Report: Tiger Woods And Caddie Joe LaCava Split

The pair have reportedly split after working together since 2011, with LaCava now teaming up with Patrick Cantlay

Joe LaCava and Tiger Woods during the 2023 Masters at Augusta National
Tiger Woods and caddie Joe LaCava have reportedly parted ways
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Tiger Woods and his long-time caddie Joe LaCava have reportedly parted ways. 

LaCava had been working with Woods since 2011, and was on the bag when he claimed the most recent of his 15 Major wins at the 2019 Masters. 

However, Woods' most recent Augusta National appearance, which saw him withdraw during the third round, looks like being the last time LaCava caddied for him. Woods is currently out of action following ankle surgery and, with no estimated return date, per the Golf Channel's Todd Lewis, LaCava has now teamed up with Patrick Cantlay, starting with this week's Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.

Woods' agent Mark Steinberg also confirmed that was the case. He 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."

LaCava teams up with the World No.4 as he experiences a solid season on the PGA Tour, which has included top-five finishes in three designated events. However, Cantlay split with his long-time caddie Matt Minister after he and Xander Schauffele finished tied for fourth in last month's Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Cantlay and Minister had enjoyed success over a number of years, including victories in the 2019 Memorial Tournament, 2021 Tour Championship and, most recently, last August’s BMW Championship, but that wasn't enough to keep the working relationship going. 

Meanwhile, although Cantlay form has been excellent in recent months, he has made headlines for another reason – perceived slow play. After the Masters, joint runner-up at Augusta National, Brooks Koepka, declared Cantlay’s group in the final round as “brutally slow,” with most observers suggesting it was the American rather than his playing partner Viktor Hovland who was most at fault.

Cantlay has worked with LaCava in the past, albeit on a temporary basis, during the 2021 Northern Trust Open. LaCava has also caddied for Fred Couples, while he was on the bag for Steve Stricker at TPC Louisiana two weeks ago. 

Mike Hall
News Writer

Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories. 

He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game. 

Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course. 

Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.