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Wyndham Clark and his caddie John Ellis walk the second hole during the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship 2025 at TPC Southwind on August 07.
Wyndham Clark has reportedly split from longtime caddie John Ellis following his T42 finish at The Players Championship.
The news was first reported by golf insider Matt Gannon, who noted that the separation comes after a recent stretch of inconsistent results for the 2023 U.S. Open champion. Clark has struggled to maintain the level of play that saw him rise to the top tier of the PGA Tour over the past two seasons.
The split marks the end of a long and successful partnership between Clark and Ellis, one that dates back nearly a decade and includes some of the biggest moments of Clark’s career.
A Longtime Partnership Dating Back to College
Clark and Ellis first began working together in 2016 when Ellis stepped away from professional golf and became an assistant coach at the University of Oregon. At the time, Clark was in his senior year and was paired with Ellis on the course.
That relationship quickly developed into a strong on-course partnership. When Clark turned professional, he kept Ellis on the bag, and the two began climbing the ranks of professional golf together.
Their breakthrough came in 2023 when Clark secured his first PGA Tour victory at the Wells Fargo Championship. The win marked a turning point in Clark’s career and signaled his arrival as a serious contender on tour.
Ellis was highly confident in Clark’s potential, even suggesting at the time that his player had the ability to reach World No. 1.
Major Breakthrough at the U.S. Open
Just months after their first PGA Tour win, Clark and Ellis achieved the biggest milestone of their partnership at the U.S. Open.
Clark held off a strong field that included Rory McIlroy to capture his first major championship, winning by one stroke. The victory cemented Clark’s status as one of the top players in the world.
Ellis played a significant role in that success. He encouraged Clark to work with performance psychologist Julie Elion, a move that helped improve Clark’s mental approach and contributed to his rise in big tournaments.
The partnership reached another high point in 2024 when Clark won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, highlighted by a remarkable 12-under 60 in the third round before weather shortened the event.
Recent Struggles Lead to Change
Despite their earlier success, Clark’s performance has dipped since the end of the 2024 season. Over his last 31 starts, he has recorded just two top-10 finishes and has missed six cuts.
His 2026 campaign has also gotten off to a slow start, with his best result being a T13 finish at The American Express. The lack of consistent high finishes appears to have played a role in Clark’s decision to make a change.
With expectations still high following his major victory, Clark is now looking to reset and regain the form that made him one of the most dangerous players on tour.
Dave Pelekoudas Steps In as New Caddie
Clark will now turn to Dave Pelekoudas as his caddie “for the foreseeable future.” Pelekoudas, sometimes known as “Big Wave Dave,” brings significant experience on the bag.
He has previously worked with several PGA Tour players, including Xander Schauffele, Taylor Moore, Sam Ryder, and Brian Campbell.
Pelekoudas has also filled in for Ellis in the past, giving him some familiarity with Clark’s game and approach.
Clark and Pelekoudas are expected to make their debut together at the Valspar Championship (March 16-22), held at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort.
According to Golfweek, Clark’s odds for the tournament are +6000, and he “ranks 13th in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green in the last 3 months among players in this week’s field.”
Alyssa Polczynski Alyssa Polczynski is a multimedia journalist covering Major League Baseball for Heavy.com. She has experience as an editorial producer for MLB.com and contributed to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). More about Alyssa Polczynski
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