In 2006, his home course played host to the U.S. Amateur Public Links. Greller was in the gallery watching Matt Savage from Florida State, who was carrying his own bag. At the end of the round, Greller met Savage and offered to carry the bag for free.
Savage, of course, took Greller up on his generous offer. Greller had a blast and Savage made it to the quarterfinals.
Later, Greller began looping at Chambers Bay in his spare time from teaching, in anticipation of the 2010 U.S. Amateur. In that tournament, he carried the bag of talented youngster Justin Thomas, who lost in the second round of the match play. A year later, back at Gold Mountain, he was supposed to caddy for Gavin Hall at the U.S. Junior Amateur. Hall, however, tweaked a wrist and withdrew. Greller returned home.
That tweaked wrist, though, turned into one of those wondrous, improbable twists of fate. A turn so dramatic it changed Greller’s life from satisfying to something closer to spectacular.
Back at home after that disappointing day at Gold Mountain, Greller received a phone call from a young friend of Thomas, who was playing in the U.S. Junior Am and needed someone to carry his bag. Thomas had recommended Greller. The caller was a 17-year-old Texas high schooler named Jordan Spieth.
A phenom on the junior circuit with a scholarship to the University of Texas in hand, Spieth was the favorite in the event. Second place wasn’t a viable option. And indeed, with Greller on his bag, Spieth won.
Spieth asked Greller to stay on his bag for the U.S. Amateur three weeks later, but Greller was already committed to Thomas. Spieth and Greller stayed in touch, however, and Greller flew around the country to caddy for both Spieth and Thomas when needed. Then, late in the 2012 season, Greller received another call, this time from Spieth’s father, Shawn. Jordan was turning pro and Shawn wanted to know if Greller would be willing to take a chance and become Jordan’s full-time caddy for the 2013 season.
You learn nothing by turning away from opportunities. You don’t grow. Greller straight-armed any doubts he might have had about changing his life so profoundly.
Michael Greller became the accidental caddy.