Joel Dahmen Bids Emotional Farewell to 'Best Friend,' Longtime Caddie

Newsweek

16-07-2025

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It hasn't been a good year for iconic player-caddie duos. Collin Morikawa recently fired his caddie JJ Jakovac after working with him his entire professional career, while Max Homa also parted ways with Joe Greiner, who had been his caddie for six years.
However, the most recent split has cut even deeper into the emotions of the golf world.
Joel Dahmen of the United States and caddie Geno Bonnalie walk down the 14th fairway during the final round of the Corales Puntacana Championship 2025 at Puntacana Resort & Club, Corales Golf Course on April...
Joel Dahmen of the United States and caddie Geno Bonnalie walk down the 14th fairway during the final round of the Corales Puntacana Championship 2025 at Puntacana Resort & Club, Corales Golf Course on April 20, 2025 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. MoreFan favorites Joel Dahmen and Geno Bonnalie have ended their relationship as player and caddie after 10 years of arguably being the most beloved couple at every tournament they attended.
Reacting to the moment, Dahmen assured in a heartfelt message that their new professional situation in no way affects their status as best friends.
"We're still the best of friends and that will never change," Dahmen posted on X. "But we both know that a fresh perspective is sometimes needed and it's been a great run. I couldn't be more proud of what we have achieved together as guys from a small town in the middle of nowhere."
Dahmen is in the Barracuda Championship field, which will be his first start without Bonnalie at his side in more than 10 years. So far, there's no information on who will handle his bag at the Tahoe Mountain Club in Reno, Nevada.
We're still the best of friends and that will never change. But we both know that a fresh perspective is sometimes needed and it's been a great run. I couldn't be more proud of what we have achieved together as guys from a small town in the middle of nowhere.
I am going to keep… pic.twitter.com/ZQIBLsl0m1 — Joel Dahmen (@Joel_Dahmen) July 15, 2025
Joel Dahmen and Geno Bonnalie's Run at a Glance
Dahmen and Bonnalie have a long-standing friendship dating back to their childhood in Clarkston, Washington. However, it wasn't until 2015, five years after Dahmen began his professional career, that Bonnalie started working as his full-time caddie.
At the time, Dahmen was playing on the Korn Ferry Tour, trying to reach the next level, which he achieved a season later. In 2016-2017, the player had his first big run on the PGA Tour, playing in 16 tournaments and finishing in the top 10 once.
Always with Bonnalie taking care of his bag, Dahmen secured his PGA Tour card for the following season, becoming a regular at the highest level of professional golf.
Together, they accumulated 228 starts on the PGA Tour between 2016 and 2025, with the victory in the 2021 Corales Puntacana Championship as the main highlight. Dahmen has finished in 25 other top 10s and earned $13.4 million for his inside-the-rope performances.
However, his results have been declining over the past two seasons. Last year, he nearly lost his PGA Tour card and only retained it after a nail-biting battle in the FedEx Cup Fall, while in 2025, he is ranked 96th in the FedEx Cup rankings (the top 100 retain their card) with only seven cuts made in 19 starts.
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