Inside the ropes at Augusta National

Pat Perez's longtime caddie Mike Hartford gives provides a rare glimpse behind the scenes at the Masters.

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM Site Producer

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- They have the best view on the course, some would say the best job, too, outside of the players anyway. This week, they get an amazing view of Amen Corner, get to walk across the Hogan Bridge and, if they’re lucky, take a long, slow, uphill walk on the 18th hole at Augusta National on a late Sunday afternoon.

Caddies are part psychologist, part Sherpa. They lug a bag, clean clubs, replace divots and rake bunkers. They’re also the closest thing to a friend -- or a shrink -- the players have.

They’re also an exclusive bunch and a tight-lipped fraternity that will defend their bosses all the way to the grave. They don’t like to talk much, especially to the media and especially during the Masters. It's an unwritten code of sorts. This week, however, Pat Perez’s longtime caddie, Mike Hartford, has agreed to break that code with an open line of communication you rarely see from the guy who, in many cases, has the closest relationship with the player.

I’ll go inside the ropes and beyond them with Hartford, who has known Perez since their days at Torrey Pines High School, has been on his bag since the beginning and is one of the straightest shooters you’ll ever meet. Hartford, or “H” as he’s often called, isn’t a bad golfer, either, having once won the San Diego City Amateur.

Our conversation began Wednesday and spilled into Thursday night and went something like this:

BW: This is your second time here with Pat, the last time being in 2003. What are some of the experiences you’ve been able to enjoy so far?

H: I got to watch the Par-3 Contest on Wednesday while Pat’s brother caddied for him. He played with John Merrick, who he ended up playing nine holes with earlier in the day. They made a bet on who would make a hole-in-one on the Par 3 and, unbelievable, John makes one on the second hole.

BW: Must have been nice for you to have the day off. What else do you get to enjoy here as a caddie?

H: This is the only place we play where they have an actual caddie building. We get food, drinks, our own locker. You wouldn’t believe it, but it’s nice to be able to go inside somewhere. We’re outside all the time. We can sit down, have a meal, hang out.

BW: Who are some of the guys you hang out with on TOUR?

H: I’m pretty good friends with Camilo Villegas’ caddie, Gary Matthews, and Sergio’s guy Glenn Murray.

BW: Scoring was pretty good out there, but Pat struggled to a 3-over 75.

H: Scoring conditions were easier out there with really light wind. Most players could hold the green with a 5-iron. If your game is on, it’s a lot easier, but if not then it’s still a brutal course. Pat burned a lot of edges with his putts today so that’s the difference between a 3 over and a 1 under.

BW: How do you manage your player in a situation like that, when scoring is good but there are a bunch of guys ahead of him with a billion players in red?

H: That’s a good question (laughing). I’ve watched this tournament so many times that I know it’s going to get tougher so even if you’re 1 or 2 over, it’s not the end of the world. You try to keep the dialogue going about what the strategy is and that’ll keep him going.

BW: You have to change that strategy at all? Padraig Harrington said he saw a lot of red numbers and felt that he needed to step up a little and continue to be aggressive on the back nine.

H: If you’re 1 over after five holes, you’re not just going to start firing at flags here. You’re not going to be reckless. You can’t. Not here.

BW: What will you guys do now? Late finish with a noon tee time Thursday, so you got back to the house pretty late.

H: It’ll be a pretty low-key night. We talked about the round on the ride back. Tomorrow’s a new day. Pat will get up real early and work out with his trainer about three hours before the round and then get to the course about an hour before his tee time if he’s already eaten. He’s not a guy who usually needs to warm up a whole lot.

BW: Makes your job a little easier, huh? Vijay Singh spends quite a bit of time on the range.

H: Yeah (laughter). Makes your schedule easier.

BW: You ever play here?

H: No, never been invited. I would do it in a heartbeat, though.

BW: Maybe Pat will win sometime and invite you to play. What’s the best course you’ve ever played?

H: Probably the 2000 U.S. Amateur at Baltusrol.

BW: No Cypress Point?

H: No, I’ve never been invited there, either. I’ve never played Pebble Beach, either.

BW: Any plans for the weekend? Will you stick around?

H: I hope so. That’s the plan. We’re gonna go low tomorrow.

BW: I hope so. Thanks, H.