Caddie’s wife ‘jealous’ as he helps Nelly Korda | Sports News

Nelly Korda secured victory on the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba on Sunday for her 18th LPGA Tour title, her third win of 2026, and her second in back-to-back weeks.

She completed at 17 underneath par, 4 photographs forward of the sphere, persevering with one of essentially the most commanding performances any participant has delivered on the ladies’s tour in many years. However, past the scorecard, the narrative that emerged from the winner’s press convention centered on Korda’s caddie, his wife, and an ongoing collection of resort videos that sparked some stress back home.

Korda disclosed that her longtime caddie Jason McDede had been totally enchanted by the Mayakoba expertise — the resort, the ambiance, the Rosewood resort the workforce was primarily based at — and had been sending videos home to his wife all through the week. Elsewhere in sports activities, a Kentucky Derby horse was euthanized after struggling a horrific harm during a race.

The caddie’s wife was not in Mexico. “He loved everything,” Korda mentioned. “I mean, he loved the vibe of the place. He loved the hotel that we were staying at. We were staying at Rosewood, so he was just loving the whole vibe of it.

“His wife was not right here this week, and he was sending her videos, and he or she was extraordinarily jealous. So she was actually hoping that we have been going to play properly this week, so we might come back subsequent 12 months. I’m sure her want has come true.”

Caroline Masson, who has participated in numerous tournaments alongside Korda throughout their careers, has maintained an uncommon professional arrangement with her husband since he joined forces with Korda at the beginning of the 2018 season.

During the 2019 Taiwan Swinging Skirts LPGA, Korda and Masson entered a playoff against one another, with McDede caddying for Korda. Korda secured victory on the opening playoff hole with a birdie.

McDede’s description of how this setup functions has remained unchanged through the years: “Caroline and I’ve been aside for nearly 4 years on the golf course, so we’re very impartial relating to each of our jobs.”

McDede has caddied for all 18 of Korda’s LPGA triumphs. She has portrayed the partnership with typical frankness as having him serve as her “best buddy, teammate, and even my punching bag on the market,” recognizing that their deep familiarity can serve as both a benefit and a challenge.

His approach stays straightforward: “I attempt to keep Nelly calm and keep constructive together with her sport every single day we tee it up.”

The Mayakoba triumph came immediately after her Chevron Championship victory the prior week, establishing Korda as the first American golfer to claim victory in the week after a major since Meg Mallon in 2004 and the first competitor ever to win the Chevron Championship followed by the subsequent tournament since Lorena Ochoa in 2008. She hasn’t placed lower than second in any of her six 2026 starts, equaling Annika Sorenstam’s record from 2001 for successive top-two finishes to begin a season.

With 18 LPGA Tour victories, she became the youngest American to achieve that milestone since Nancy Lopez in 1980. She also advanced to 23 of the 27 required LPGA Hall of Fame points.

Following the victory, Korda summarized her season in the most straightforward terms: “I’m simply having fun with myself, and I really like the competitors, and I really like touring to locations like Mexico everywhere in the world, and I’m simply having enjoyable. Everyone out right here places within the work, and typically it really works out. I’m simply grateful that I’ve an superb workforce, that no matter by way of the ups and downs, we have all stayed the identical.”