Tiger Woods and Joe LaCava! Ooohhhh

[MiniBlueDragon]

News just broken on Sky TV in the UK (Dustin called Butch Harmon directly to let him know):

Tiger Woods now paired with Joe LaCava as caddy . Ooohhh...

[xxsoultonesxx]

Seems like a stupid move for LaCava...

(Flame suit armed and ready)

[Long Ball Larry]

Seems like a stupid move for LaCava...

(Flame suit armed and ready)

At first glance, I have to agree. DJ is eight years younger and a much better player right now. He seems like he'd be easy to work for. You'd probably score points with him just for making sure he is on time for his rounds.

[indybuckeyefan]

i think this will be good for both

joe has been in the limelight with fred

and tiger must realize his worth to already hire him permanantly

[clubchamp]

I wonder what kind of coin he got to make the move... Money talks

[Sing Golfer]

If you give DJ a Hall of Fame type career, that would be a very good earner for LaCava, but if Tiger can make a comeback (obviously views vary greatly here) then you get to experience golfing history as best you can without hitting a shot.

He'll know the outcome in 3-5 years. He can hook up with the next young gun after that.

Tiger has clearly been able to convince LaCava that he is phyiscally fit. The mental side - well you just have to take a punt on that.

[gogolfing]

Link to the ESPN story http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/7019948/tiger-woods-hire-dustin-johnson-caddie-joe-lacava

Nice telling him about it in the parking lot.... but looks like he has his reasons for going to Tiger that aren't all financial.

President's Cup coming,  LaCava is Captain Freddy's former caddy.... hope we see a Tiger vs. Adam Scott singles on the last day; might make some interesting side bars.....

[makaveli]

Originally Posted by gogolfing

President's Cup coming,  LaCava is Captain Freddy's former caddy.... hope we see a Tiger vs. Adam Scott singles on the last day; might make some interesting side bars.....

That would be sweet to watch!

[newtogolf]

LaCava is seeing the potential for fame and fortune just like Stevie had.  While DJ probably is the better bet to make more money with from tournament play Tiger will help him gain endorsements and give him more camera time and name recognition within the industry especially if Tiger still has a few good years of golf in him.

[RJ32S]

LeCava is already incredibly well known in the industry.   He's one of the biggest names jocking.

Unless LeCava and DJ had an agreement that their relationship was short term, this a classless move by Joe.  IMO.

[iacas]

Smart move by both, I think. Oh, and:

Quote:

"The thing that bothered me the most was T.W. not calling Dustin and asking if he could talk to Joe," said Harmon, who used to work with Woods. "That's the way it's done. I'm a little disappointed with the way Tiger handled it. But I'm not surprised."

Earlier the article says that LaCava reached out and contacted Tiger. Caddies aren't indentured servants. You don't have to "buy one" off another player. If the caddie doesn't like the player, he's free to leave, too.

Three scenarios are possible:

1. Tiger calls to get a preliminary yes, then doesn't hire Joe. Dustin's on to Joe and their relationship goes south.
2. Tiger calls to get a preliminary yes, but Dustin doesn't give him permission. Then, uhhh....
3. Tiger calls to get a preliminary yes, Dustin says "yes," and that's that.

Only one of those three is a good thing.

What is this, high school? The guy carries a bag around - of his own free will - and he was tired of working for a lazy dude.

[newtogolf]

LaCava is well known in the industry but not in the way Williams is.  I don't see him walking around with the level of endorsements Williams has.

Originally Posted by RJ32S

LeCava is already incredibly well known in the industry.   He's one of the biggest names jocking.

Unless LeCava and DJ had an agreement that their relationship was short term, this a classless move by Joe.  IMO.

[gogolfing]

Tim Rosaforte has also tweeted, as the ESPN article alludes to, that Tiger's lighter schedule was the determining factor.

[x129]

Seems like a good time to quit your job. The season is over and it gives you man plenty of time to find a replacement. Quitting the week before a major would be classes. It also sounds like a big reason for the change is the LeCava doesn't want to play as much as DJ will be playing.

Originally Posted by RJ32S

LeCava is already incredibly well known in the industry.   He's one of the biggest names jocking.

Unless LeCava and DJ had an agreement that their relationship was short term, this a classless move by Joe.  IMO.

[jamo]

Tim Rosaforte has also tweeted, as the ESPN article alludes to, that Tiger's lighter schedule was the determining factor.

Yeah, not really all that surprising that LaCava would want a lighter schedule, he's got two teenage kids. [quote name="RJ32S" url="/t/53470/tiger-woods-and-joe-lacava-ooohhhh#post_650222"]

LeCava is already incredibly well known in the industry.   He's one of the biggest names jocking.

Unless LeCava and DJ had an agreement that their relationship was short term, this a classless move by Joe.  IMO.

[/quote] I don't see anything classless about this at all. He's an employee to DJ, and a very weakly tied one at that. Employees are allowed to seek a job they like better.

[Undr Par]

Didn't the article also state that DJ is going to get his European Tour card and play a bit more over seas next season? it ties into the JL has 2 younger children and he wants more time with them...as TW schedule is lesser then then DJ...no sour milk spilled here imho......no harm no foul..

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by RJ32S

LeCava is already incredibly well known in the industry.   He's one of the biggest names jocking.

Unless LeCava and DJ had an agreement that their relationship was short term, this a classless move by Joe.  IMO.

Leaving is always a difficult situation. DJ wanted to play in Europe more often, and Joe wanted to spend more time with his kids. DJ doesn't have the greatest work ethic; Joe apparently wants someone who will work. Tiger loves sports. Joe talks sports. DJ talks fishin'.

Sounds like it will be better for both of them in the long run.

[Topper]

It makes a difference who reached out first.  It seems that LeCava called TW.  If I'm LeCava, I'm asking TW to not call my boss to let him know that I'm considering leaving.  If it was the other way around, then a courtesy call from TW to DJ would probably be appropriate.  TW is getting bashed for this unfairly IMO.

Whether or not it's a good move by LeCava is a determination that only LeCava and time can tell.  I was listening to the Golf Channel yesterday and they indicated that other factors were considered by LeCava.  These included a desire to minimize global travel and a preference for TW's tendency to play a reduced schedule.  The GC also sited some off-course friction but was not specific.