Who is Patrick Cantlay’s caddie?
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He’s a multiple PGA Tour winner and Ryder Cup star, but who is Patrick Cantlay’s caddie?
Patrick Cantlay has established himself as one of the best and most consistent golfers in the world – but who is his caddie?
It’s rare for a caddie to be almost as famous as the player but that is the case for this duo for a number of reasons.
Chief among them is that Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava used to work for Tiger Woods before the 15-time major champion was forced to strip his schedule way back due to the injuries he suffered in a serious car crash in 2021.
LaCava teamed up with Cantlay in May 2023 after calling Woods to get his blessing.
“You’d be crazy not to take the job. Go for it. Go wins some tournaments and have a great time,” Woods told LaCava.
Who is Patrick Cantlay’s caddie?
LaCava was born in Newton, Connecticut in 1955 and is married with two children, Joe Jr and Lauren.
Over his career, he has established himself as one of the best-known caddies of all time. He first made a name for himself when he picked up the bag of 1992 Masters champion Fred Couples.
LaCava was alongside Couples for his victory at Augusta National and spent more than 20 years with the smooth-swinging American.
Then came the tough decision to move on and start working with Dustin Johnson in 2011. However, LaCava was soon on the move again when an offer to caddie for Woods fell across his lap a few months later.
It came as a surprise for Johnson after the pair enjoyed success in their short time together, but the lure of Woods proved too great for LaCava to turn down.
Woods had not long fired Steve Williams before turning to LaCava.
“Joe is an outstanding caddie and I have known him for many years,” Woods said at the time. “I’ve personally seen the great job he did for Freddie [Couples]. I’m anxious for us to be working together.”
LaCava was on the bag of Woods through various injury comebacks, swing changes and dips in form, but there were some incredible moments in there.
Woods’s win at the 2018 Tour Championship and 2019 Masters provided iconic scenes that will live long in the memory.
However, since his car crash in 2021, Woods has struggled just to complete a 72-hole event, let alone contend for victories, and LaCava is now on the bag of Cantlay.
As well as the big names and major championships, LaCava thrust himself into the spotlight at the 2023 Ryder Cup.
Late on Saturday evening at Marco Simone Golf Club, LaCava’s antics on the 18th green drew the ire of Rory McIlroy and the altercation spilled over into a shouting match in the car park.
After Cantlay, who had been getting grief from the pro-European crowd, holed a 30-footer for birdie, LaCava gave it back to the fans as McIlroy sized up his putt to half the match.
The Northern Irishman felt his preparations were disrupted by LaCava, creating another incredible moment in Ryder Cup history as McIlroy hurled barbs towards the American camp in the car park before being taken away from the course by Shane Lowry.
“LaCava used to be a nice guy when he was caddying for Tiger [Woods] and now he’s caddying for that d**k [Cantlay], he’s turned into an a*s,” McIlroy was quoted as saying in an interview with the Irish Independent.
Cantlay and LaCava have yet to land a victory together.
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Joe LaCava is Patrick Cantlay's caddie.
