Legendary golf caddie bids emotional farewell after 38-year Tour career

Mick Doran has officially retired after a remarkable 38-year career on tour, closing the book on one of the most respected and enduring caddying journeys in professional golf.

The 56-year-old Englishman leaves the game with 35 wins, seven Ryder Cups and decades spent alongside some of Europe’s finest players, including Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood, Justin Rose, Luke Donald and Francesco Molinari. 

His final outing came on Sunday afternoon at the Catalunya Championship on the DP World Tour, where he caddied for Eddie Pepperell as the Englishman finished on nine-under par and inside the top 20.

Doran’s journey began in the most modest of circumstances, riding bikes to Wentworth in Surrey as a teenager before becoming part of a small group of caddies who entered the European Tour in the late 1980s.

"Me and another caddie who was out here, Damian [Moore], we rode our bikes and the furthest place we rode them to was Wentworth," Doran told the DP World Tour. "Four of us are still caddying today. Unbelievable."

Over nearly four decades, he witnessed golf’s great eras first-hand, from Ballesteros in his prime to Tiger Woods’ breakthrough 1997 Masters win.

"Watching that close up was unbelievable," he said of Woods' historic first major title at Augusta National. 

He also recalls Costantino Rocca’s famous 100-foot putt at St Andrews during The Open. "I mean, it's frightening, really."

Doran built strong partnerships with several leading European players, including Westwood, Donald, Rose and David Howell, earning a reputation for calm authority under pressure.

Westwood’s precision stood out in particular: "Every time he got on a leaderboard, he won, more or less."

Doran considers winning the European Tour's PGA Championship at Wentworth with Rocca in 1995 and Howell in 2006 as his best caddying moments. 

His most recent and final long-term partnership was with Pepperell, who described working with him as “an honour.”

"Mick’s biggest strength is when you are in the hunt," Pepperell said.

"He is a confident cadde and a player feeds off that."

Doran’s final walk down the 18th was emotional.

“Walking down the last was just fantastic,” said Doran.

“Knowing it’s my last round... my time has come and it’s time to move on. There’s such a great bunch of lads out here and I’m going to miss them.”

Doran added: "I've just lost the drive... I've had a good time."

For all the wins and Ryder Cups, it is the camaraderie he will miss most: "Friends, caddies… it's a fantastic bunch of lads."