It has been four years since Keith Mitchell joined the PGA Tour. Since 2018, the 32-year-old has earned only one victory. That was in 2019, at the previously known Honda Classic. Over the past three years on the PGA Tour, Mitchell has tried multiple times to make it in the winner circle again and win the American League. However, he had to leave the greens disappointed and with the will to give his best in the next event. But at the Valspar Championship, Mitchell’s dream of making it to the top of the leaderboard looks like a nearing possibility.

After Saturday’s game, he was leading. Inching closer to his hard-earned silverware, the one-time PGA Tour winner has the support of a veteran caddie and a former golfer, John Limanti, who has been caddying on the Tour for more than a decade and is probably the missing piece in solving the winless puzzle.

John Limanti’s college life 

John Limanti comes from a Christian family based in Jacksonville, Florida. Limanti has two siblings, Stephanie and Michael. The looper started playing golf at an early age but his passion started growing when he joined the university.

In 2000, Limanti took admission to study at the University of North Florida, where he played for the UNF Golf Team. In his sophomore year, the Jacksonville native was named the First Team All-Independent. After a successful career as a collegiate golfer, Limanti graduated in 2004 with a degree in business.

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However, unlike many professional golfers, Limanti did not decide to go pro right after his college career ended. In the meantime, he started working as a wind and yardage consultant, meaning that though he did not turn into a professional golfer, Limanti still kept his bond with golf strong. Then, five years after his graduation, the looper got his first break.

In 2009, Limanti was contacted by Chris Stroud to caddie for him. He was with Stroud for the entirety of his career, and it was with Limanti that the 42-year-old earned his maiden victory at the 2013 Travelers Championship. Though the win was special for Stroud, it was also the greatest memory for Limanti.

Describing his greater memory as a caddie in an interview with the Caddie Network, he said, “When Chris Stroud chipped in on the 72nd hole at the 2013 Travelers Championship to force a playoff with Ken Duke, It was the loudest roar that I had ever heard. It was electric!” However, the two stopped working in late 2015, and Limanti jumped on a different golfer’s bag.

Who all John Limanti has caddied for?

Over his 15-year career as a caddie, John Limanti has worked for many golfers after moving on from Chris Stroud. The first gig was with Aaron Baddeley; the two won their first event together at the 2016 Barbasol Championship. Over the next few years, Limanti worked with Adam Scott in 2018, then with Brendon Todd, Chris Kirk, Aron Price, Kyle Stanley, and Cliff Kresge in the past couple of years before pairing up with Keith Mitchell.

Mitchell and Limanti probably met after the pro’s former caddie, Pete Persolja, parted ways with him in 2021. The 2024 season marks the fourth year of Limanti working with Mitchell. And during this period, though they haven’t won any event yet, but Limanti’s expertise has helped Mitchell at times. In 2023, at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Mitchell credited Limanti for calling him out before a shot.

What happened was that Mitchell was mic’d up for the par-4 third hole on the final day. And right before he took the shot, Limanti interrupted to check where the wind was blowing. This helped Mitchell reach the green and have his ball only 13 feet from the hole. Mitchell appreciatingly said, “That was a great, great call from Johnnie to pull me off like that.”

The two are now again in a big stretch to make a name at the Valspar Championship. Limanti’s experience might as well help Mitchell again so that he wins the PGA Tour after winning the 2019 Honda Classic. This has been the life of Limanti as a caddie. But outside of it, he has a loving family and an aspiring modeling career.

Personal relationships and hobbies outside of golf

John Limanti is a family man and boasts of being a husband to Angela and a father to his daughter Giana and their pet dog, Bunker Maximus. The family resides in Limanti’s hometown, Jacksonville, near Jax Beach. While he likes to spend time with the family, at other times he works as an amateur beatboxer and underwear model.

2024 Valspar Championship: Prize Money Breakdown and Winner’s Payout

In 2023, Limanti, along with three other caddies (Geno Bonnalie, Joel Stock, and Aaron Flener), collaborated with SAXX Underwear for a cause larger than life. The caddies were wearing SAXX underwear and polos to support the Testicular Cancer Foundation, and for every birdie made, the brand would donate $100 to the same.

As seen, Limanti has a lot happening in his life, whether on or off the course. The looper is living it the best way possible. Will he add another star to his already enthralling life by winning share of the $8.4 million Valspar Championship? Stay tuned to find out.

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