Jim Dent

Inducted in 2022

A native of Augusta, Georgia, Jim Dent caddied as a young man at Augusta National Golf Club and Augusta Country Club, where he fell in love with the game of golf. He caddied in his first Masters at age 15 and later caddied in the event for major championship winner Bob Rosburg and Masters champion Bob Goalby. For Dent, every loop was an opportunity to closely study players like Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead, and apply their techniques to his own swing.

Dent went on to play professionally for nearly 50 years on the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions, and during his career he earned 12 TOUR Champions victories and the inaugural World Long Drive Championship.

“Caddying has played a great deal in my life. Without caddying, I would’ve never been a golfer,” said Dent. “It also taught me honesty – count all your strokes, even when you make a mistake. When I found out about this award, it felt great because it makes you feel like you’ve done something to make somebody else happy.”

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the game of golf and society through caddying and using caddying as a steppingstone to professional success, Jim Dent was inducted to the Caddie Hall of Fame during a reception at The Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History in Augusta, Georgia, on May 20, 2022. The museum also paid tribute to 50 Years of Augusta National Black Caddies, honoring Dent and others, at its annual golf tournament.