THE BAG LADY!

It is the ultimate in itinerant careers and one with minimal job security, where one's fate is hardly in one's own hands, it is a vocation that attracts a myriad of men, but until recently, very few women.

That's the career of caddying; golf's unsung heroes, who can and often do take the brunt of the blame when their man plays poorly, rarely in the limelight when their man wins.

For two years, Jan Squire has been 'on the bag' for Indian star Jeev Milkha Singh and the pair will team-up once again at the Volvo Golf Champions at the Royal Golf Club later this month.

"I wanted to be an architect when I was younger but after caddying for pocket money it just carried on from there and I couldn't picture doing anything else," said Jan.

"He's very easy going and always a gentleman," she said of her player, and they are clearly good for each other; the 39-year-old Indian has won in Austria, Singapore and twice in Japan since they started working together in 2008.

But just how does she deal with the male-dominated world of the European Tour, often the only woman on course amongst 156 professional players and the 155 male caddies?

"I enjoy the camaraderie of the caddie shack, the guys treat me like one of them, which is just as well because I am!"

Life on the road can often get tiresome and last season Jan took almost a hundred flights and was in over 30 countries across five continents, but you won't hear this eternal optimist complain.

"There really is no downside to working with Jeev," she explained. "But the constant travel, although it's exciting, does become tiring and sometimes very lonely.

"However, I also get to engage in my two other passions - travel and photography. I've managed to create a fantastic photo album," she said.

Nick Faldo enjoyed many of his great victories with Swede Fanny Sunesson on the bag and golf watchers are also used to seeing Dubai-based Swede Henrik Stenson with his compatriot caddie on the green with her ponytail bobbing along, so, is there something in the female psyche that helps a European Tour player?

"I think women caddies can bring something different to a player's game, all the usual stuff, club selection, yardages, keeping clubs clean and dry," said Jan.

"But at the end of the day, a caddie is a caddie regardless of what gender they happen to be."

For the lightweight Englishwoman, who is required to carry round a Callaway golf bag with 14 clubs, umbrella, waterproofs, spare golf balls, food and drink, all weighing-in at around 10kg, preparation, not gender, is key.

"I arrive at the golf course ahead of Jeev, especially if it is a new venue," she said.

"I always walk the course prior to play in order to familiarise myself, then I access yardages, weather conditions, reading greens and club selection, although the final choice is always his."

Self-employed freelance caddies are a rare breed who are both independent and self-contained, so would Jan recommend the life to anyone, male or fellow female?

"Definitely! Apart from me and Fanny Sunesson, who works for Henrik Stenson, some of the guys have wives or girlfriends on the bag, and it's fun," she insisted.

"I would always encourage a woman to fulfil any career choice, including one in such a male environment."

Most caddies work on the basis of a retainer, plus a percentage of their player's winnings, which can be zero if he misses the halfway cut, that percentage a closely-guarded secret contained within the walls of the caddie shack.

However, European Tour players invariably recognise the role played by the only person they are permitted to take advice from once out on the golf course and Jeev Milkha Singh is certainly one of them, speaking highly of his regular - if irregular caddie.

"Jan is an excellent caddie, she's very well organised, positive and full marks to her for standing by me whilst I've been injured," he said.

"The only downside is that sometimes when you get angry, and there's a woman on the bag, you want to watch your language!"

Very much a 'glass half-full' kind of a girl, Sunningdale-based Jan is hooked on travel, especially to Japan, which she said is truly unique place.

"The people are always so welcoming and friendly, and the food! There are flavours and textures that can't be found anywhere else in the world."

And food plays a part in the only complaint Jan Squire will ever utter, saying with a passion: "Tea bags! And other basics like cheese and onion crisps ... and chocolate!"

Making her first acquaintance with the Montgomerie Course at the Royal Golf Club the week after next, Squire will be in her element, checking, measuring, plotting and planning as her man goes for his 20th professional career victory.

Jeev and Jan, who will play the Volvo Golf Champions in Bahrain from January 27 - 30 are UPS Global Ambassadors.