Nelly Korda. Julio Aguilar
Joe LaCava must have been really anxious to get back out caddieing again. After starting last week working full-time for Patrick Cantlay on the PGA Tour, Tiger Woods’ former caddie is making a one-week cameo on another top-ranked player’s bag: Nelly Korda.
The LPGA Tour confirmed that LaCava, 59, will work this week for the No. 1 player in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings during the Cognizant Founders Cup at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, New Jersey.
Ben Walton
The opportunity arose as Korda’s usual caddie, Jason McDede, had his first son on Saturday, April 29. It was the morning of the third round of the JM Eagle LA Championship, where Korda finished T-6.
Nelly Korda has Joe LaCava on the bag this week at the Founders Cup. I’m told this is a one week arrangement and that her regular caddie Jason McDede is expected to be back on the bag for Korda’s next event. pic.twitter.com/r9Ntkw1YQI
— Amy Rogers (@TheAmyRogers) May 10, 2023
“It was very unexpected, but they’re both doing really well, both healthy, and Jason is back home with the baby,” Korda said. “Yeah, I can’t wait to meet him
Korda had her sister Jessica’s caddie, Kyle Morrison, work for her during the remainder of the event and the International Crown. According to a report from Golf Channel, McDede will caddie for Korda again in her next event. Per the LPGA’s website, Korda’s next start will be the Mizuho Americas Open June 1-4 at Jersey City.
LaCava picked up Patrick Cantlay’s bag last week at the Wells Fargo Championship, where Cantlay said that the change would be full-time, apparently ending the 12-year relationship between LaCava and Woods. With the World No. 4 taking off this week’s AT&T Byron Nelson, the Founders is relatively close to Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, where Cantlay will be teeing it up in next week’s PGA Championship.
