ANYONE who ever doubts how important a role caddies play needs only to watch Mick Doran’s intervention at a critical moment last weekend.

With Eddie Pepperell one shot clear heading down the final hole at the Qatar Masters, three decades spent in the game proved priceless.

Doran, who has won dozens of titles working with the likes of Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke, persuaded the Abingdon golfer to change his club.

It was a brave move, but the right one.

Pepperell said: “I was going to hit wedge and then I had to pull myself off it because I thought if Mick’s doubting something then he’s doing it for a reason.

“I trusted him entirely on that and he was spot on.

“He’s such a strong caddy.

“He believes in himself and to have somebody on my bag who has won over 30 times and who believes in his ability – it definitely transfers over to me.”

You cannot win a tournament without playing well on the greens.

And while it remains an area where further gains can be found, the decision to install a putting green in his house last year has made it easier to put the hours in.

Pepperell said: “Relative to the field I was below average on the greens in Qatar.

“It still suggests – and it’s the case even for the end of last year where I had top-five finishes – there is definitely room for my putting to improve.

“But it’s not terrible and the putting green definitely helped me on that front.”