Kuchar Still Enduring Questions For Allegedly Short-Paying Temp Caddie

The Matt Kuchar payment to his temporary caddie debate after winning the Mayakoba Classic is still alive. Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch caught up with whistleblower Tom Gillis to check if there was any regret over accusing Kuchar of short-sheeting the looper.

Public shaming has come a long way since wrongdoers were pilloried in the town square. Medieval stocks and floggings aren’t necessary if you have a keyboard and 124 characters.

That was the length of a tweet posted Jan. 11 by PGA Tour veteran Tom Gillis: “Even better. Who’s gonna b the one to identify the player the paid his caddy 3k after winning a PGA tour event last fall???”

Even better. Who’s gonna b the one to identify the player the paid his caddy 3k after winning a PGA tour event last fall??? https://t.co/YiRK44tpSN

— Tom Gillis (@tcgillis) January 12, 2019

He was referring to Matt Kuchar, who in November won the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico using a local caddie, David Giral Ortiz. Cheapskate-gate had all the ingredients of a Twitter telenovela: a wealthy Tour pro with a saccharine public image, a resort bagman unfairly stiffed.

“If it’s a right or wrong thing, no I’m not going to stay quiet,” Gillis told me. “That’s what this situation is. It’s right or it’s wrong. We’re just trying to make it right. Social media can be very powerful and get things moving. I think he’ll pay him. I really do.”

He speaks from experience. Two years ago Gillis blasted Ben Crane on Twitter for not paying a gambling debt to Daniel Berger. Crane promptly settled up.

“Maybe I should have been a union rep,” Gillis said with a laugh. “I’d be willing to fight for the little guy anytime.”

I’m all for folks keeping society honest. But maybe, just maybe Gillis should’ve possessed irrefutable proof before flaming Kuch on Twitter. For he initially charged that Kuch paid only $3K. Later the accuser changed it to $5,000. So, what is it?

Just sayin…