Tiger Woods continues his World Ranking slide desite confirmation of a new caddy.
Woods, who has announced he’s signed Joe LaCava to be his new caddy, has dropped to 50th with the update of the rankings.
Woods will next week drop outside the top-50 for the first time since turning pro in September 1996 given he is not competing again to October 6th when he contests the Frys.com championship in California.
American Bill Haas was the biggest mover up from 49th to 20th in capturing Sunday’s Tour Championship and FedEx Cup double that was worth $US 11.4m to the 29-year old.
Haas’ third PGA Tour victory will be into reckoning for USA Captain Fred Couples to choose him tomorrow (TUES) as his ‘wildcard’ pick for November’s Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia.
Bizarrely, Haas’ father Jay is one of Couples vice-captains.
Couples has already gone public in saying Woods will get one of his two picks given he’s played just eight events this year.
International Captain, Greg Norman will also name his two picks.
However legendary Peter Thomson, and the only winning International Team captain in the 10-event history of the Presidents Cup, believes Woods will be in for some ‘serious criticism’ if he under performs on Royal Melbourne.
Woods made his Presidents Cup debut at Royal Melbourne in 1998 and Melbourne was the scene of his last victory anywhere in the world in winning the Australian Masters in November 2009.
“The Tiger Woods that arrived in Melbourne back in ’98 didn’t play that well though he finished off the event well in beating Greg Norman in the Singles,” said Thomson.
“But by then the tournament really was over and the International team was assured of victory.
“Tiger seemed a bit mystified about the Royal Melbourne course and how to putt on the greens, and he just didn’t shine at all.
“I now wonder which Tiger Woods will turn up later this year.
“If he performs poorly, and less than we’ve come to expect from Tiger, then he’s in for a lot of serious criticism.
“There will be enormous pressure on his shoulders to perform and he’s going to be under intense scrutiny given he didn’t qualify automatically for the team and Freddie (Couples) seems likely to make his a ‘captain’s pick’.”
Woods will have LaCava on the bag with LaCava currently caddying for World No. 5 Dustin Johnson.
“Mark [Steinberg] and I were approached by a lot of people, including Joe, who expressed an interest in becoming my caddie,” Woods said on his website.
“This was an important decision, and I wanted to think about it carefully. Also, out of deference for the FedExCup Playoffs, I decided to wait until they were concluding to have substantive talks.
“We then spoke to Joe and came to an agreement.
“Joe is an outstanding caddie, and I have known him for many years. I’ve personally seen the great job he did for Freddie [Couples]. I’m anxious for us to be working together.”
LaCava said: “I’m excited to be working with Tiger.
“I contacted Tiger and Mark because this is a unique opportunity to be part of something very special. Tiger and I have been friends for a very long time, and I know what he can do.
“I want to thank Dustin [Johnson] for the opportunity to work with him, and I wish him nothing but the best.”
Woods called Johnson after LaCava first told Johnson personally he would be working for Woods.
Woods also spoke to Couples to alert him of the decision.
LaCava will be action this week in Scotland caddying for Johnson who is among five of the world’s top-six players contesting the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The others being World No. 1 Luke Donald, World No. 2 Lee Westwood, World No. 3 Rory McIlroy and defending champion, Martin Kaymer who has slumped to No. 6.
