Calum Hill brings veteran caddie Phil Morbey on board

In this game of fine margins and fickle fortunes, hard business decisions have to made if you are going to thrive in the cut-throat scene of professional golf.

Yesterday, up-and-coming Scotsman Calum Hill announced that he would be working full-time with Phil Morbey, one of the most decorated caddies in the business and a man who has called more shots than the landlord of a tequila bar.

“He’s had 40 years of seeing golf shots, it’s certainly not going to hinder anything is it?,” said Hill of this promising new alliance with a looper who was by Ian Woosnam’s side when the Welshman won the Masters back in 1991.

Of course, teaming up with another caddie means someone else has to get the heave. What were we saying about business decisions again? For Hill, this particular decision was a tough one. It was his brother, Ian, who was being replaced.

“It was obviously very difficult and kind of sensitive with it being family,” conceded Hill. “But, in a certain sense, it also makes it slightly easier because, as family, he is always going to want the best for me.

“He had a little inclination that this might happen, but, when we spoke about it, he was happy that it was going to be better for me in the long run. He could see it was the right thing to do.”

As a relative newcomer to the European Tour, the experience of Morbey, who is known to all and sundry on the circuit as Wobbly, will be a hugely valuable addition to Hill's armoury. Rather like a giggling, glass-clinking first date, the duo hit it off in fine style when they made their maiden appearance together in Saudi Arabia recently as Hill secured a share of fourth in a star-studded field.

Hill had been 12th reserve for that event and, thinking he wouldn’t get in, he decided his brother could travel home. As it turned out, Hill did make it into the starting line-up and, by some twist of fate that those golfing gods like to conjure now and again, Morbey just happened to be free. A few days later, Hill had sealed his best finish on the tour and a mutual appreciation between player and caddie had been forged.

“Both sides were interested in the partnership continuing and luckily it was possible on both sides and we made it happen,” added Hill. “It is hard to put a value on how important experience can be, especially in pressure situations. Phil helped make things easier for me.”

Hill, a three-time winner on the Challenge Tour, is back in his old college stomping ground of Arizona before resuming his European Tour duties in Qatar and Kenya next month. The break has allowed him time to reflect on a result of sizeable significance which has injected him with confidence and assuring purpose.

“When you get a taste of success, your confidence builds and hopefully that brings some momentum going forward,” added the 26-year-old.

In a conversation with Herald Sport the other week, Hill’s coach, David Burns, suggested his pupil was perhaps too much of a perfectionist at times. What did the man himself make of that assessment?

“I think it’s probably true,” he said. “Davy has given me examples of players who have been perfectionists and struggled to capitalise on their potential due to the niggling bad thoughts in the back of their heads.”

Hill’s new caddie, with all those years working with Woosnam, Jose Maria Olazabal and Thomas Bjorn, also picked up on this particular trait. “With some of my good shots I would still say something wasn’t quite right,” said Hill. “Phil said that was annoying and I need to get rid of that. He said those little negative side notes on positive things is not something you can do for the rest of your career. It will just bring you down.”

Straight-talking, as well as keeping Hill on the straight and narrow, will no doubt be part of the relationship as it evolves through the season.

“I’m sure we’ll have some interesting conversations,” said Hill with a wry chuckle.