Who Is Lilia Vu’s Caddie?
We meet Cole Pensanti who helped Lilia Vu to her first Major victory in 2023
Lilia Vu made her Major breakthrough when she captured the Chevron Championship in 2023. She shot a closing 68 to move from 11th to beat Angel Yin in a playoff – Yin would find water but still make par while Vu made a birdie from 10 feet for her second win on the LPGA Tour.
Vu has had a variety of caddies since joining the LPGA Tour in 2019 and Cole Pensanti was on her bag in Texas. After the playoff win Vu was full of praise for her bag man.
"I felt like it was a really hard day. The course was playing really difficult with the wind and the weather and it being colder. I just didn't feel great on the course. I was getting kind of moody, and my caddie Cole was there to basically ground me and remind me like hey, we're just going to try our best, and whatever happens happens. Just hit it on your line and then go from there and stop getting so upset over every little thing."
This was the first time that the Major hadn't been played at Mission Hills but, despite the move to Club at Carlton Woods, the winner still took the traditional jump into the lake by the 18th green. There was a fear of alligators and other creatures but, after a dredging of the water, Vu and Pensanti made the leap and Pensanti performed a trademark caddie belly flop.
The pair will be in Spain for the Solheim Cup as the United States look to reclaim the trophy.
Pensanti also tasted Major success when he was on Danielle Kang's bag at the Women's PGA Championship in 2017. There the American beat Brooke Henderson by a shot at Olympia Fields.
After the victory she immediately flew back to Glendale in California with Pensanti to visit her dad's grave.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
“I went back and I said we did it,” said Kang before Pensanti surprised her by pulling out his (stolen) caddie bib which they laid at the grave along with a Coors Light, Starbucks coffee, her father’s favourite cigarettes and the flag from the 18th green.
The caddie describes himself as an 'Analyst in distance, wind, and trajectory consultation' on his X (Twitter) profile.
Mark has worked in golf for over 20 years having started off his journalistic life at the Press Association and BBC Sport before moving to Sky Sports where he became their golf editor on skysports.com. He then worked at National Club Golfer and Lady Golfer where he was the deputy editor and he has interviewed many of the leading names in the game, both male and female, ghosted columns for the likes of Robert Rock, Charley Hull and Dame Laura Davies, as well as playing the vast majority of our Top 100 GB&I courses. He loves links golf with a particular love of Royal Dornoch and Kingsbarns. He is now a freelance, also working for the PGA and Robert Rock. Loves tour golf, both men and women and he remains the long-standing owner of an horrific short game. He plays at Moortown with a handicap of 6.
-
LIV Golf Pair Hint At Ryder Cup-Style Match Against PGA Tour
Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau have hinted that their 'Showdown' match with Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler could be just a preview of a Ryder Cup style LIV Golf-PGA Tour clash in the future
By Paul Higham Published
-
'It Was Really About Us Taking This Into Our Own Hands' - McIlroy On How PGA Tour-LIV Golf Showdown Came To Fruition
Rory McIlroy says the players organized the PGA Tour-LIV Golf Showdown match themselves to show fans they're trying to bring the sport back together
By Paul Higham Published
-
R&A Introduces New Transgender Policy For Top Women's Golf Events
The R&A has introduced a new transgender policy prohibiting golfers who have been through male puberty from taking part in top women's events
By Paul Higham Published
-
Tony Finau Pulls Out Of Grant Thornton Invitational
Tony Finau has withdrawn from the Grant Thornton Invitational due to a knee injury, with his place alongside Nelly Korda being taken up by Daniel Berger
By Paul Higham Published
-
NCAA Div 1 Champion, World No.14 And LET Winners Amongst 26 Players Who Secured 2025 LPGA Tour Cards
After almost a week of drama, 26 players have secured their playing rights on the LPGA Tour for 2025, with 10 rookies joining the top circuit
By Matt Cradock Published
-
American Pro DQ'd From LET Q-School Without Hitting A Shot
Gabby Lemieux travelled over to North Africa for Ladies European Tour Q-School but was disqualified on the first morning of action
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Grant Thornton Invitational Odds, Picks And Predictions
The mixed pairs event returns for another year, with 32 of the biggest names from both the PGA and LPGA Tour circuits featuring once again
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Nelly Korda One Of Three Golfers In Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2024 As Tennis Continues To Dominate
Korda topped the total earnings for a female golfer in 2024, but one of her rivals picked up more money from on-course achievements...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
‘Every Time I Would Think About It Or I'd Have Them Conversations, I Would Get A Little Bit Upset' - Amy Boulden Opens Up On Retirement Decision
Amy Boulden officially retired from pro golf recently but shared that she is not completely closed off to the idea of making tour starts again one day...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'The Greatest Achievement I’ve Earned In My Life Taken From Me” - Transgender Golfer Hailey Davidson Responds To LPGA Ban
Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson has responded to being banned by the LPGA with several posts on social media crtitcizing the decision
By Paul Higham Published