Mick Doran, a true caddie icon of the DP World Tour, is hanging up his bag after almost 40 years. His farewell at the Riyadh tournament in Saudi Arabia, where he will be alongside Eddie Pepperell one last time, marks the end of an era. For many golfers, it's clear: it's not just a caddie leaving, it's a piece of tour history.
Doran’s journey began in the late 80s, and of his original group of six guys, four are still caddying today – simply incredible! He worked with legends like Sandy Lyle and Mark James, and was on the bag in 1995 when Costantino Rocca sank that incredible 100-foot (approx. 30.48 meters) putt at The Open in St Andrews to force a playoff against John Daly. Doran was also caddying for Rocca during Tiger Woods' first Masters triumph in 1997 – a true career milestone.
A Life on the Bag: From Rocca to Ryder Cup
But Rocca wasn't the only one to benefit from Doran's expertise. He carried the bag for numerous Ryder Cup stalwarts like Bernhard Langer, David Howell, and Colin Montgomerie. With Howell, he was even present at the victorious 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club. His most successful recent phase came with Eddie Pepperell, where he secured victory twice in 2018: at the CommercialBank Qatar Masters and the Betfred British Masters. Things really came alive on the greens!
The Farewell and a New Beginning
Things haven't always gone smoothly for Pepperell in recent years, but the tournament in Riyadh, which has established itself as a truly strong DP World Tour venue, could be the push for his comeback. Doran’s departure thus becomes a symbolic moment of the changing of the guard. A man leaves who has proven over decades that a good caddie is more than just a bag carrier.
