Sepp Straka's stand-in caddie set for eye-watering payday after hurting his own career

Drew Mathers faced a difficult decision at the start of last week, whether he should try to qualify for the 2025 at Oakmont, or caddie for his friend at the Truist Championship. He picked the latter and may be very grateful that he did, with a cool windfall heading his way.

Mathers joined Sepp Straka after his regular caddie, Duane Bock, had been struggling with a back injury and could not recover in time before heading to Philadelphia Cricket Club's Wissahickon Course. Having dismissed plans to try and qualify for the third major of the year, Mathers was by Straka's side . They went into the final round level at the top of the leaderboard, but the Austrian emerged victorious after a final round 68.

Straka banked £2.7million for his win, with caddies typically earning 10 per cent of the sum. The duo's arrangement regarding prize money is not clear, but Mathers can expect to be well compensated for his help on the course.

Mathers told CBS Sports that it was the "easiest yes ever" to drop his US Open qualifying plans and damage his own career in order to help Straka compete.

And Straka revealed how he came to pick Mathers as his Plan B: "Reached out to Drew, who I play golf with a lot in Birmingham. He immediately hopped on a flight and was up here ready to go. Very fortunate that I was able to do that obviously.

"I've played a lot of golf with him, so I was very comfortable being beside him. It was a lot of fun having him on the bag really."

Straka and Lowry were tied going into the 16th hole, when the Irishman missed a five-foot putt to bogey and Straka managed a par. A dismayed Lowry three-putted the 18th to finish two shots adrift of a triumphant Straka.

"I hit a lot of really good shots and made a lot of mistakes. I hung in there," said Straka. "I had a two-shot lead [after the ninth hole] and made two bogeys on the next two holes to lose it, but I kept the same attitude and mentality throughout the round."

After clinching the title, Straka received a big hug from his two allies, Bock and Mathers.

Bock was unable to carry the clubs but wanted to be standing at the 18th for moral support as the two friends watched Straka claim his second title of the year and bank a whopping £2.7m in the process, having sent out a SOS call for an emergency caddie.