A change in atmosphere, not a rejection of the past
Matthieu Pavon finished the third round of the VidantaWorld Mexico Open on 31 October 2026 at 17 under par. The French golfer's official post-round remarks went beyond scoring. He explained why a change of caddie had become important during a difficult season.
Pavon spoke warmly of the success he had shared with his previous caddie, known as Woody. But he said poor results and loneliness during long stretches of travel had made the year hard to enjoy. He wanted a trusted friend beside him on the course, someone who could bring energy and perspective. His new partnership, he said, has made golf more enjoyable again. The released transcript does not identify the new caddie by name.
Two late birdies and a steady response
His third round began poorly, but Pavon and his caddie worked to maintain their routine rather than chase an immediate fix. Two birdies on the difficult closing stretch rewarded accurate approaches, useful positions on the fairway and greens, and two converted putts. Pavon regarded that finish as encouraging momentum entering Sunday.
Playing alongside him was Andrew Novak, who held a six-stroke lead at 23 under after 54 holes. Pavon admired Novak's bogey-free scoring over the preceding two rounds, while insisting his own priority for the final round was to manage his game. He was equally complimentary about the young amateur in the group and the standard of emerging collegiate players.
What the record establishes
This article independently summarizes the 31 October official interview; GOLFTWITT did not interview Pavon. The 17-under and 23-under figures describe the third-round standings, not final results. Pavon confirmed a new caddie partnership, but the source supplies neither the new caddie's name nor grounds for speculating about his previous working relationship.
Source: official VidantaWorld Mexico Open round-three transcript, 31 October 2026.
