As Miles Russell tees up at the 2026 ISCO Championship, he is being caddied by his most experienced bagman yet. Russell is back in action on the PGA Tour, teeing up for his fourth professional start of the summer. The 17-year-old lefty out of Jacksonville Beach already owns an AJGA Player of the Year title and a U.S. Open start on his resume. This time, he has veteran caddie and former professional golfer Paul Tesori on the bag. Tesori has caddied for 17 years and brings the expert advice Miles Russell will need to win at the Hurstbourne Country Club, with a total purse of $4 million. Russell spoke about Tesori in a recent press conference.

“I mean, actually, Paul’s kind of similar to what he is, a lot of personality and just a really nice guy. So he kind of brings that same thing, just kind of keeps me loose and just tries to play solid golf. And obviously, he has the background of a professional caddie, so he can get numbers from anywhere, and he kind of plots me around the course maybe a little more. But it’s really special having him here this week.”

Tesori was previously slated to caddie for Russell on the UNC Health Championship in May, but when Simpson got called to play the Truist Championship, Tesori had to join him. As Simpson is not participating in the ISCO Championship, Tesori is providing his skills to Russell.  Tesori, born in St. Augustine, Florida, is a veteran caddie with a storied pro background. He played collegiate golf at the University of Florida, where he was a three-time All-American and won the 49th Florida Senior Open. He earned his PGA Tour card in 1996. However, an injury derailed his playing career and pushed him towards caddying instead.

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He first picked up the bag in 2002 for Hall of Famer Vijay Singh before stints with Jerry Kelly and Sean O’Hair. In 2011, he joined Webb Simpson for the most defining partnership of his career. It lasted 12 years and produced all seven of Simpson’s PGA Tour titles, including his 2012 U.S. Open and 2018 Players Championship titles. After splitting with Simpson in 2023, he has carried bags for Cameron Young and more recently, Adam Schenk. The veteran caddie has previously caddied for South Korean golfer Tom Kim, who was 21 at the time. Tesori now brings his seasoned hands to a much younger professional, as Miles Russell prepares for the ISCO Championship.

Russell was also asked about the frequent changes he has seen on the bag this season. At the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, Russell had his father caddie for the final hole as a Father’s Day surprise. Moreover, just a few weeks prior, Russell had Charlie Woods, Tiger Woods’ son and fellow Florida State commit, on his bag at the U.S. Open qualifying. He has spoken about the pairing fondly as he shares the experience.

That said, the ISCO Championship is decorated with some of the best players on the field, as Miles Russell gets ready to compete with them on the course.

Inside the ISCO Championship Field

The ISCO Championship runs from July 9 to 12 at Hurstbone Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky. It is now the venue’s second year of hosting the event after the tournament moved from Keene Trace Golf Club in 2025. The tournament has changed names and courses several times since its 2015 debut. It was first known as the Barbasol Championship, and Scott Piercy first won the championship.

The winner will receive $720,000 of the entire $4 million purse and 300 FedEx Cup points. Beyond this, they will also receive an invite to the PGA Championship next year and a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour. Russell, backed by Tesori, will be looking to clinch the ultimate victory at  Hurstbourne. If he does win, Russell will be following last year’s champion, William Mouw, who defeated runner-up Paul Peterson to lift the trophy.

The field is headed by Max Homa with Lucas Glover, Denny McCarthy, and Taylor Pendrith. Moreover, Miles Russell isn’t the only young golfer in the field. His fellow mates Preston Stout and PGA Tour graduate Jackson Koivun will also be in the field.

Miles Russell will be hoping that Paul Tesori’s guidance helps him find every fairway and green over the course of the tournament.