Meet Andy Ogletree’s Support System: Parents, Caddies, and More LIV Golf Pro Details Revealed

From the thrill of winning the U.S. Amateur to the ordeal of surgery at 21, Andy Ogletree’s life has been a rollercoaster ride. But as he navigated all the challenges, his parents and his trusted caddie played an important role. Interestingly, his caddie is equally talented and their partnership comes with an interesting story.

Andy Ogletree’s father laid the foundation for his son’s golf career

Andy Ogletree was born on April 3, 1998, to Jim Ogletree and Melissa Ogletree in Little Rock, Mississippi. Although Jim knew little about golf, having owned and operated a Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Little Rock, he was there to support his son when the young Ogletree wanted to play golf. His mother, Melissa Ogletree, is a first grade teacher and is eager to support his son outside of the classroom. He spent his childhood in rural Mississippi, and his father built a practice area in the family yard, complete with a bunker and greens with a floodlight.

He has honed his skills on the practice range under the guidance of his father. Although the community is familiar with Andy Ogletree, he keeps his parents’ lives private. Aside from mentioning their jobs, the golfer has not shared much about his family. Just as his parents are supportive, Ogletree also prioritizes his family and shows his dedication to them. In 2019, before claiming the U.S. Amateur title, the golfer skipped the Western Amateur to attend a family function.

It was “a big family reunion” for him, as his extended family of 40 members participated. Interestingly, the festival was nicknamed “Mississippi’s giant house party.” After the party, Ogletree described his happiness, saying: “For us it’s a big family reunion, and it’s the time when all our families come together and stay for a week,” according to the Sports Illustrated website.

The reunion was a huge reset for the golfer, as he won the 2019 U.S. Amateur Championship after defeating John Augenstein at Pinehurst No. 4. The victory earned the golfer exemptions into the 2020 Masters Tournament, the U.S. Open and the Open Championship.

Following his U.S. Amateur win, Ogletree joined the PGA Tour as a professional and made his debut at Mayakoba, where he finished 46th and missed the cut in his first three events. He was still eligible to play in the 2021 Masters and U.S. Open, but was unable to play due to hip surgery in 2021. The following year, the pro moved to LIV Golf and has been a part of the golf team ever since. While Andy Ogletree has the support of his family off the greens, his caddie, Michael Pisciotta, does the same behind the ropes.

Michael Pisciotta is a longtime friend of Andy Ogletree

Andy Ogletree graduated from Georgia Tech, where he first met Michael Pisciotta. Ogletree played college golf, his friend did the same. Interestingly enough, Michael was rated the top junior in the state of Georgia in 2014, according to the Georgia Tech website. He was also ranked among the top 50 golfers in America in 2014 by the Junior Golf Scoreboard.

He played golf until 2018, but chose not to play professionally. None of them have spoken about why Michael did not choose golf as his full-time career. In April 2023, Pisciotta became the golfer’s full-time caddie and they have been working together ever since.

With a friend and caddie who share a similar understanding of the game, he could be one of the best partners on the greens. Although Pisciotta has a public Instagram account with over 700 followers, he seems to be a private person. He hasn’t spoken about his personal life, but seems to enjoy traveling. Although Michael Pisciotta is a good friend and bagman with Andy Ogletree, it will be interesting to see how the LIV Pro’s professional career develops.