Aaron Wise’s Wife Carries His Bag (and His Heart): A Golf Comeback Story

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Imagine you have a job where you travel to play golf. That job can feel very lonely.

What Is Life Like for a Pro Golfer?

A professional golfer (someone who gets paid to play golf) often goes to many places. But the places start to look the same:

• The airports all blur together.
• The hotels look about the same.
• The practice ranges (fields where you hit balls) become very familiar.

Aaron Wise knows this kind of life. But he also knows a different, happier life.

A Wife as a Caddie

On a Saturday afternoon at a golf course called Hurstbourne Country Club, Aaron was playing in a contest called the ISCO Championship. When he finished the last hole (the 18th green), he was only one shot off the lead—meaning he was super close to first place! And who was carrying his golf bag? His wife!

A caddie (say: kad-ee) is the person who carries a golfer’s bag and helps them. Usually, players hire:

• A “Tour veteran” (someone who has done this a long time), or
• A famous caddie who has helped winners of big important tournaments called “majors.”

But Aaron’s caddie was:

• Not a tour veteran.
• Not a famous caddie.
• His wife, Reagan.

Just a year before, Reagan didn’t know much about being a caddie. Now she knows enough. But most importantly, she knows Aaron really well.

Important Point: Aaron said, “It’s someone I feel like I can trust and just enjoy spending my time out there with.” Even though other people thought he should hire a professional caddie, she does such a good job that he wants her there.

He added: “She lets me just focus on the golf side of things. She takes care of everything else that a normal caddie would. And then I have my best friend on the bag with me.”

(In a photo from the event, Reagan is seen removing the flagstick while Aaron looks at his putt on the 9th green during the third round. Credit: Eric Crawford.)

Reagan Was There From the Start

Some golf fans may have seen Reagan before. Back then, her name was Reagan Trussell. In 2018, at a tournament called the AT&T Byron Nelson, she secretly flew in to surprise Aaron. That day, he won his first big professional golf contest (a PGA Tour victory). The TV cameras showed a funny moment: they tried to kiss but missed because she didn’t see him leaning in. They laughed about it later.

That win was a huge deal because:

• Aaron had already won the 2016 NCAA individual title (a prize for the best college golfer) at Oregon.
• The Byron Nelson win made him the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year (best new player).
• He was only 21 and seen as a bright young star.

Eight years later, Reagan is still there when the round ends. The only difference is now she carries the bag.

When Golf Stopped Being Fun

The part about her carrying the bag makes us smile. But there is a sadder part underneath.

There was a time when Aaron didn’t enjoy anything much, not just golf.

In 2023, he stepped away from the PGA Tour (the main group of pro golf events in the U.S.). He even pulled out of a huge tournament called the Masters just days before it started. He did this to take care of his mental health—that means how his mind and feelings were doing. Golf wasn’t the only thing he felt he had lost.

He said this week: “It wasn’t even just losing the joy of practicing. It was off-the-course life. I just didn’t feel like myself.”

Rebuilding the Man Before the Golfer

Aaron didn’t try to become a great golfer again first. He worked on being a healthy, happy person. Only after he felt better as a man did golf come back. And so did the joy.

But it took time:

1. He left the tour in 2023.
2. He didn’t return to playing until February of last year.
3. When he came back, Reagan was right there beside him—literally carrying his bag.

He said on Saturday: “There was a lot of times I never knew if I would even be able to play out here again. So to have that opportunity is amazing.”

Important Point: Most players who are close to the lead talk about their “swing” (how they hit the ball). Aaron talks about being thankful just to be able to swing at all.

Why Reagan Is the Right Caddie

People still ask why he hasn’t hired a regular Tour caddie. He just smiles. The rules of professional golf say he probably should. But his life tells him he already has the person he needs.

He said: “She’s definitely someone I’ll lean on tomorrow, just to keep me present, keep me in the moment and have fun no matter what’s going on.”

There are many ways to measure a “comeback” (returning to doing well after a hard time):

• Birdies (when you finish a hole one stroke better than the standard)
• FedExCup points (points that rank players over the year)
• Trophies

Aaron has another measure: having his wife by his side. Tomorrow (Sunday) they will chase the tournament win together. She might not know all the exact distances (yardages) to the hole yet, but she knows him—and that matters most.

Summary

Aaron Wise is a professional golfer who struggled with his mind and happiness and stepped away from the sport. With the help of his wife Reagan—who now carries his bag as his caddie—he found joy again. At the ISCO Championship in Louisville, he is playing great and is one shot from the lead. Their story shows that love and trust can be more important than fancy experience.

FAQ

Q1: What is a caddie?
A caddie is a person who carries a golfer’s bag and helps during a round. They might help decide which club to use or keep the player calm.

Q2: Why did Aaron Wise leave golf in 2023?
He left to focus on his mental health. He wasn’t enjoying life or practicing, and he didn’t feel like himself. He withdrew from the Masters to take care of his mind.

Q3: What is the PGA Tour?
It’s a big organization in the United States that runs professional golf tournaments where players compete for prizes and points.

Q4: How did Reagan help Aaron?
She became his caddie, carrying his bag and handling tasks so he can focus on golf. More importantly, she is his best friend and keeps him happy and present in the moment.

Q5: What is the ISCO Championship?
It’s a golf tournament held at Hurstbourne Country Club where Aaron was one shot off the lead on Saturday.

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