A victory that runs in the family. The triumph of Joe Highsmith at the Cognizant Classic confirms the birth of a saga, although we are not precisely referring to the golfer’s family. The bag of the American player has been carried for a few months by Joe LaCava Jr, yes, the son of the legendary caddie of Tiger Woods, who was also present this week at PGA National with Patrick Cantlay‘s bag on his back.
This is the first victory for caddie LaCava Jr on the PGA Tour, although he already tasted the sweetness of triumph with Steve Stricker on the PGA Tour Champions in 2023 at the Regions Tradition.
Highsmith and LaCava have been friends for several years, and last autumn they decided to join forces: “He’s working very well. I think it’s been a great transition working for me,” Highsmith said this Sunday. “A couple of years ago on the Korn Ferry Tour, we stayed in houses together at a couple of different tournaments and became friends, and he was working for one of my friends at that time. Last year we got to know each other more. I think his Korn Ferry season was coming to an end, and he asked if I needed someone for the autumn.
“I had a really bad year, and I thought, why not?” Highsmith admits. Since they teamed up, the golfer turned his season around with two top-10s and five top-25s in six tournaments and managed to retain his card for the season. “He’s really good at what he does, but he’s also a friend, and we have a lot of fun out there,” Highsmith said.
“I think having Joe today was good, obviously, with the great pressure I had, he knew how to keep me relaxed. It’s like walking with one of your friends, and that part has been great, but he also knew how to keep me focused on the process and everything else, it’s been great. Incredible,” concluded the debutant champion on the PGA Tour.
For Joe Jr, a long story of comparisons begins. The shadow of his father is long. LaCava has become one of the most legendary caddies, winning 12 times with Fred Couples, including the 1992 Masters and the 1996 The Players. LaCava spent a brief period with Dustin Johnson before joining Tiger Woods in 2011 and was the one carrying the Cypress native’s bag when he won the historic 2019 Masters. When Tiger stopped competing after the accident and subsequent injuries, Joe took over Patrick Cantlay’s bag.
Joe LaCava Sr still has a long way to go, but the son is already showing promise. Could this be the start of the second LaCava dynasty?
