The golfer is crouching behind her putter, trying to read the green. If she makes this 15-foot putt for birdie, she could win the tournament. But she's unsure. She seems cursed on the 18th hole, narrowly missing putts during her last three games.
She gets up and before lining up her putter, turns to her caddy for advice.
It's a caddy's job to provide advice. The caddy also carries clubs. Caddies also provide the player with psychological support. Perhaps all this player needs at this point is a pat on the back and a few words to boost her confidence.
"You must be able to humor your player and also keep her in a positive frame of mind," says Dennis College. He is a caddy on the LPGA tour. "The job is semi-psychological."
Amy Lillibridge is an Ohio-based caddy who has also worked the LPGA tour. She agrees. She says that a caddy and a player must have a close professional relationship. She adds, however, that if the caddy and player are friends off the fairway, it can make the work more stressful.
"The most difficult thing I found working as a caddy was working for a friend," she says.
Lillibridge spent one summer caddying for a friend on the LPGA tour. "Sometimes things need to be said between a golfer and a caddy that wouldn't normally be said to a friend because it is a working, business relationship," she says. "The player is out there to earn a living."
It can be great fun if the player is doing well, but extra pressure is added when the player is having a poor game. "If things don't go well, it can definitely hurt a friendship. For this reason, I can't even imagine working for a spouse."
But some caddy-player relationships are this close. The highest profile example is PGA caddy Nicole Stricker, who carries the clubs for her husband, Steve Stricker.
Caddies and players must be able to communicate well when they're playing a game.
"It's absolutely essential, as you are constantly exchanging ideas between player and caddy," says College. "You must have the ability to be clear and concise with your answers and opinions."
Only top caddies ever get a chance to work on professional circuits like the PGA. "A strong knowledge of the game of golf, rules and etiquette is essential," says Lillibridge. "It can be difficult to find work on the professional circuits, and a lot of it comes down to who you know."
Lillibridge got her own start on the professional circuit by working for a friend.
But it's not impossible for the experienced to find a job. While some professional golfers have their own caddies, golfers on other tours often hire caddies to do the work for a weekend.
"There are currently jobs available by sitting in the parking lot at the start of the week on the LPGA tour," says College.
Lillibridge agrees. "Many LPGA pros hire local caddies at the beginning of a tournament. And if you do a good job during this trial period, it could possibly lead to further opportunities."
Caddies don't start out working at this level, however. "It helps to gain experience caddying at a variety of different levels before attempting the pro circuits."
John Tenpenny of the Royal Canadian Golf Association recommends that high school students visit their local golf club.
"Most courses hire summer staff," he says. "While few courses now have a caddy program, other work can be found around the golf course. Students can help out in the pro shop or work on the grounds crew.
"If they're interested in working in any aspect of the golf industry,...go to their local club," he says. "Golf carts have meant that there are fewer caddies overall, but some clubs still do offer this service."
Even if a student doesn't want to caddy for a career, it can be a great way to learn more about the game.
"It teaches a lot about basic life skills, such as organization and social skills," says Laura Drumm. She is the chief information officer for the Professional Caddies Association. "There have been famous players who started out caddying."
Whether looking for a summer job or a career, caddies must gain experience. "I played golf before I started caddying, which I highly recommend," says Lillibridge. "It makes everything a lot easier."
Whether you want to be support staff or be the person swinging the club, working on the golf course is a great way to spend the day. "You can usually eke out a living and pay your expenses weekly," says College. "It's definitely not a $50,000-a-year job unless your player wins tournaments."
But there are many other rewards. "The best thing about the job is working in an active environment," says Lillibridge.
"You're not stuck behind a desk all day. A real thrill was being in contention to win an LPGA tournament on Sunday, and knowing that I was a part of the team. But it's a competitive and fun environment no matter what level you're caddying at."