The Open 2019: 5 things to know about Brooks Koepka’s caddie Ricky Elliott

Brooks Koepka is a four-time major champion and the No. 1 player in the world. But the 29-year-old Koepka hasn’t done it all by himself. His caddie, Ricky Elliott, has been there through it all. Elliott is also somewhat of a secret weapon for Koepka this week. Elliott is from Portrush, Northern Ireland, host of this year’s Open Championship. Koepka has said that “there would be nothing cooler” than winning the Claret Jug with Elliott on his bag.

Here are five things you need to know about Elliott.

1. Elliott hails from Portrush in Northern Ireland

Ahead of the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, there’s been a lot of chatter about the very few who have some level of familiarity with the course that hasn’t hosted The Open since 1951. Elliott is one of the few, as he grew up playing and learning the sport at Royal Portrush. Now we’ll see if his knowledge can help Koepka capture his first Claret Jug.

2. Longtime friends

Elliott grew up with fellow Northern Irishman and Portrush native Graeme McDowell, and he’s good friends with Ian Poulter too.

3. Stardom before caddying

Before he became a caddie, Elliott was considered a promising young golfer. He won a number of youth titles in Northern Ireland, and he represented Ireland at the 1990 European Youths Championship. Earlier this week McDowell called Elliott the best junior golfer the area’s ever known.

4. College life

Elliott came to the U.S. for college, and he attended the University of Toledo in Ohio. He played collegiate golf at Toledo with the goal of making it as a pro in the U.S. But after trying to make it on the mini tour circuit, Elliott decided to become a caddie instead.

5. Previous caddie work

Before joining Koepka’s bag, Elliott previously caddied for Ben Curtis and Matthew Fitzpatrick. Elliott caddied for Curtis when he won the Texas Open back in 2012, and he was on Fitzpatrick’s bag during the 2014 Masters at Augusta National.

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