Tim Tucker will fill in on Lexi Thompson's bag this week in Houston.
Zephyr Melton
HOUSTON — All eyes in the golf world will be on the U.S. Women’s Open this week. Because a pandemic-induced delay pushed the event to December, the women’s game has the stage all to themselves this week, playing the year’s final major at Champions Golf Club.
The popular song amongst Texans, “Deep in the Heart of Texas” has a line that claims the stars are big and bright in the Lone Star state, and with a field headlined by the likes of Danielle Kang, Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson, that will certainly be the case in Houston.
And while each of these stars will get their due credit, one well-known caddie has the chance to enter the history books this week, too. Enter Tim Tucker — normally the looper for Bryson DeChambeau — who will be on Thompson’s bag this week as she looks for her second major title.
Thompson’s bag became available after her normal caddie, Benji Thompson (no relation), left to work for Kevin Chappell on the PGA Tour. With Thompson and DeChambeau represented by the same agency, Tucker was put in touch with the 25-year-old for one last ride in the U.S. Open in 2020.
“Tim is great,” Thompson told reporters on Wednesday. “He’s used to a whole different player. I’m definitely a lot more simple, I guess, out on the golf course. I don’t carry a yardage book, so I usually just ask for the pin number and where I should land it, and that’s about it. I like to simplify things.”
That simplicity will be key as the duo not only gets used to each other, but also as they learn two golf course this week — unprecedented in major championships. If Thompson were to win, Tucker would also get his second major, all in the last four months.
Lexi finished T-2 at this event last year, and says she’s excited to welcome aboard a new teammate as she turns her game around.
“He just has a great energy out there,” Thompson said. “So I am looking forward to starting tomorrow with him and seeing how it goes.”
Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.
