WORKING -- Sandy Jones

-- Story by Andrew Glazer; photo by Marianna Day Massey

SHE IS ...

Carrying clubs, preparing grub and preventing flubs.

GREEN QUEEN

Sandy Jones, 32, is one of very few female caddies on the Senior PGA

Tour. Of approximately 80 caddies traveling with the seniors, only five

are women, Jones said.

“I think it helps us get work,” she said. “We stand out more.”

CUTTHROAT CADDIES

But there’s still no guarantee Jones will work. The number of caddies

traveling from course to course on the senior tour by far exceeds the

amount of players.

“Sometimes it’s really cutthroat,” said the sunburnt Jones, whose blonde,

ponytailed hair was pulled through the back of her baseball cap. “They’ll

leave notes in the pro’s locker saying ‘your caddy is doing drugs but I’d

be happy to help you out.”’

DRIVING FORCE

Jones paid for her food, flight to Orange County and a room at the

Newport Classic Inn. During her week here, she’ll get about $600 salary

from her employer, professional golfer DeWitt Weaver. All of her salary

will pay for her expenses.

“It’s really a gamble,” she said, pacing off yardage on the third hole

and marking its length in a black notebook.

But Jones has strong incentive to suggest the right clubs and call

correct yardage this weekend. Jones said she’d get 10% of Weaver’s prize

money if he wins the Toshiba Senior Classic -- a cool $19,000.

“That would make it all worthwhile,” she said.

ON THE ROAD

There’s no place Jones calls home. Her parents live in Minneapolis but

she only makes it back there for about a week each year.

“Sometimes I go back for tournaments there,” she said. “I’ll be caddying

for some pro and my dad will be on the sideline pointing to me and

telling everybody ‘that’s my daughter!’ He’s really cute.”

The rest of the time, she is traveling -- with or without the tour. She

hopes to visit South Africa sometime this year.

NO BOGEYS

Jones said a good caddy must adapt to the personality of the player

they’re helping. Some prefer to stay at arm’s length. Others need

encouragement.

“If they have a bad hole, I’ll tell them there’s no looking back,” she

said.

Weaver’s quirk, she said, comes in a little plastic baggy.

“I make him peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” she said. “You need

protein. I’m sure he would prefer a big roast turkey sandwich, but it

just wouldn’t keep.”

Jones said there’s only one caddy rule consistent for all players: Never

try to analyze the breaks and speed of the putting surface.

“A wise caddy once told me, ‘don’t ever read the green,”’ she said,

gazing at the manicured conditions of Newport Beach Country Club. “He

said that’s what will get you fired.”