It comes as no surprise that Joe LaCava, and the caddy to Tiger Woods, wants to continue caddying as Woods recovers from a recent ankle operation.
As such, Woods has agreed for LaCava to work for fellow American Patrick Cantlay starting at this week’s Wells Fargo Championship.
It is also a timely move for LaCava as Cantlay has recently parted ways with long-time caddy Matt Minster, who had been with Cantlay for each of his eight PGA Tour victories, from late 2017 to victory through to last year’s BMW Championship.
Tiger Woods and caddy Joe LaCava at the Hero World Challenge – Clearly a stronger relationship than just player and caddy
Though as everyone knows in pro golf circles when a player is struggling, the first to go is the caddy. The current World No. 4 ranked Cantlay has not won since driving off with the BMW title but then looking at his form this new season, he’s not been playing all that bad with top-four finishes, including a third in the recent defence of his RBC Heritage title.
Mark Steinberg, Woods’ longtime agent, told ESPN at Quail Hollow Club on Tuesday that LaCava called Woods to get his blessing before making the decision.
“Joe called Tiger to ask him and get his approval,” Steinberg said. “Of course, Tiger gave it. Tiger and Joe are like brothers, tremendous friends. You shouldn’t read anything more into that other than Joe wants to caddie. He loves it. It’s his passion. He’s great at it and one of the best.”
It’s not the first time LaCava has worked for another player while Woods has been sidelined. Back in 2021, LaCava returned to working for Fred Couples, who he had begun caddying for back in 1990, and was on the bag calling the shots during Couples’ 1992 Masters win.
LaCava then went to work with Dustin Johnson in 2011 before Woods, who had split with long-time bagman Steve Williams, spoke with ‘DJ’, and with the Connecticut-born LaCava going on to form a great working relationship and also a strong friendship with Woods, including winning a second Masters in caddy for Woods in his 2019 Augusta triumph.
Woods announced on April 19 that he had undergone surgery to fuse bones in his right ankle, addressing post-traumatic arthritis that was caused by injuries suffered in a February 2021 car wreck. The 15-time major champion said the subtalar fusion procedure was performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley at HSS Sports Medicine Institute in New York.
The operation means Woods likely to miss the remainder of the 2023 season, and with Steinberg advising ESPN yesterday (Tuesday) at Quail Hollow that there was no timeline for Woods’ recovery to golf. He added Woods was resting and recovering.
“Tiger said repeatedly he’s going to play a very limited schedule around the majors, his events, the father-son, assuming that everything goes well in the rehab and recovery,” Steinberg said. “Joe wants to work, and so I think Tiger got that. We’re just moving on.”
