Patrick Cantlay, the No. 9-ranked player in the world and No. 3 in the FedExCup standings, will have a familiar face on the bag this week in the playoffs-opening Northern Trust at Liberty National: Joe LaCava, Tiger Woods’ longtime caddie.
Daniel Rapaport of Golf Digest reported the news on Tuesday:
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
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) August 17, 2021
As Rapaport notes, it’s just a temporary gig for LaCava as Cantlay’s regular caddie — Matt Minister — recovers from COVID.
“He’s going to have to put up with the scrub caddie this week,” LaCava joked to Golf Digest.
Cantlay is a two-time winner this season, having won at both the Zozo Championship and the Memorial (the win at Memorial was the second in his career there).
Woods has been away from the game since a horrific automobile accident in February and there’s no timetable for his return. This is LaCava’s second caddie gig since Woods was sidelined. He also looped for his former boss, Fred Couples, at the Principal Charity Classic on the PGA Tour Champions in June. Couples finished tied for sixth.