Pinehurst No. 2 is one of the most revered courses in the land. It was designed by Donald Ross, who called it “the fairest test of championship golf I have ever designed.” That course is the site of this week's U.S. Open.
Willie McRae knows the place about as intimately as anyone. Willie is the longest-serving caddy at the resort. He started working there when he was 10 years old, May 19, 1943. He's caddied for "the average Joe" and the world's elite.
And he has a lot of stories to tell.
In 2001 it was estimated that Willie had walked enough rounds at Pinehurst to have made it to California and back five times. He has walked the links for 13 years since. Willie's son is a golf professional at Pinehurst. His grandson is also a caddy there.
Willie McRae had an extended conversation with Dick Gordon in 2012. The two sat on a veranda overlooking the 18th green of Pinehurst No. 2. Listen to that conversation here.