John ‘Long Socks’ McLaren hangs up his bib after 30 years carrying clubs

The hosiery did not begin as a fashion statement. John “Long Socks” McLaren, the caddie famed for his flamboyant on-course attire, had a practical reason to stand out from the crowd.

“It started in a fire,” McLaren explains. “I couldn’t expose my legs to the sun after that. I would have been 24/25 at a house and there was a fire, we were chucking debris on it to clear stuff. There was a methane pocket in it and it blew up to burn my legs from the knees down when I was wearing shorts.

“I had to wear long socks playing tennis at that point under doctor’s orders and ended up just sticking with it. I started caddying in the US and everyone had shorts on; they told me to pull the socks down but I was only ever pulling them up.”

For at least the time being, McLaren has hung up his bib. After 30 seasons, 18 wins and a dozen players, the popular 55-year-old has decided to step back from caddie duties. The Saudi International, alongside Paul Casey, marked McLaren’s final event as he reverts to family duties in Surrey. Had coronavirus not struck, McLaren estimates he would continue working for another three years.

“My children are eight and nine,” says McLaren. “My son broke his arm during the last Ryder Cup and I wasn’t there. My daughter was born during Lytham in 2012 and because of the Open, I have never really been there for her birthday.

“Covid travel became so much more difficult. I have no mental health issues but I understand that there are a lot around because of this climate. I am mentally more tired because of travel and anxiety of testing positive after a two- or three-week trip then being stuck in a country when I have young kids. Similarly, I go home and they are in school and I worried about not being able to get