“Conversations with Champions, presented by Sentry” is a new weekly series from Golfweek that is a collaboration with The Caddie Network. Each week, we’ll take you behind the scenes in a chat with the winning caddie from the most recent PGA Tour event. This week: Austin Kaiser, caddie for Xander Schauffele, and Matt Minister, caddie for Patrick Cantlay, at the 2022 Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
They met during their college days in southern California, when Patrick Cantlay was at UCLA and Xander Schauffele played for San Diego State.
They bonded as teammates on the 2019 Presidents Cup. Now they’re the winning combo at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the lone team event on the PGA Tour.
Familiarity helps breed success but these two are actually really good friends, which makes it ever better.
“Fred Couples, he’s amazing as a captain, especially that week, and so him and Tiger basically decided that they were going to put us together,’” said Cantlay. “We just became fast friends.”
“I think Freddy and Tiger saw sort of our games matching and sort of how we carry ourselves and that matching,” said Schauffele. “No real surprise that we get along so well ever since.”
The winning duo’s caddies can confirm. Austin Kaiser, caddie for Schauffele, and Matt Minister, caddie for Cantlay, caught up with John Rathouz of The Caddie Network after winning the Zurich Classic.
“I definitely think that Patrick is a little more loose, smiles more,” said Minister. “He genuinely likes talking to Xander.”
“It’s definitely more laid back for him, “said Kaiser. “He likes playing with Pat. I noticed when they’re together, missed shots and missed putts, they don’t really fret on it at all. It’s like, ‘Ok, we’re in this together.’ … let’s just keep moving on.”
The win in New Orleans means a trip to Hawaii to kick off 2023 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
“I love starting my year there,” said Kaiser. “It’s a good event for . He loves the course and there’s no better way to start the year than in Maui.”
As for Minister: “I literally love everything about Maui. It might be my favorite place on the planet.”
The winning gear
A complete list of the golf equipment Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schuffele used to win the 2022 Zurich Classic of New Orleans:
Patrick Cantlay
DRIVER: Titleist TS3 (10.5 degrees), with Mitsubishi Diamana ZF 60X shaft
FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist 915F (15 degrees), with Mitsubishi Diamana ZF 70X shaft, Titleist TS2 (21 degrees), with Mitsubishi Diamana ZF 80X shaft
IRONS: Titleist 718 AP2 (4-9), with True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts
WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM7 (46, 52 degrees), SM9 (56 degrees bent to 57), SM8 (60 degrees bent to 61), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S300 shafts
PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Phantom X5
GRIPS: Golf Pride Tour Velvet (full swing) / SuperStroke Traxion Flatso 1.0 (putter)
BALL: Titleist Pro V1
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Xander Schauffele
DRIVER: Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS (10.5 degrees), with Mitsubishi Kai’li White 70 TX shaft
FAIRWAY WOODS: Epic Speed (15 degrees), with Mitsubishi Kai’li White 70 TX shaft, Mavrik Sub Zero (20 degrees), with Mitsubishi Kai’li White 80 TX shaft
IRONS: Callaway Apex TCB (4-PW), with Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 130X shafts
WEDGES: Callaway Jaws MD5 (52 degrees), Titleist Vokey Design SM6 (56 degrees), Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (60 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
PUTTER: Odyssey O-Works #7 CH Red
BALL: Callaway Chrome Soft X
GRIPS: Golf Pride Z Grip (full swing) / SuperStroke Traxion 2.0 Tour (putter)