LEGENDARY GOLF caddie, James “Tip” Anderson, who helped American stars Arnold Palmer and Tony Lema to win three Open Championships between them, has died suddenly at his home in St Andrews. He was 71.

Born and brought up in St Andrews, his partnership and association for more than 30 years with US golfing superstar Arnold Palmer was renowned. He was to share in many of Palmer’s successes over the years since they first joined forces at the Centenary Open Championship in 1960, including when he won the Open at Birkdale in 1961 and again at Troon in 1962.

At the 1964 Open in St Andrews, Palmer was unable to make the trip across the Atlantic and recommended Tip to his friend Tony “Champagne” Lema. The US golfer had never played the championship Old Course before and had only two practice rounds.

However, with Tip at his side he went on to win the coveted Claret Jug—and gave the St Andrews caddie much of the credit for his success.

Tip, who said he was “blessed with a photographic mind for golf courses,” was to go on to carry Palmer’s bag at every Open Championship in which he competed.

A colourful personality, James Anderson had golf in his blood and his father was a well-known caddie before him at St Andrews. From an early age he took a keen interest in the game and, brought up in an atmosphere of the sport, he played it from an early age.

He was a talented player as a young man and won the St Andrews Boys’ Open Championship in 1948 and completed a remarkable double by also collecting the Fife Boys’ Championship title the same year. He was a former member of St Andrews Golf Club.

After his education in the town’s Burgh School he went into the golf trade as a clubmaker with Tom Stewart of the famous Pipe brand.

During his national service in the army he continued to play golf and secure titles, winning the Western Command Cham- pionship with a four-under par 70 at Formby and also taking the North-West District Army Championship title.

He later returned to clubmaking, but in the mid 1950s decided to become a full-time caddie at St Andrews.

His approach to any tournament as a caddie was as meticulous as that of the top professional players and he led the way for many of the new breed of caddies. If the event was to be played at a course he did not know, he travelled there some days in advance to study the layout, found out where the trouble was and then decided how it should be played.

He described the relationship between player and caddie as that of partners, rather than of master and servant.

He said during the height of his career, “We are both striving for the same thing. When the golfer hits a bad shot, I am just as disappointed as he is. I feel I am playing the shot myself.

“However, I never put myself on terms so familiar that I address my man by his Christian name. I address him always as sir.”

Tip held a number of honours during his career as a caddie and was elected Golf Caddie of the Year in the USA in 1965.

At the Millennium Open Championship at St Andrews, he was inducted into the Professional Caddie Association’s Hall of Fame during a special reception held in the Rusacks Hotel, which overlooks the Old Course.

During the presentation ceremony he was described as “a golfing legend” and warm tributes were paid to his skills as one of the world’s best-known caddies.

He is survived by his sons Robert and James, daughter Carol, and grandchildren.