Seve Ballesteros' caddie for 1980 Masters dies; two winning Augusta caddies still alive

On the 45th anniversary of caddying Seve Ballesteros to his 1980 Masters triumph, Marion Herrington has died.

Herrington, born in 1949, began looping at Augusta National as a teenager in 1962 and last caddied for amateur James Driscoll at the 2001 Masters.

According to Herrington’s obituary, he died in December, and is survived by his wife, Elora (Peaches), and five children.

With Herrington’s passing, only two Augusta National caddies who won the Masters are still living: Ben Bussey (1982) and Carl Jackson (1984 and 1995).

In 2022, Herrington opened up about his time at Augusta National, primarily about 1982 when the tradition of all Black caddies at the Masters Tournament was overturned by Chairman Hord Hardin.

“The policy that Mr. (Clifford) Roberts believed in was written in gold,” Herrington said. “It was never supposed to change.”

For Herrington, losing guaranteed income during Masters Week added hardship on his family. After his mother died, the caddie struggled to provide for his children.

But, according to Herrington, membership at Augusta National had his back, none more than Minnesota business leader David Lilly.

After learning of Herrington’s situation, Lilly approached his personal caddie with an order.

“Mr. Lilly said, ‘You tell Peaches to go pick out a house and I don’t care what it costs,’” Herrington said.

The caddie nodded with appreciation, but soon learned that he was eligible for an allowance through the GI Bill.

“I told Mr. Lilly, ‘I don’t need a house but sure could use a discount on a lawnmower.’”

Lilly, the president of Toro Company, had a machine delivered.

“Mr. Lilly said, ‘Marion, we’re friends. Friends are supposed to help each other out.’”

In 1991, as Augusta National prepared to close for the summer, Lilly informed Herrington that he was taking a bone fishing trip to the Florida Keys and they’d reunite when the club reopened in October.

Marion wished him luck, and was caught by surprise when Augusta National caddie master Freddie Bennett phoned the last week of May.

“Freddie calls and says, ‘Mr. Lilly’s here at the club,’” Herrington recalled.

There had been an executive committee meeting at Augusta National, where it was determined that Jack Stephens would succeed Hord Hardin.

“We were walking up No. 1 fairway when Mr. Lilly told me what happened,” Marion said. “I don’t believe in holding grudges, so I was never bitter at Hord Hardin. But things got a lot better for us under Jack Stephens.”

Herrington lived in Augusta for 70 years before moving to Charlotte, NC, in 2020.

After leaving Augusta National, Herrington caddied at Sage Valley Golf Club.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Seve Ballesteros' caddie for 1980 Masters victory has died