Michael Greller is the man on the bag for PGA TOUR star Jordan Spieth. The pair have been together since before Jordan turned professional, with Michael first on Jordan’s bag in 2011 at the US Junior Amateur. Before becoming a professional caddie, Greller was a math teacher in Seattle, Washington.
In this article, we’ll delve into Michael Greller’s background, the highlights of his partnership with Jordan, their major achievements, and interesting facts about their relationship.
For those of you who want a quick and brief overview of Michael Greller, here are a few basic facts.
Who is Jordan Spieth’s caddie? Spieth’s long-time caddie is none other than Michael Greller. He has been caddying for Jordan since 2011, even before Spieth turned professional. Before working for Jordan, Greller carried the bag of Justin Thomas at the 2010 U.S. Amateur. The pair have been together all of Jordan’s PGA TOUR career, which started in 2013.
While reading the entire article is your best bet to get to know Michael Greller, the above and the chart below will give you some quick information about him.
Meet Michael Greller, Jordan Spieth’s Caddie
| Name | Michael Greller |
| Birthplace | Grand Haven, MI |
| Birthdate | 1978 |
| Occupation | Professional Caddie |
| Previous Occupation | Math Teacher |
| College | George Fox University |
| Degree | Masters of Arts in Teaching |
| Current Player | Jordan Spieth |
| Past Experience | Caddie for Justin Thomas @ 2010 U.S. Amateur |
| Family | Wife- Ellie Greller Children- 1 child, born in 2017 |
Read more: How Does Jordan Spieth’s Caddie Compare With Tiger Woods’?
Interesting Facts About Jordan Spieth’s Caddie, Michael Greller
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Jordan Spieth’s caddie, Michael Greller, is not only a skilled caddie but also an accomplished middle and high school teacher. He graduated with a Master of Arts in Teaching from George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. Besides this, here are some additional interesting facts about Michael Greller:
- Michael Greller has two siblings, a brother named Tom and a sister named Katie.
- Taught at Narrows View Intermediate School in Seattle, Washington.
- Greller used to caddie on the side when he was a teacher. He saw it as a way to stay connected with the game he loves.
- He caddied at Chambers Bay when he was a teacher. Chambers Bay has a very special place in his heart, as you will see next.
- Greller and his wife Ellie married at Chambers Bay in 2013, where Jordan won his U.S. Open in 2015.
- Lives in Tacoma, Washington.
- He is a University of Michigan football fan.
- He has the nickname “Vince” because, as Justin Thomas says, he is the spitting image of a young Vince Vaughn.
- He is a massive fan of college and amateur golf.
Michael Greller and Jordan Spieth’s Relationship
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Jordan and Michael have one of the strongest player-caddie relationships on the PGA TOUR. The duo has been together since 2011, when Jordan won the U.S. Junior Amateur.
The pair reunited after that U.S. Junior victory at the 2012 U.S. Open, when Spieth, the then world number one amateur, qualified to play in the National Championship.
Jordan turned professional in 2013, and Michael has been by his side ever since. Over the past decade, the Spieth-Greller team has won 16 times, with 13 victories on the PGA TOUR, including three Majors, the 2015 Masters and U.S. Open, and the 2017 Open Championship.
Greller is said to be an excellent greens reader. He is also very noticeably a crucial part of Jordan’s clubbing decision-making in events and talking through strategy.
Jordan Spieth has long been known as a very excited player, in both good ways, as well as bad occasionally. Michael has a fantastic ability to keep Jordan calm and at his best.
The talk that the mics pick up often during a PGA TOUR broadcast offers up some entertaining moments.
Micheal assists with all the charitable endeavors Jordan, his wife Annie, and his parents do through their Jordan Spieth Family Foundation. I know firsthand all of the excellent work that “Team Spieth” does for the community at large. My own youth golf nonprofit organization, The Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development, has been a substantial beneficiary of the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation.
The Spieths and the Grellers are, hands down, some of the most generous people in golf. I have nothing but great things to say about them all!
More from Golf Span: What is a Forecaddie in Golf? Golfing Terms Explained for Everyone
Michael Greller and Jordan Spieth: Major Achievements, Earnings, and More
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The following is a look at all the victories and awards that Jordan Spieth has won since becoming a member of the PGA TOUR. As any top professional golfer would say, their personal success has a great deal to do with their caddie. That is, without question, the case with the Spieth-Greller team.
