Vicki Goetze-Ackerman and Wendy Ward

As the adage goes, “Two heads are better than one.”

Especially when it comes to the week of the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. And that's why at least two regular members of the LPGA Tour are serving as caddies for players in this week's field at LPGA International.

Former U.S. Solheim Cup Team member Wendy Ward, a four-time LPGA Tour winner, is looping this week for veteran Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, while LPGA Tour member Karin Sjodin is toting the bag for LPGA rookie and full-time Duramed FUTURES Tour member Sofie Andersson. For both player/caddie tandems, there is a lot of history in their respective friendships.

Ward completed the final stage of LPGA Q-School for the first time 13 years ago and swore that she'd never come back.

“That just shows how much I care about Vicki,” said Ward, who has known Goetze-Ackerman for 20 years. “It's a no-brainer. This is a grueling week and I know her like a sister. You just hope you can be that person to motivate or to encourage her.”

Ward is not picking clubs for her fellow pro, but if Goetze-Ackerman wants to verify yardage, they certainly compare notes and possible club selections. And if her player needs to vent, Ward says she is thick-skinned enough to listen.

“She knows I'll walk every fairway, whether she's shooting 65 or 80,” added Ward. “And when you are the caddie, you definitely learn the right things to do and say.”

Andersson and Sjodin, both 25, are like a Swedish comedy team. The two tell jokes to each other and laugh so much their faces turn pink. And it's been that way since they both played on the Swedish National Team, competing in six European National Championships together, as well as British Amateur and Women's World Am events. Both also came to the United States together to play college golf, with Andersson going to the University of California at Berkeley, and Sjodin playing for Oklahoma State.

“I can't think of anyone else I could be completely comfortable with or have as much fun with as Karin,” said Andersson, a one-time winner on the Duramed FUTURES Tour who lives in California. “And she knows how to respond when I get mad.”

Sjodin, a third-year LPGA Tour member, gently reminds Andersson that Q-School is the week that you don't stay and practice for extended periods of time. She encourages her friend to work on specific things, then to leave the course. Off the course, the Swedes have played Trivia games, Uno and Yahtzee to forget about golf.

“We talk on the phone all the time anyway,” said Sjodin, who lives in Oklahoma. “Being here this week makes it cheaper.”

-Lisa D. Mickey