Patrick Cantlay explains how he hired Tiger Woods’ caddie

Tiger Woods parting methods along with his longtime caddie Joe LaCava has develop into one of many largest tales of the yr.

Just two weeks after LaCava made headlines as a fill-in caddie for Steve Stricker on the Zurich Classic in New Orleans, the information broke that LaCava would take up Patrick Cantlay’s bag completely going ahead.

Cantlay, the 2021 FedEx Cup champion and present World No. 4, has not too long ago come below hearth for his alleged sluggish play on the Masters.

On Wednesday forward of the Wells Fargo Championship, Cantlay defined how he ended up parting methods along with his present caddie, Matt Minister, who had labored for him since 2017, and hiring LaCava.

“[Minister and I] accomplished a lot together and I’m really proud of all we accomplished,” Cantlay mentioned. “He’s a great friend of mine and we had a lot of good finishes together and a lot of wins. So I’m incredibly grateful to him, just needed a change.”

Minister and Cantlay known as it quits after the Zurich Classic, the place Cantlay and his accomplice, Xander Schauffele, completed T4. Cantlay’s most up-to-date win with Minister was final yr’s BMW Championship.

As to how Cantlay landed on LaCava as a alternative? He mentioned it got here all the way down to LaCava’s stellar popularity.

“I’ve been friend with Fred Couples a long time, he’s been in Newport Beach for a number of years now and we’ve played a lot of golf together, so I’ve heard a number of great things about Joe,” Cantlay mentioned. “You know, once I reached out to Joe, he mentioned it was doable and ended up figuring out and I’m actually blissful about it.

“[LaCava’s] just a steady hand on the steering wheel,” he continued. “I know he’s been in every moment a caddie could be in and he’s just a good guy. So I’ve enjoyed the limited time that I’ve spent with him and feel confident that we’ll be a good team out there.”

LaCava and Woods had labored collectively since 2011, when Woods parted methods with Steve Williams. LaCava stood by Woods by a number of prolonged intervals of time when Woods was recovering from accidents and never competing. Though LaCava often caddied for others, like his previous boss Fred Couples, it was rare, and customarily a one-off.

“When this opportunity arose, I checked with Tiger,” LaCava told PGATour.com. “And he said, ‘You’re crazy not to take the job, go forward, go win some tournaments, go have a great time.’”

When Cantlay was requested if he cleared the transfer with Woods, he mentioned he had not.

“I haven’t spoken to Tiger,” he mentioned.

Given Woods’ most up-to-date surgical procedure, it’s possible he received’t be competing once more for a number of months, and maybe longer. Woods has but to remark publicly on the cut up with LaCava, although his agent, Mark Steinberg, told ESPN, “Joe called Tiger to ask him and get his approval. Of course, Tiger gave it. Tiger and Joe are like brothers, tremendous friends. You shouldn’t read anything more in to that other than Joe wants to caddie. He loves it. It’s his passion. He’s great at it and one of the best.”

Steinberg additionally mentioned that Woods is at the moment resting and recovering and has no timeline to return to competitors. Woods has not but named a caddie alternative.

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of feminine varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everybody on the masthead. She can out-hustle them within the workplace, too, the place she’s primarily liable for producing each print and on-line options, and overseeing main particular tasks, resembling GOLF’s inaugural Style Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview collection, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in each within the journal and in video kind on GOLF.com.