PGA Tour pro nicknamed 'The Unicorn' and caddie plan to reunite in 2026
Adam Schupak- Caddie Paul Tesori is reuniting with golfer Webb Simpson after the pair split in March 2023.
- Tesori, who has been serving as Simpson's coach, will caddie for him on a one-year deal.
- After avoiding back surgery, Tesori is physically ready to return to caddying.
Caddie Paul Tesori is returning to work for The Unicorn.
That’s the nickname fellow caddie Joe Skovron, now on the bag for Ludvig Aberg, coined for Webb Simpson, the 2012 U.S. Open winner. Tesori and Simpson previously worked together for 12 years before parting ways in March 2023.
Pertaining to the nickname, Tesori recalled misreading two consecutive putts during an international team competition — he couldn't be sure if it was the 2018 Ryder Cup or the 2019 Presidents Cup. Regardless of the fact, what Tesori does know is that most pros would be chewing out their caddie for letting him down but not Simpson.
“Walking to the next tee, he pulled me aside and said, ‘You’re the best green reader in the world. I need you to stay confident. Don’t get down, I need you.’ That’s not what most pros would say. Webb gave the opposite, he gave the pump up speech,” Tesori said.
When Skovron heard about Simpson he fittingly christened him the unicorn – “because you’ve heard they exist but you’ve never seen one,” Tesori explained.
During their break, Tesori worked for Cam Young, Brendon Todd and most recently Tom Kim. Tesori, who was a good enough player to earn his PGA Tour card before switching to caddying, previously worked for Vijay Singh and Sean O’Hair. Even after Simpson and Tesori split, they remained close. Tesori served as a set of eyes last season and beginning in January has served as his main coach.
Tesori and Kim split in June as Tesori faced undergoing a spinal fusion for his ailing back. He said he required 12 epidurals to lug the 50-pound bag during the last four years. He came off the bench to fill-in for Simpson at the 3M Open and it was as if they’d never stopped working together. Tesori said that’s when they first discussed reuniting.
“We decided to do a one-year deal and we’re going to grind it out for his 11 or so events. Webb has been extremely generous. I’m under a salary and a very generous one that has enabled me to do it. That helps the part of staying home more often,” said Tesori.
Tesori was scheduled for back surgery on Aug. 28, but his surgeon called it off. He found a doctor who combined strength training and physical therapy and within five weeks Tesori was able to play four straight days in a golf tournament, the Roberts Cup, a prestigious Four-Ball, after not playing back-to-back rounds in over more than two years.
“I call what he’s done for me miraculous,” said Tesori, noting that he recently sent Singh, his old boss, for a consultation.
Tesori walked some 91 miles at the RSM Classic, where Simpson finished 25th “and he didn’t play great,” Tesori said. “It was a good reminder that he still has a strong desire to play at a high level in the small number of events he plays. Kind of saw at RSM that it’s still in there.”
This is the last year that Simpson is fully-exempt off of his two-win season in 2020 (and bonus year due to COVID-19.) He also has a career money-list exemption that he’d prefer to hold on to as long as possible.
“I’m trying to get back to my 2011 mindset of longterm goals,” Simpson said. “I want to focus on working towards something and not get caught up in every round.” And Simpson knows he’s play his best golf with Tesori by his side. In addition to winning the 2012 U.S. Open, Simpson and Tesori teamed to win the 2018 Players Championship near Tesori’s childhood home of Jacksonville, Florida, represent the U.S. in multiple Ryder and Presidents Cups and climb to a career-best of fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking.
“Webb could play 10 more years, or he could play one more year,” Tesori said. “Hopefully he does something crazy and wins and we push that schedule a little more.”