THE eyes of the sporting world were fixed on golfer Jose Maria Olazabal as he won the U.S. masters in Augusta at the weekend.

But amidst the celebrations, Jose's caddy Brendan McCartain was thinking of Sussex.

The first thing Brendan did was phone home to Yapton, where his wife Rachel was waiting to tell him: "I'm so proud of you."

For Brendan, who first picked up a golf club at the age of 13, being away from his family is the one downside of a job that takes him across the world for up to 30 weeks a year.

The 33-year-old said: "My career does make it difficult, especially for my wife. But she knows this is my job and my living."

It means the time Brendan spends at home with Rachel, 18-month-old Connor and two-month-old Anna is even more precious.

He said: "Obviously, I put my family first. So far I have only had to rush home once, when one of my family fell ill.

"But I flew straight back a few days later to carry on with the job.

"It does balance itself out. In winter I get three months off to spend at home - who else can say they get that luxury with their job?"

This Sunday Brendan will be at Anna's christening at Littlehampton Church.

But the very next day he will be flying out to Barcelona to join Jose for the Spanish Open.

Brendan's love of the sport began when he joined Littlehampton Golf Club at the age of 13 - the only club he has ever belonged to.

He began to carry clubs around the course for local members in return for pocket money, getting £4 a round.

After school Brendan got a job with a building and roofing company and continued to pursue his sporting interests part-time.

Gradually his reputation as a reliable and experienced caddy began to spread via word of mouth and Brendan began to get work on the professional circuit.

Brendan said: "It's like any job, if you have a good name people want to employ you and you get to work with the big players."

When the job of caddy for Jose came up at the beginning of the year, Brendan was chosen above the dozens who applied for the job.

Describing the moment Jose won, Brendan said: "The first person he turned to was me. We gave each other a big hug and exchanged a few words. What he said is just between me and him.

"The pressure is intense. It does not get any more difficult than the last day of the Masters."

He added: "Augusta is unlike any other course in the world and the U.S. Masters is one of the most prestigious competitions you can win. It's the pinnacle.

"It was an amazing. It's obviously the highlight of any caddy's career to work the U.S. Masters. To actually win it is indescribable."

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