Dahmen Takes Wyndham Lead Amidst Caddie Change, Reflects on Friendship
Greensboro, NC – Joel Dahmen fired a career-best 61 on Thursday at the Wyndham Championship, seizing the opening-round lead. The remarkable performance comes just weeks after Dahmen parted ways with his longtime caddie and best friend, Geno Bonnalie, a move that has clearly sparked a change in his game.
While many PGA Tour players rely on a consistent caddie, Dahmen and Bonnalie’s partnership was particularly notable for its deep friendship. However, Dahmen emphasized that the decision to split was his own and not a reflection of Bonnalie’s performance. “I had to change something with me,” Dahmen stated after his round. “It was more about me. It was my mentality, it was what I was doing and I need to take ownership of what I was doing.”
Despite the emotional difficulty of the separation, Dahmen expressed his continued affection for Bonnalie, with whom he still communicates daily. The change appears to have had a positive impact on Dahmen’s results, as he secured a T17 finish in his first event without Bonnalie and a T39 the following week. now, with an 18-hole lead at the Wyndham, Dahmen is in contention for a crucial win or runner-up finish that could propel him into the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Looking ahead, Dahmen acknowledged the significance of a potential playoff berth, especially with his second child due soon. However, he remains grounded, viewing a playoff run as a “bonus.” Bonnalie will be present at the Wyndham Championship, supporting Dahmen in a diffrent capacity, and dahmen expressed optimism about their future together on the tour.
