Tiger Woods’ caddie has gotten the call from the bullpen.
Joe LaCava is scheduled to be on the bag of Patrick Cantlay this week at Liberty National Gold Club for The Northern Trust in Jersey City, New Jersey, the first of three FedEx Cup playoff events.
“He’s going to have to put up with the scrub caddie this week,” kidded LaCava to Golf Digest.
Cantlay’s regular caddie, Matt Minister, who was on the bag for Cantlay’s latest victory at The Memorial in June, is sidelined after testing positive with COVID-19. Cantlay subbed with Joe Skovron, Rickie Fowler’s regular bagman, at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.
Cantlay enters the week ranked third in the FedEx Cup points standings thanks to two victories, and that’s not all that is at stake for him during the playoff run.
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He needs to make up some ground to earn an automatic pick for the U.S. Ryder Cup team or to assure Captain Steve Stricker that his game is in top form for a captain’s pick. Cantlay played under Tiger Woods at the 2019 Presidents Cup in Australia.
Tiger’s caddie Joe LaCava is on the bag for Patrick Cantlay at the Northern Trust this week.
Just a fill-in gig as Cantlay’s full time looper, Matt Minister, is out with COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/4E8Xk53EaU
— Daniel Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) August 17, 2021
LaCava, who lives in the tri-state area in Connecticut and is a diehard New York Giants fan, has been in semi-retirement since Tiger Woods sustained injuries when he was involved in a single-car crash in February. Woods currently is recovering and hasn’t release a timetable for his return.
Previously, when Woods was out with a back injury, LaCava had inquiries to see if he was available for work, but politely declined to work for anyone else. That loyalty was rewarded in memorable victories with Woods at the 2018 Tour Championship, the 2019 Masters, his 15thmajor, and a win at the Zozo Championship in Japan that tied Sam Snead for the most wins on the PGA Tour with 82.
LaCava also looped for former boss Fred Couples at the Principal Charity Classic on the PGA Tour Champions earlier this year. Couples finished tied for sixth.
Cantlay is schedule to tee off on Thursday at 8:26 am ET on the 10th tee.