Who Is Tiger Woods’s New Caddie? Meet Lance Bennett, the Joe LaCava Replacement

Tiger Woods‘s 2024 PGA Tour debut. Yes, we are talking about the Genesis Invitational itself. Although the much-anticipated event is slowly creeping up, the focus seems to be on something else entirely, none other than the tournament host and his new caddie, per reports. Well, from Mike ‘Fluff’ Cowan in 1996 to Joe LaCava in 2023, it now seems Lance Bennett’s name would be added to the list of professional loopers employed by the legend.

Although the news has not been confirmed with Mr. T’s management team, rumors are rife when it comes to the veteran looper helping Woods with the bags. Interestingly, as the event peeks its head out from just around the corner, the community naturally becomes curious about the expert bagman who has caddied for the likes of Matt Kuchar and Sungjae Im.

Tiger Woods turns to Lance Bennett for support

With over two decades of experience as a professional caddie, Bennett is currently helping the Tour rookie Adrien Dumont de Chassart on the bags. However, the young golfer appears not to be taking part in any field this week. This, coupled with the fact that the youngster and the Hall of Famer are managed by the same agency, makes it easier for the expert bagman to help Woods at Riviera.

Although the veteran has not played any collegiate golf, or professionally for that matter, he has caddied for the likes of many PGAT athletes, including Kuchar, Im, Bill Haas, and Davis Riley. Meanwhile, on the women’s circuit, he has helped out the likes of Juli Inkster, Paula Creamer, and Lorena Ochoa. Moreover, back in 2014, he was named 9th on the list of the top-earning caddies of the game by Forbes with numbers of $650,000.

Back in 2012, at the 2012 Players Championship, Bennett was the looper who helped Kuchar emerge victorious. What’s more, the Virginia native was the force behind Riley’s rise on the Jay Monahan-led circuit in 2022, with 6 top-10 finishes including a T2 placement at the Valspar Championship. With such a successful run on the Tour, it’s no wonder that reports indicate the 15-time major champ may be employing the bagman for the upcoming Players as well as the Masters Tournament.

Intriguingly, over the 20 years of carrying the bags for different professionals, certain moments seem to stand out for the looper when it comes to the sport of golf. Bennett himself has opened up about the same.

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Bennett’s memorable instances as a pro caddie!

When asked about his greatest golf memory, the bagman mentioned the time he hit two holes in one. But, when asked about his greatest memory as a caddie, he recounted the Players Championship win, back in 2012, along with the three Ryder Cup appearances he had over the years. However, among the three, the biennial event in 2014 might seem to stand out.

The reason? The caddie lost his wife Angela unexpectedly the month prior in August due to natural causes. Even so, he came back to carry the bags for Kuchar in September on the PGA Centenary Course at the Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland. Although Team U.S.A. did not end up winning, the tournament would have undoubtedly been an instance that he could never forget.

Nevertheless, with reportedly helping out Woods on the cards, it appears he would have yet another memory to call ‘special’ in his life. Anyhow, fingers crossed for the duo!

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