On a rare summer like day but deep into September, Dustin Johnson found there was no avoiding being asked to comment on his caddy, Joe LaCava jumping ship and moving to caddy for Tiger Woods.
Johnson had avoided the media in the lead-up to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship advising European Tour staff he would not be attending an official pre-tournament press conference ahead of the $US 5m event in Scotland.
But after recording a one under par 71 in glorious conditions on the Kingsbarns course, the first question the World No. 5 faced dealt with his caddy, well his former caddy.
“Things happen and he (LaCava) has to do what he has to do,” said Johnson.
Dustin Johnson delights fans at Kingsbarns after shooting a 71.
“I found out in the locker room after the Tour Championship.
“But then I also spoke to Tiger and there’s no hard feelings at all.
“Joe got offered a job so he took it.
“You can’t blame the guy. If he wants to go and caddie for Tiger, it’s fine by me. So I’ll be fine.
“I’ve got quite a few caddies wanting the job so I have time to think about it. I’ve already got someone for the rest of the year.”
And when asked if he was disappointed to be losing a caddy of LaCava’s experience, Johnson handled that question in his typical laid-back manner.
“Disappointed? Not at all,” he said.
“I liked Joe. I still do. You’ve got to make decisions and you can’t get mad at him for the decsions he made.
“As I said, I spoke with Tiger. We had a great conversation. He just did what he did.”
Johnson, who has his younger brother, Austin as his amateur partner, revealed he will have TaylorMade’s Keith Sbarbaro caddying for him for the rest of 2011.
That will include Shabaro caddying for Johnson in the Australian Open in Sydney starting November 10th and then at the following week’s Presidents Cup in Melbourne.
“Keith is a real good buddy of mine, and also a good player,” said Johnson.
And Sbabaro is no stranger in caddying for Johnson was he carried his bag earlier this year at the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea and also at the BMW International Open in Munich.
