“He Was Letting Me Slip”: Joel Dahmen Opens Up on Painful Truth Behind His Split With Longtime Caddie
DUBLIN, OH - JUNE 02: Joel Dahmen talks with his caddie, Geno Bonnalie on the 12th hole during Friday s round at The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday at Muirfield Village Country Club on June 2, 2023 in Dublin, OH. Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire GOLF: JUN 02 PGA, Golf Herren - the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon230602015
DUBLIN, OH - JUNE 02: Joel Dahmen talks with his caddie, Geno Bonnalie on the 12th hole during Friday s round at The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday at Muirfield Village Country Club on June 2, 2023 in Dublin, OH. Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire GOLF: JUN 02 PGA, Golf Herren - the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon230602015
Joel Dahmen and Geno Bonnalie formed one of the most iconic player-caddie duos in modern golf, but their split shook the entire golf community.
During his recent interview with Dan Rappaport, the one-time major champion opened up about it.
“Certainly not an easy decision. I think it came down to that we weren’t making each other better anymore. I was letting him slip, and he was letting me slip."
RBC Canadian Open Joel Dahmen of Clarkston, Washington shakes hands with his caddie Geno Bonnalie after completing the 18th hole during the final round of the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada, on Sunday, June 2, 2024. Ancaster Ontario United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xAmyxLemusx originalFilename:lemus-rbccanad240602_npQCU.jpg
RBC Canadian Open Joel Dahmen of Clarkston, Washington shakes hands with his caddie Geno Bonnalie after completing the 18th hole during the final round of the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada, on Sunday, June 2, 2024. Ancaster Ontario United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xAmyxLemusx originalFilename:lemus-rbccanad240602_npQCU.jpg
In the first half of 2025, Dahmen missed 11 cuts. His 2024 season was also poor, and he almost lost his PGA Tour card that year. By the time he separated from his caddie, Dahmen was only inside the top 125 players on the FedEx Cup Fall.
Well, the duo has been together since they were kids. But after the split, it felt like they came closer than before. Joel Dahmen claimed that he spent more time with Bonnalie off the course after the split. But does that mean the split saved their relationship?
“It weighs on both of us. He’s trying to help me as much as he can, and I’m trying to do my best. And when it’s not going well, it kind of stinks... So, yeah. It certainly felt kind of a nice little relief. I guess we were so close and we love each other so much that we were just kind of worried about each other in the same ways and different ways as well.”
Bonnalie shared a similar perspective on his friendship with the PGA Tour star. During their separation, he declared that their separation couldn’t change one aspect.
Geno Bonnalie Sent a Letter as He Split With Joel Dahmen
Following the split, Bonnalie wrote a long letter to his 'best friend' and that appeared in The Lewiston Tribune. He revealed how they began their adventure together in 2015. But by mid-2025, things were looking a lot different.
“Sometimes, during a slump, having someone new beside you can make all the difference,” Bonnalie suggested.
But his words ensured one thing.
“No matter what happens next, I love that guy. One thing I know for sure: I’ll always be the biggest Joel Dahmen fan on the planet.”
While the split reshaped their professional paths, it ultimately preserved a friendship they valued more than any leaderboard result.
Written by
Krushna Pattnaik
Edited by
Siddharth Shirwadkar