2025 Masters insights: Expert Jim “Bones” Mackay talks data and strategy

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This is a podcast episode titled, 2025 Masters insights: Expert Jim “Bones” Mackay talks data and strategy. The summary for this episode is: Jim "Bones" Mackay has caddied for the best golfers in the world. In his time caddying at the Augusta National tournament, he has seen and overseen thousands of winning shots across the famed Masters course. He has provided some of his firsthand insights, alongside the data collected from 180,000 historical shots over nine years of play, to help the tournament field an AI-driven app. Thanks to the app, fans worldwide can virtually stand on the green alongside the greats and gain insights into the tournament—shot by shot. In this episode, MacKay joins IBM’s Monica Ellingson to share his perspective on the story unfolding at the Masters. Together, they discuss how data-driven analysis and AI-based predictions transform the way players, caddies and fans approach the game. The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

DESCRIPTION

Jim "Bones" Mackay has caddied for the best golfers in the world. In his time caddying at the Augusta National tournament, he has seen and overseen thousands of winning shots across the famed Masters course. He has provided some of his firsthand insights, alongside the data collected from 180,000 historical shots over nine years of play, to help the tournament field an AI-driven app. Thanks to the app, fans worldwide can virtually stand on the green alongside the greats and gain insights into the tournament—shot by shot. In this episode, MacKay joins IBM’s Monica Ellingson to share his perspective on the story unfolding at the Masters. Together, they discuss how data-driven analysis and AI-based predictions transform the way players, caddies and fans approach the game.

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

Today's Host

David Levy

|Host

Today's Guests

Monica Ellingson

|IBM Consulting Partner and Practice Lead of IBM ix Sports and Entertainment

Monica Ellingson is a Partner with IBM Consulting where she leads the Sports and Entertainment Practice. She leads the Emmy Award-winning team responsible for the design and technical delivery of the digital portfolios for some of the world’s most preeminent brands, including the Masters Golf Tournament, Wimbledon, US Open Tennis Tournament, ESPN Fantasy Football and the Grammy Awards. Each year, these digital experiences are visited by over 90 million users with billions of page views. In her 10+ years in live sports and 20 years in digital media design, she’s successfully produced hundreds of digital experiences for users worldwide. Monica’s leadership experience spans numerous roles over her 25-year career at IBM. She has acted as both User Experience Director and Team Manager and founded and managed a Technical Service Grants Practice in support of IBM’s Corporate Citizenship organization. In 2023, Sports Business Journal recognized Monica’s achievements with their Game Changers Award.

Jim “Bones” Mackay

|PGA caddie and NBC correspondent

Jim “Bones” Mackay joined NBC Sports in 2017 as an on-course reporter for the network’s PGA TOUR live tournament coverage. Mackay serves as an on-course reporter for select events, including the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. Mackay also serves as host of “Playing Lessons” on GolfPass, getting unique insights from some of the best golfers in the world. The addition of Mackay marked the first occasion in which a full-time PGA TOUR caddie signed on for a regular tournament broadcasting role. However, Mackay’s decision to join NBC Sports wasn’t the first time he traded in a caddie bib for a microphone, as he took part in GOLF Channel’s live tournament coverage as an on-course reporter at the 2015 RSM Classic in St. Simons Island, Ga. Mackay caddied for five-time major champion Phil Mickelson during a 25-year stretch that ultimately would encompass a Hall of Fame career with 42 PGA TOUR wins, in addition to representing the United States on 22 consecutive occasions as a member of Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams. Mackay also served as Justin Thomas’ caddie for the better part of three seasons, including Thomas’ come-from-behind victory at the 2022 PGA Championship.