Joel Dahmen and Geno Bonnalie have become one of the most popular player-caddie duos thanks to the Netflix documentary “Full Swing.”
But this week, Dahmen has his longtime swing instructor Rob Rashell, TPC Scottsdale’s director of instruction, on the bag but for good reason. Bonnalie is in Italy celebrating his wife’s birthday.
“I’m assuming with Geno he got a great deal on whatever he booked so he couldn’t pass it up,” Dahmen said. “He told me a long time ago the dates weren’t going to work and I said no problem. I mean, I miss him obviously, but to have Rob, I mean, Rob’s been my coach for nine-plus years, he played on Tour in the early 2000s, played the European Tour, he coaches at a high level, he knows my game as well as anyone. And just a different voice sometimes is OK. I mean, when your best friends with someone, sometimes it’s easier to ignore them. When your coach says something it’s harder to ignore them, so in that situation, it’s good for a week to have a different voice.”
Dahmen opened with 5-under 67, which included a chip-in, a hole out from 90 yards and a 30-foot putt that found the bottom of the cup. Rashell, who has caddied for Dahmen once before, proved to be a calming influence.
“Sixteen, we’re in the left rough, pin’s back right. He gave me a target that was way left of what I would have typically and he says things in a way that it makes it seem like it’s my idea that we’re doing it. Very much like a wife,” Dahmen said.
Earlier in the round, Dahmen admitted he was grumpy after hitting in the water at No. 11 and failing to make birdie at 12.
“Rob says stay patient. When Geno tells me to stay patient, I tell him to be quiet. When Rob tells me to be patient, I listen,” Dahmen said.
That’s when he holed his second shot at 13 for eagle and rammed in a long birdie putt at 14.
“To hoop one with a wedge and then to come back and make a 30-footer down the hill is a great bonus,” he said.
