Sport
Tiger Woods hires Joe LaCava as his caddie
Woods fired Steve Williams after nearly 13 years this summer after Williams worked for Adam Scott while Woods was recovering from a knee injury.
A person familiar with the deal said LaCava informed Johnson of his decision in the locker room after the final round of the Tour Championship. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because neither Woods nor Johnson had spoken publicly about the hire.
LaCava was flying home and could not be immediately reached. Johnson left for a corporate photo shoot in Georgia, then was headed for Scotland for the Dunhill Links Championship.
“I’m excited to be working with Tiger,” LaCava said in the story on Woods’ website. “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.”
LaCava waited for Johnson at his courtesy car to load up his clubs, and their farewell in the parking lot was routine. Johnson had planned to take a couple of friends to Scotland to caddie for him and his brother, Austin, his amateur partner.
Johnson won The Barclays last month with LaCava on the bag, and the news was a surprise. However, LaCava has two children, ages 12 and 14, and as long as he has been a caddie, wants to be spending more time at home. Johnson also is leaning toward taking up European Tour membership next year, which would mean about four additional tournaments overseas.
Woods, even when fully healthy, plays a limited schedule.
The question is whether Woods can make this a profitable move for LaCava. Woods hasn’t won in more than two years on the PGA Tour, and he did not qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs this year, mainly because he missed nearly four months with an injury.
Woods has said his left leg is stronger than it has been in years. Woods next plays at the Frys.com Open in two weeks at CordeValle, about an hour south of San Francisco. Woods also is playing the Australian Open and the Presidents Cup, a competition that will feature all of his caddies, Mike Cowan (now with Jim Furyk) and Williams, who works for Scott.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
