.
Neil is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus Fairway Wood: Titleist TSR2 Hybrid: Titleist TS3 Irons: PING Blueprint S (4&5), PING Blueprint T (6-PW) Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 50˚, 54˚, 60˚ Putter: Odyssey Triple Track Ten Ball: Titleist Pro V1X
-
Time Is Running Out To Earn A Masters Spot - Here's How These Three PGA Tour Pros Can Keep Augusta Dream Alive (Without Winning)
Three players who aren’t yet confirmed for the Major can give themselves a fighting chance this week – even if they don’t win
By Mike Hall Published
-
LPGA Tour Prize Fund Surpasses $120m After Boost For JM Eagle LA Championship
The JM Eagle LA Championship will be the first regular-season event to offer more than $3m thanks to a boost of $750,000
By Mike Hall Published
-
Patrick Cantlay What's In The Bag? 2024 Update
The American is no longer a contracted club player with Titleist - so what equipment is he now playing? Let's take a closer look
By Michael Weston Published
-
Xander Schauffele What's In The Bag? 2024 Update
The clubs used by America's Xander Schauffele, a member of Team Callaway who has one or two other brands in the bag
By Michael Weston Published
-
Wyndham Clark What's In The Bag? 2024 Update
What clubs does the 2023 US Open champion play? Let’s take a closer look at his line-up
By Michael Weston Published
-
Tyrrell Hatton What’s In The Bag? 2024 Update
We take a closer look at the Englishman’s choice of clubs and full equipment setup on tour
By Michael Weston Published
-
Rory McIlroy What’s In The Bag? 2024 Update
We take a look at the clubs currently in the bag of four-time major winner Rory McIlroy for the 2024 season
By Sam Tremlett Published
-
How To Watch Ryder Cup Day 3 Live Stream: USA Seek Record Comeback
How To Watch Ryder Cup Day 3 live stream after USA's Saturday fourballs' success has set up the chance of a record final-day comeback
By Roderick Easdale Published
-
Who Is Patrick Cantlay's Caddie?
Get to know Patrick Cantlay's caddie, Joe LaCava, a little bit better here
By Matt Cradock Published
-
20 Things You Didn't Know About Sepp Straka
Get to know two-time PGA Tour winner and European Ryder Cup player Sepp Straka
By Matt Cradock Published