The stand-in caddie at the centre of the Matt Kuchar payment story has revealed he was paid just $5 000 after Matt Kuchar won the Mayakoba Golf Classic in November.
READ: Kuchar denies stiffing caddie
David Giral Ortiz, known as ‘El Tucan’, has for the first time spoken about his treatment after Kuchar was outed on social media for stiffing the Mexican.
The American broke his drought in Mexico and bagged a massive $1.296-million in the process. At the time, Ortiz was called his ‘lucky charm’, but matters took a turn for the worse shortly thereafter.
Kuchar was forced to deny paying ‘El Tucan’ just $3,000 as reports from former tour players had suggested.
Leading the Sony Open, he said: ‘It wasn’t 10 percent. It wasn’t $3,000. It’s not a story.’
Now, Ortiz has confirmed that Kuchar handed him an envelope with $5,000 – or 0.38% of the winner’s cheque – before later offering an additional $15,000.
The stand-in caddie then wrote to the player’s agent saying: ‘I am a humble man, who takes care of his family, and works hard. I am reaching out to you to see if you can facilitate me receiving a fair amount for my help with Matt winning $1,296,000. I am not looking to disparage Matt or give him a bad name. Fair is fair, and I feel like I was taken advantage of by placing my trust in Matt.’
El Tucan has rejected the payment of the extra as $15,000 unacceptable.
Kuchar has made over $46-million in prize money and is 10th on the career money list.
