Who Is Tiger Woods’ Caddie?
The 15-time Major winner has worked with some top-class caddies over the years, but who is currently carrying Woods' bag?
With 15 Major wins and a record-equalling 82 victories on the PGA Tour, Tiger Woods has shared that huge success with just a small number of caddies in a professional career that now stretches well over over a quarter of a century.
Woods' first caddie as a professional was Mike 'Fluff' Cowan, who he worked with between 1996 and 1999, including his first Major title, when he stormed to victory at the 1997 Masters.
Following his time with 'Fluff', Woods also had his friend Bryon Bell on the bag for one tournament, and it proved a short but extremely sweet link-up as he won the 1999 Buick Invitational.
The second long-term caddie of Woods' career coincided with the most successful segment of the American's career. New Zealander Steve Williams was at Woods' side for almost 13 years and 13 Major titles - as well as most of his time as World No.1 - before an acrimonious split brought the curtain down on the pair's relationship in 2011.
And until recently, his long-time caddie had been Joe LaCava. By the time of that division, Woods was closer to 40 than 30 and an apparently endless list of injuries was taking its inevitable toll, although he still had his fair share of success with LaCava by his side.
Despite Woods' regular injury problems, LaCava stuck by his man through the years and he was rewarded as Woods claimed his most memorable win in the era - his 15th Major at the 2019 edition of The Masters, for his fifth Green Jacket.
That relationship continued until 2023, when Woods and LaCava split following The Masters and the Connecticut man went on to link up with Patrick Cantlay.
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Yet, for Woods, much of the time since that famous 2019 Major victory has been taken up by a long and frustrating spell on the sidelines. However, by November 2023, Woods was deep into preparations for yet another comeback at the Hero World Challenge.
Although, a big question remained: who would be his (temporary) caddie? That was answered during his press conference before the Albany tournament, where he confirmed it would be his long-time right-hand man Rob McNamara.
Woods said: "I’ve got Rob this week, he’s seen me hit a few shots. As far as next year, I don’t know yet. I don’t think Charlie’s going to be able to caddie. Can’t play hooky that often. I don’t know.
"Honestly, I really don’t know. I was just looking forward to this week and seeing how things turned out. I’m curious to see what 72 holes looks like on the body and my game and then try and set a schedule going forward into next year.”
With McNamara not destined to be a permanent appointment, and with 2024 underway, the question of who would take over in the long run is no closer to being fully answered. But for the time being, Woods' caddie will be Lance Bennett.
Bennett has been a caddie for over 20 years, having started in 2003, and has carried the bag of some huge names in the world of professional golf - including: Matt Kuchar, Zach Johnson, Julie Inkster, Bill Haas, Paula Creamer, and Sungjae Im.
The pro looper was by Kuchar's side for three Ryder Cups and the American's 2012 Players Championship victory - a feat he called one of his greatest memories. Since then, the Virginian has worked with Korean powerhouse Im and American PGA Tour pro, Davis Riley. Bennett's caddie resume has also featured time with Lorena Ochoa.
Bennett has been caddying for Belgian PGA Tour player, Adrien Dumont de Chassart this season, with a best finish of 60th in his four starts since the Korn Ferry Tour Championship. However, as Dumont de Chassart - who shares the same Excel Sports agency as Woods - was not in the 70-man field for the third Signature Event of the season, his assistant was free to switch over to Woods' bag.
Unless the Korn Ferry Tour Grad wins a tournament in the not-too-distant future, Bennett and Woods could team up once more at the Players in March and at The Masters in April, solving the 15-time Major winner's caddie headache over the short term.
Who Has Caddied For Tiger Woods?
Tiger Woods began his professional career with Mike 'Fluff' Cowan. After parting ways, Woods turned to his friend Bryon Bell for the 1999 Buick Invitational, which he won. Woods then enjoyed a hugely successful spell with Steve Williams, including 13 Major titles, before moving on to Joe LaCava, the highlight of which was Woods' win at the 2019 Masters. Ahead of the 2023 Hero World Challenge, Woods revealed he would have long-term right-hand man Rob McNamara on the bag for the tournament. Following a brief stint with daughter Sam Woods as his looper for the PNC Championship, Tiger employed Lance Bennett for the 2024 Genesis Invitational.
Who Is Lance Bennett?
Bennett started as a PGA Tour caddie in 2003 and has carried the bag for some huge names in professional golf - including Bill Haas, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Julie Inkster, and Sungjae Im. He was at Kuchar's side during three Ryder Cups and the American's 2012 Players Championship victory as well.
Bennett never played college golf but has managed to record two Aces in his life, according to an interview with The Caddie Network in 2018. In recent months, Bennett has begun working for Belgian PGA Tour player, Adrien Dumont de Chassart.
Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. An improving golfer who still classes himself as ‘one of the worst players on the Golf Monthly team’, Jonny enjoys playing as much as he can and is hoping to reach his Handicap goal of 18 at some stage. He attended both the 150th and 151st Opens and is keen to make it an annual pilgrimage.
- Mike HallWriter
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