After carding an AT&T National best 5-under-par 65 on a scorching day under a high sun at the Congressional Country Club, Steve Marino made his way to the putting green.

The Fairfax native stops often, scrawling his John Hancock on the caps of pleading youngsters and glad-handing folks who may or may not have been longtime acquaintances.

His caddie, G.W. Cable, follows close behind toting the bulky golf bag which could only belong to a professional.

As Marino, a product of the University of Virginia, reaches the practice green, Cable dutifully sets down the bag and lays out several balls. Then he observes as his friend sends the putts breaking towards their destination.

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Had things broken another way for Cable, he could easily be the one enjoying the moment in the sun.

Cable, a former Virginia State Junior champion from Oakton High, grew up playing with Marino (W.T. Woodson High), and showed a good amount of promise early on in his career until running into back problems which have lingered for the better part of the last decade.

“I’m just hoping to get healthy, my back bothers me all the time,” said Cable.  “The therapy is just not helping.”

He has been “floating around,” as he puts it, in the mean time keeping busy by working in a golf store and holding a club pro position at a club in Ft. Lauderdale.

“I wanted to change it up and try a new caddie,” said Marino.  “So I gave him a call, figured I would get him out of the cart barn, so he wouldn’t have to wash carts for a couple weeks and get him out here and carry my bag and it worked out real well.”

Cable is just fine with that.

“(I’ll be caddying for him) this week and next week and who knows if he wants to keep me around I’d love to stay around.”