Michael O’Keefe’s wish will come true. At least in some capacity.
O’Keefe, the actor who played caddie Danny Noonan in “Caddyshack,” has secured a partial looping gig for next week’s U.S. Open at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, N.Y. According to the New York Post, O’Keefe will caddie for club professional Danny Balin in Monday and Tuesday practice rounds. (The USGA later confirmed the news to GOLF.com.)
Balin is the head pro at Fresh Meadow Country Club on Long Island and was one of three club pros to whom the USGA gave a U.S. Open exemption for finishing in the top three of the 2019 PGA Professional Player of the Year standings.
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O’Keefe’s quest for a bag in the national championship started on this website last week, when he penned a first-person column for GOLF.com making his case to caddie at Winged Foot. O’Keefe, now 65, grew up near the storied club and caddied there in 1971 and ’72. His story gained traction from there — shared and picked up by other outlets — and apparently found its way to Michael Breed, the instructor at Trump Ferry Point. According to The Post, Breed pitched the idea to Balin.
“I try to take this somewhat serious, so I would never do this during a tournament round,” Balin told The Post. “But I was like, Yeah this will be cool. Danny Noonan. Monday and Tuesday. It’ll be a fun couple of days. It’ll lighten the mood up.”
Balin told The Post he recorded “Caddyshack” on Tuesday, despite seeing the movie several times before, as a refresher.
“I’m going to have to watch it to get the one-liners,” Balin said.
