CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When Joe LaCava caddied for Steve Stricker at the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans two weeks ago, Stricker made it very clear that it was a one-off for LaCava, who has been on the bag of Tiger Woods since 2011. But LaCava is working again this week at the Wells Fargo Championship for Patrick Cantlay, only this isn’t going to be a one-off.
Cantlay recently split with veteran caddie Matt Minister following the tournament in New Orleans. With Woods sidelined for the foreseeable future after undergoing ankle fusion surgery, LaCava was available for work and, as first reported by Golf Channel, LaCava is joining Cantlay on a full-time basis.
Cantlay and LaCava have worked together before during the 2021 Northern Trust when Minister missed time due to COVID-19.
LaCava, 59, cut his teeth caddying for his brother-in-law, Ken Green, caddying for him for the first time at the 1983 Manufacturers Hanover Classic when he was 19. He was on the bag for four wins during three years with Green before working for more than two decades for Fred Couples, including the 1992 Masters. He was on Dustin Johnson’s bag in 2011 when Woods asked him to take over his caddie duties following his split with Steve Williams.
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LaCava has received offers to work for other players before when Woods has been out with injuries but always remained loyal to Woods, joking that he was “semi-retired.” That loyalty came naturally — LaCava’s mother taught at the same school for 32 years and his father worked at the same bank for more than 30. LaCava was by Woods’s side for 11 official wins, including the 2019 Masters (as well as the 2011 Hero World Challenge, an unofficial event).
On the bag for @patrick_cantlay this week at the @WellsFargoGolf and for the foreseeable future is Joe Lacava who got the blessing from friend and former boss @TigerWoods to make the move to Cantlay. This is not a one off but a full time move for Lacava. pic.twitter.com/nAIMtmylpb
— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisGC) May 2, 2023
“He’s as loyal as loyal gets,” Justin Thomas said of LaCava. “There’s so many guys out here that would have him caddie in an instant. When he was loyal to Tiger and Tiger’s probably telling him go caddie, go do whatever, and Joe, that’s just not the kind of guy Joe is. But at the same time, very similar to Bones, he’s competitive and he’s a caddie. I mean, they love to caddie and they love to win golf tournaments and they love being in that moment. I’m sure that weighed into his decision as well.”
Thomas continued: “I don’t know the details and don’t know how long it is or what’s going on, but I know that that’s something that would never ever, ever be done if Tiger would not OK that. That’s not the kind of guy Joe is, kind of guy Tiger is and same with Patrick. There definitely was some kind of conversation that went on there.”
Cantlay, 31, has won eight times, including the 2021 FedEx Cup when he was named PGA Tour Player of the Year. He is ranked fourth in the world but is still seeking his first major.
