Tiger Woods' Former Caddie Joe LaCava Working For World No.1 Nelly Korda
LaCava is standing in for Nelly Korda's usual caddie at this week's Cognizant Founders Cup
Tiger Woods and his longtime bagman Joe LaCava officially parted ways last week after it was confirmed the veteran caddie had moved onto the bag of Patrick Cantlay for the foreseeable future.
And it seems LaCava is in high demand as he's been spotted with Nelly Korda at this week's Cognizant Founders Cup on the LPGA Tour in New Jersey.
The World No.1's usual caddie Jason McDede is taking time off this week, having just had a baby boy with his wife and four-time Solheim Cup player Caroline Masson, who has wins on both the LPGA and Ladies European Tours.
LaCava and Korda's stint together will be just for the Founders Cup, with his new boss Cantlay practising at home before the second men's Major of the year next week at the PGA Championship.
Korda recently regained her World No.1 spot from Lydia Ko after posting a third-place finish at the first women's Major of the year - the Chevron Championship - where she finished with a closing eagle.
Nelly Korda has Joe LaCava on the bag this week at the Founders Cup. I’m told this is a one week arrangement and that her regular caddie Jason McDede is expected to be back on the bag for Korda’s next event. pic.twitter.com/r9Ntkw1YQIMay 10, 2023
The eight-time LPGA Tour winner will be hoping for a boost and a continuation of her form this week alongside LaCava, who was on the bag of Tiger Woods from 2011 up until this year. They won 12 titles together, including Woods' 15th Major title at the 2019 Masters. He previously had spells with Fred Couples and Dustin Johnson.
Woods' agent Mark Steinberg last week confirmed to ESPN that the pair had gone their separate ways, with the 15-time Major winner currently sidelined after undergoing a subtalar fusion surgery on his foot/ankle after withdrawing from The Masters prior to the final day's play.
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"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 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.
"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. Joe wants to work, and so I think Tiger got that. We're just moving on."
LaCava and new boss Cantlay, the current World No.4, got off to a solid start at last week's Wells Fargo Championship with a T21st finish.
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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