Nicknames in the Snake Pit and more
By Adam Fonseca · March 25, 2019
Leading into this week’s caddie social round-up, we saw everything from nicknames on the back of caddie bibs, flashback photos of PGA Tour pros caddying as children, and more.
The Valspar Championship is always a fun Tour stop, and this year players were able to put any nickname they wanted on the back of their caddie’s bib. For example, defending champion Paul Casey chose to remind everyone in the gallery of his 2018 tournament win by having “The Champ” displayed on the back of his caddie, Johnny “Long Socks” McLaren.
And, after Sunday’s successful title defense, they won’t have to change the back of the bib for 2020.
Our defending champ, @Paul_Casey, is sitting pretty currently tied for the lead with @austincookgolf. Round 3 promises to be another exciting day! pic.twitter.com/Y6zZkwLR8k
— Valspar Championship (@ValsparChamp) March 22, 2019
Perhaps one of the most unique nicknames for the week was that chosen by Joel Dahmen, who went with the curious choice of “Leaping Cougar.” The story is this was a name given to him while attending boy scouts as a child. I’m skeptical.
Joel ‘Leaping Cougar’ Dahmen is our early leader. pic.twitter.com/xnglfY8Y9G
— Valspar Championship (@ValsparChamp) March 21, 2019
Innisbrook, the site of this week’s tournament, has always been a favorite stop on the pro circuit and has been for decades. Golfer Keegan Bradley shared this blast-from-the-past photo of him caddying for his father, Mark, during a mixed team event at the course in the late 90’s.
Finally this week, March Madness was alive and well on Golf Twitter as players, caddies and fans shared their picks — and upsets — for college basketball’s biggest event. Sometimes loyalties are challenged, however, and the player/caddie relationship can become strained. As caddie Aaron Flener suggested in this tweet from the beginning of the week, “show up and shut up” is a mantra that extends off the course as well.
Nobody: Aaron, your thoughts on the UNC-Iona game through the first half?
Me: I am not available for comment on the first half of the North Carolina-Iona game as my boss @JT_ThePostman is a Tarheel fan and I really like my job. Next question please.
— Aaron Flener (@AaronFlener) March 23, 2019
