JASON TIMMIS

We spoke to Jason Timmis, caddie for PGA Tour player Aaron Rai, about his golfing journey and how he ended up on the bag of one the most promising talents on the Tour.

This is part one of an in-depth conversation on his own career, caddieing for Rai, his experience with Tiger Woods and his view of Aaron’s famous hole-in-one on the 17th at TPC Sawgrass.

Jason is another product of Staffordshire Golf and while his route to the PGA Tour may have been different to many others, his story shows that with hard work and perseverance anyone can pursue their dream.

Gareth Shaw: Take me back to the very, very start, because there are a lot of people who might not know your story.

Jason Timmis: So for me I started my journey at Greenway Hall as I was from the area. I started at Greenway with my Dad, brother and a lot of friends. I then went to Westwood [Golf Club]. Then I ended up at Newcastle [Golf Club], I got a good handicap at Newcastle, I got down to plus three.

Around that time I was 18, then I went to America, on a scholarship. I did four years over there, Texas for two years and Oklahoma for two years. I did well over there, I made nationals every year with the team and progressed very well.

I came back and played for England and the game was trending really well. I took a punt at European Tour Qualifying school towards the end of 2011. I got to the second stage and did well, then I had the decision to turn professional.

I decided this is the route I wanted to take so I turned professional and played a bit on the EuroPro Tour that year, then went to Q School. I made it all the way through to the final, made the cut which secured me the Challenge Tour and some European Tour events.

I battled the professional ranks for about five or six years. I then worked at Greenway Hall for a few years coaching, then I got the opportunity to caddie for Gian Marco Petrozzi.

G.S: Did that just come about? Or with your expertise and prowess as a golfer did anyone just say have you thought of caddieing?

J.T: A little bit yeah. Gian had just turned pro and I know his dad and Gian really well, and he was going to Q school. Having been there myself I know what it’s about, so I asked him if he needed someone and told him I’m available and it started from there. Gian did really well, and I helped him out on the Challenge Tour for a bit. Then, a bit of a strange one, I started to play myself again.

I got into the British Par 3 championship. I use to play with Aaron [Rai] on the Challenge and EuroPro Tours and I bumped into Aaron at the British Par 3, we played nine holes and I said “I’m doing a bit of caddieing” and I knew he always had local people helping him out. Then a few weeks or a month later I got the phone call asking if I wanted to do a few events. The Czech Republic was my first one.

So, I went over, then we went to Switzerland the week after. Then there was a bit of a break, and I didn’t hear off him. So I’m thinking, you know, that’s it. Then I heard off Aaron and he said “Do you want to do Wentworth, Dunhill and a few of the bigger ones?”

He did well at Wentworth, finished 25th. Did well at the Dunhill and at the Italian Open and things snowballed, and we’d built a good relationship. We were on the ninth hole in the Czech Republic and he [Rai] makes a birdie, I’ve gone in for the first bump and he’s gave me a look to say “no we don’t do that”. Then you start understanding what kind of person you’re working with and what works for them. I always knew he was very disciplined and what he does mentally is very strong. That was the start of our journey…

In the next issue of Staffordshire Golfer we’ll pick up this fascinating story as Jason goes on to discuss life on Tour and an encounter with a Tiger! However, if you really can’t wait, you can listen to the whole of the interview now on the Staffs Union podcast on anchor.fm: