Camillo Villegas' Caddie Turns Pro; Will Compete on Nationwide Tour
It's never too late to follow your dreams and Brett Waldman is now pursuing his. After spending the past eight years as a caddie, most recently for Camillo Villegas, Waldman is going to pursue his dreams on the Nationwide Tour.
Waldman's goal was to qualify for the PGA TOUR through Q-School and although he came up just short, he played well enough to earn a full exemption on the Nationwide Tour, the next best thing in the United States.
"It's just a dream," Waldman said. "I don't want to look back knowing that I had the chance to do it and not doing it, and hating myself for it. I would always look back and say, 'What if?' There's a reason I got to where I am. I might as well chase the dream."
While this might seem like an easy decision, Waldman's decision comes with a price, money. He will be giving up his guaranteed pay as a caddy for Villegas and earn his money based on how he plays. Even if he does well on the Nationwide Tour, it's possible he will not earn as much as he did as a caddie for a top notch player. Although an excellent Tour, the Nationwide purses and sponsorships are not nearly as lucrative as the PGA TOUR.
(Waldman spent eight years as a caddie. He now leaves the bag of Camillo Villegas to chase his dream)
While Villegas searches for a new caddie, Waldman will begin his season at the end of February at the Panama Claro Championship. His next event will be played in the homeland of his former boss, Colombia. Having not played competitive golf in 8 years, this will provide him some time to practice and find a caddie of his own.
"It was overwhelming, the amount of people supporting me," he said. "When you've got the best players in the world pulling for you, it's pretty cool."
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