St. Andrews is the place to be for Masson and McDede

Saturday, July 25, 2020

Last week, I published the question and answer story about LPGA golfer Caroline Masson and her fiancé Jason McDede, who is the caddie for fellow LPGA golfer Nelly Korda, and their thoughts on returning to the course after a long layoff caused by COVID-19.

This week, we take a peek inside their relationship and how they got to where they are today.

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In 2013, Caroline Masson made the jump from her hometown of Gladbeck, Germany to the United States to begin her LPGA career.

Little did she know, the young golf pro would soon meet the love of her life.

Playing in the British Open at St. Andrews, Masson missed the cut.

But wanting to make the most of her time in Scotland, she, along with several of the other golfers and caddies playing in the famous tournament, made their way out onto the town for the night.

At one of the local pubs, she met LPGA caddie Jason McDede.

“St. Andrews is a pretty cool little town, and everybody stays close to the golf course. A lot of people went out on Friday and had a beer at the pubs and that’s how we met,” described Masson. “It’s a pretty cool first date sitting on the 18th hole at St. Andrews.”

The two continued their relationship past the weekend and began dating.

They are now engaged, have a Goldendoodle named Ace, and live in a neighborhood that suited them perfectly.

“And then we ended up in St. Andrews Manor,” Masson said with a laugh.

“That’s why we liked it here. It felt like home,” said McDede of their decision to move to St. Andrews Manor in Melbourne, Florida. “We were in Orlando for about five years and we were just looking to get out of Orlando. We came in here and it said, ‘St. Andrews Manor.’ We were like, ‘Oh my God. This was meant to be.’”

In between them meeting at the Old Course at St. Andrews and buying a house in St. Andrews Manor came a lot of twists and turns as they built their professional careers.

Early on in their relationship, McDede caddied for Masson.

It lasted less than two years as the pair made every tournament they played in bigger than it needed to be, McDede said.

“When I was 25 and [Masson was] 23, it was like life or death. Every tournament, we went there and it was like, if we didn’t play good, we put ourselves in timeout,” he explained.

They ultimately decided to go their separate ways professionally, although both noted they are always on the same team, which McDede said helped save their relationship away from the golf course.

“I think it worked out for the better this way,” said McDede. “I think we would’ve been somewhat successful together, but I really think in the long run, it’s really saved our relationship off the golf course because it would’ve been too much day in and day out together.”

So, with McDede now caddying for Nelly Korda, he and Masson now find themselves competing against each other every weekend.

It could be an awkward situation for some, but McDede and Masson have embraced it and are always rooting for the other’s success.

“I think between us, though, we’re still a team in a way. I can go to him even during a tournament and be like, ‘I don’t know J. I hit this shot and this shot.’ He knows my game so well and he’s watched me for so long. But when we get on the golf course, he’s doing his thing with Nelly and I’m doing my thing,” said Masson.

McDede agreed with his fiancé and pointed out them knowing each other so well could have been to their detriment had he continued to caddie for her.

“I love watching Caro play golf. I think, for me, it’s harder because, obviously, I have to make sure my priority is Nelly Korda and I never want to mess that up because I love my job and I think I’m a much better caddie for Nelly than I probably could be for Caro,” he said.

“We know each other so well. I can’t hide my [frustrated] face. She can’t hide her [frustrated] face. We just know each other. It’s so intense at times out there that you have to be able to hide your emotions, especially a caddie. Players, not as much. If they want to throw their clubs or break their clubs or throw them in the water, they can do that. For me, I have to really let Nelly know that no matter what it’s going to be okay.”

One might wonder what it would be like if the two were ever in the same pairing.

How would the on-course communication be handled?

Well, not only was Masson paired with Korda, but in November of 2019, the two, along with Minjee Lee, battled it out in a playoff at the Swinging Skirts in New Taipei City, Taiwan.

Masson recalled what that moment was like with McDede on the other side.

“We had a pretty good attitude, I think. We were like, ‘This is what we’ve always talked about – being in the final round together, playing against each other, both with a chance to win.’ That’s pretty special. We actually really embraced it,” said Masson.

“I lost, but it was still a good day for both of us. They were in the lead. I was in the lead going into the last hole. I didn’t really feel like I lost it. They won it in the end, and we all felt good in the end – we all have sleepless nights after a loss – but I was happy for them,” she continued.

“All of his wins for his players, I’ve been there on 18 taking pictures of him with the trophy with his player. It’s fun to see. If I play bad and him and his player play well, I’m rooting for them. It kind of saves my week a little bit. You have two chances each week to win.”

McDede agreed wholeheartedly with Masson, stating that the two are each other’s biggest fans.

And now, as the LPGA schedule gets into full swing, they’ll be back out on the Tour doing what they love to do – and have missed so dearly during the quarantine.

Each said during the last few months of being at home in Melbourne with Ace has been nice to look back on all of the places they’ve been and the sites they’ve gotten to see. Both said they certainly won’t be taking their future experiences for granted.

“For 30 years old, it’s crazy to see how many places we’ve been. I think this downtime has really let us reflect on it a little bit. It’s’ like, man, when you’re in it and doing it, it doesn’t really seem that cool because you know what you’re trying to do – you’re trying to win golf tournaments or make strides in your career,” said McDede. “So, while that’s happening, you’re not aware of it. I think when we came home and you sit down and see places on tv or whatever and you’re like, ‘Man, we’ve been there. We’ve been there.’”

“You appreciate it,” Masson said. “I think that’s like in everything. It’s like, once you don’t have it, you’re like, ‘Man, that’s actually pretty cool. I should enjoy it a little more.’”

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