Here is a look at what the pair have done since 2013…
| Year | Tournament Win or Award | Earnings |
| 2013 | John Deere Classic | $828,000 |
| 2013 | PGA Tour Rookie of the Year | Award |
| 2013 | FedEx Cup (7th) | $700,000 |
| 2014 | Emirates Australian Open | $225,000 |
| 2014 | Hero World Challenge | $1,000,000 |
| 2014 | FedEx Cup (15th) | $250,000 |
| 2015 | Valspar Championship | $1,062,000 |
| 2015 | Masters Tournament | $1,800,000 |
| 2015 | U.S. Open | $1,800,000 |
| 2015 | John Deere Classic | $846,000 |
| 2015 | Tour Championship | $1,485,000 |
| 2015 | FedEx Cup Champion | $10,000,000 |
| 2014-15 | PGA Tour Player of the Year | Award |
| 2015 | PGA of America Player of the Year | Award |
| 2015 | Vardon Trophy (Scoring Ave.) | Award |
| 2016 | Hyundai Tournament of Champions | $1,180,000 |
| 2016 | Dean & DeLuca Invitational | $1,200,000 |
| 2016 | Emirates Australian Open | $166,641 |
| 2016 | FedEx Cup (9th) | $550,000 |
| 2017 | AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am | $1,296,000 |
| 2017 | Travelers Championship | $1,224,000 |
| 2017 | The Open Championship | $1,845,000 |
| 2017 | Vardon Trophy (Scoring Ave.) | Award |
| 2017 | FedEx Cup (2nd) | $3,000,000 |
| 2018 | FedEx Cup (31st) | $165,000 |
| 2019 | FedEx Cup (44th) | $167,000 |
| 2020 | FedEx Cup (107th) | $101,000 |
| 2021 | Valero Texas Open | $1,386,000 |
| 2021 | FedEx Cup (T-20th) | $497,500 |
| 2022 | RBC Heritage | $1,440,000 |
| 2022 | FedEx Cup (T-13th) | $825,000 |
Read more: How Does Justin Thomas’ Caddie Compare With Jordan Spieth’s?
Michael Greller’s Earnings
The chart below shows Jordan Spieth’s winnings on the PGA TOUR. Caddies usually make about 8% of their player’s winnings at each event and about 10% for a win. Additionally, some of the top players in the world also pay their caddies a flat weekly fee and bonuses.
I estimate that Michael Greller, solely based on winnings, has accumulated about $5 million. I am certain Jordan has paid Michael more than the standard percentage-based pay structure that is typical. Additionally, Greller likely makes money through sponsorships or endorsement deals, although I could not find information on that. With all that said, I estimate Michael Greller’s net worth to be about $10 million.
| Season | Starts | Cuts
made |
Wins
(majors) |
2nd | 3rd | Top-10 | Top-25 | Earnings | Money Rank |
| 2013 | 23 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 13 | $3,879,820 | 10 |
| 2014 | 27 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 18 | $4,342,748 | 11 |
| 2015 | 25 | 21 | 5 (2) | 4 | 1 | 15 | 19 | $12,030,465 | 1 |
| 2016 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 16 | $5,538,470 | 6 |
| 2017 | 23 | 20 | 3 (1) | 3 | 2 | 12 | 17 | $9,433,033 | 2 |
| 2018 | 23 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 13 | $2,793,536 | 32 |
| 2019 | 23 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 | $2,124,192 | 51 |
| 2020 | 17 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | $1,138,146 | 78 |
| 2021 | 25 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 14 | $6,470,482 | 6 |
| 2022 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 11 | $5,018,444 | 11 |
| Career | 226 | 187 | 13 (3) | 17 | 9 | 79 | 136 | $53,056,175 | 13 |
Check this out: How Much Do Caddies Make? You Might Be Surprised
FAQ
Are Jordan Spieth and His Caddie Friends?
The Spieth-Greller team may be one of the tightest on the PGA TOUR. They have a great professional and personal relationship with each other.
Is Michael Greller Still Jordan Spieth’s Caddie?
Yes, Michael Greller is currently Jordan Spieth's caddie. The pair have been together since 2011 when Jordan won the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. They have been together for Jordan's entire PGA TOUR career.
Who Is the Highest Paid Caddie on the PGA Tour?
For the 2023 season, Ted Scott is the highest-paid caddie so far. He has been working with the current world number one golfer, Scottie Scheffler, since 2021 and helped him win the Masters in 2022. Ted Scott reportedly has a base salary of $135K and has earned almost $1,000,000 in 2023 so far.
How Old Is Michael Greller?
Being born in 1978, Greller is 45 years old in 2023.
Has Jordan Spieth Had Any Other Caddies?
No. Jordan has not had any other regular caddies as a Professional. Michael Greller has been Jordan Spieth's only caddie throughout his career.
Summing It All Up
The bond built between Jordan Spieth and his caddie, Michael Greller, has been incredible to watch over the past 12 years. This dynamic duo shows what can happen when a professional golfer and his caddie create such a great relationship.
With all the ups and downs that professional golf can bring to a player, Team Spieth-Greller is a shining example of what is possible when good teamwork exists.
From a middle school classroom teaching math to walking the grounds of Augusta National, helping his guy win the green jacket, and beyond, it sure has been quite the ride for caddie Michael Greller to this point in his career.
Read more:
Brendon is Class A PGA Professional and founded Little Linksters, LLC, and its nonprofit arm, the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development. He won 25+ prestigious industry honors, including the 2017 PGA National Youth Player Development Award. He graduated from the PGA of America Management Program and has a handicap index of 7.8.
He has played golf for over 40 years and currently plays twice a month at the Eagle Dunes Golf Club near Sorrento, Florida. He loves Srixon clubs and plays a ZX5 driver with Z 585 irons. He's written over 60 articles on GolfSpan and specializes in sharing tips to improve your golf game. You can connect with Brendon at LinkedIn, X, IG, FB, his website, or BrendonElliott@pga.com.
- Best score: 69
- Favorite driver: Srixon ZX5
- Favorite ball: Srixon Z Star
- Favorite food at the turn: Turkey and cheese on white
