The Round Table: can Tiger’s caddie help Patty Ice?

Each week we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.

Last week, Joe LaCava, Tiger Woods’ long-time caddie, announced that he was going to work for Patrick Cantlay. This makes sense since Tiger is sidelined indefinitely. What was left unsaid is whether or not Joey will return to Tiger if and when Tiger returns to play. What’s your take on the situation and do you think LaCava can make a difference for Cantlay?

Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): I had the pleasure of getting to know Joe LaCava when he caddied for Fred Couples in the 90s.  A finer guy you couldn’t meet.  One of the first of the group who made caddying a real profession vs a bunch of vagabonds who picked up any bag going each week. (Joe, Squeaky Medlin, Bruce Edwards, Steve Williams, Angelo Argea and a few others were in that group). I think Joe will help Cantlay, yes — if only to inject some degree of life into Cantlay’s personality!  I would imagine that the agreement with Cantlay would permit Joe to caddy for Tiger when the need arises, though.

Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: It’s time for Tiger to hang ’em up or play for L1V. Today’s PGA Tour players are running a business. They have agents, coaches, shrinks, etc. and caddies. The caddy is the most vital piece of the equation. They are there for everything that goes into the shot-making performance. They are there for researching the courses, prepare the equipment, calculate the shots, morale, protection and friendship. A good caddy/player relationship is an extremely personal bond. Cantlay will benefit from this.

TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAwayTJ): Well, we all know what one change he should make to Cantlay’s game, but it’s not likely to happen, so I hope that LaCava has lots of patience.  This all makes sense, he’s obviously one of the most respected caddies in the game and he deserves a good bag while Tiger recovers (or retires).  I think if Tiger returned, he would likely get Joe back on his bag, but who knows.  I guess it all depends on what that timeline looks like.  In the meantime, he’ll make a good haul caddying for one of the most consistent players in the game.

Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine (@FairwaysMag): My feeling is that Tiger is all but done so there won’t be much of a decision to make. Not sure why Cantlay parted company with his last caddie unless he anticipated working with LaCava. Cantlay always looks like he’s wound pretty tight; maybe Joe can get him to chill a bit and enjoy himself more.

The European Ryder Cup situation is a mess. Following the resignations of Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood from the DP World Tour, future captaincies are off the table and even their participation in future Ryder Cups is in doubt. Add Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer to the mix and it looks like future teams will lose out on coaching, inspiration and leadership from an incredible group of experienced players from the past 20 years. Are we looking at years of American dominance while Team Europe grooms some new leaders?

Deeks: Yes, probably.  And that’s a real shame.  The Ryder Cup has become one of the greatest spectacles in sport… even though it excludes the best players from Asia, Australia, Canada, South Africa and South America.  LIV Golf is not going to survive, but its effects will have repercussions on the professional game for at least a decade, until the renegade players are too old to be a factor (notwithstanding the Champions Tour, from which they will be prohibited, I assume).  Part of Greg Norman’s sworn destiny was to disrupt the world of golf.  Well, waytago Greg, you’ve succeeded.

Schurman: This is called ‘collateral damage’ caused by Jay Monahan. At the very outset of serious competition, he started blasting mortar rounds. To date, he has never mentioned the Saudi human rights policy or the term ‘blood money’ meaning his entire objection is competition. He reacted by making the two-tiered PGA TOUR, causing an irreparable rift between fans, players, and sponsors which of course includes the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup. In what could have become a true world tour showcasing men and women competing fairly and growing the game in countries where it is weak instead, we have mud-covered battlefields full of resentment and hate. Here, I thought golf was a gentlemen’s game.

Rule: It will certainly have an impact on the European team dynamic, which is a shame.  It was likely inevitable that one if not all of those guys would end up as Captain in their careers.  The impact that Garcia, Poulter and Westwood have had as players is arguably more than any other three Euro players in the history of the event.  All 3 are in the top 10 all time in Ryder Cup points, with Garcia and Poulter in the top 3 in all-time points for Euro players.  So yes, this will sting more than the US team losing DJ and maybe Talor Gooch as players and maybe Phil as a future Captain.

Mumford: The future looks bleak for the Euros, and not just because of the loss of that former group. The DP World Tour / PGA Tour alliance is so one sided that eventually it will become PGA Tour Europe, with Jay Monahan calling all the shots. LIV golfers will never be welcome back under such a scenario. How can any Tour survive if its 10 best players go to a rival Tour each year? How can a Ryder Cup team survive and flourish if it bans all it’s legacy heroes? Best if Pelley and company suck it up and go it alone now and welcome any Euro who will play.

Spring has finally arrived. Name a local course that you’ve never played that’s on your list to visit this season.

Deeks: Coppinwood. I’m open to any invitation.  (Hint, hint.)

Schurman: It isn’t on my list unless one of you guys invites me, but I’d love to play Goodwood.

Rule: There are a few courses in the K-W area that I’d like to see for the first time, including Whistle Bear and Elmira, and I haven’t visited Westmount in about 20 years, so I look forward to re-familiarising myself with that old Stanley Thompson classic again.

Mumford: I’m trying to play a course each week that I’ve never played before. This week it’s Lake St. George, just north of Orillia.