After three long years, Will Zalatoris scored the second ace of his career at the Genesis Invitational, the last being at the 2020 U.S. Open. The 30-year-old golfer had four bogeys and two birdies in the Friday round at Riviera when he shot an 184-yard hole-in-one at the par-3 14th hole. The incredible shot earned Zalatoris and his caddie Genesis cars, a GV80, and an Electric GV70; the former for the golfer and the latter for his bagman.

After Zalatoris charted the leaderboard, and tied for the second, curiosity about his bagman began in the golf world, who lifted him in the air during the celebration. Who is Joel Stock and how did he become the caddie for Zalatoris? Here’s all you need to know about Stock’s journey to golf!

The early life of Joel Stock 

In the capital of Orange County, Joel Stock was born in April 1974 to the Stock family in Santa Ana. The Californian golfer was a curious child and had an interest in many things at once, and that pursuit had followed him throughout his life. At the early age of his life, the Stock family had shifted from California to Oregon.

Stock started his educational journey in his hometown, Sweet Home, at the Sweet Home High School. Growing up, Ben Crenshaw used to be the caddie’s favorite golfer, and he aspired to be like him. To follow his dreams of chasing golf, Stock graduated from high school in 1992 and was admitted to the University of Oregon.

There, the now 50-year-old became a part of the University of Oregon men’s golf team, the Oregon Ducks, and played for them for four years. He had Ben Crane, his future employer, as his teammate. Stock graduated from the university in 1997 and tried his luck in professional golf, though he later decided to try to become a musician.

Alongside his older brother, Stock started a band called ‘The Stock Brothers’. For three years, the two brothers traveled the country and released three records. While trying his hands at music, Stock also started a few different businesses. Until he got his caddie break on the PGA Tour, Stock built a coffee business and ran it for a while. He started working as a mortgage broker until he was contacted by an old friend.

Joel Stock’s caddie start at the PGA Tour 

After learning about business and becoming a musician, Stock was contacted by his Duck teammate, Ben Crane, to caddie for him in 2009, twelve years after their graduation. Crane wanted Stock to fill in only for two weeks. However, those days got extended by a decade and the two remained partners until 2019. With Stock’s guidance, Crane won four titles: the Farmers Insurance Open, the McGladery Classic, the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic, and the greatest memory of Stock, the 2014 FedEx St. Jude Classic.

After ten years, in 2020, Stock moved to the bag of Kevin Tway, who played on the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour. However, after a year together, the California native started working with Cameron Tringale in 2021. The stint with Triangle was short-lived as well. So, when Will Zalatoris parted ways with his long-time caddie, Ryan Goble, Stock was the first choice.

In 2022, Stock accompanied Zalatoris on the greens for the first time at the FedExCup St. Jude Championship. Having won it with Crane, the seasoned caddie was well-versed in the game. While making a few dad jokes and keeping Zalatoris relaxed yet equipped with guidance, Zalatoris earned his maiden PGA Tour win at the St. Jude Championship with Stock.

The two were an outstanding team together and hence, even after Zalatoris recovered from a back injury, Stock did not leave him. The two are playing together in 2024 and so far, under Stock’s influence, Zalatoris will be contending for his career’s second victory at the Genesis Invitational. If Zalatoris wins the Genesis Invitational, it will be his second win and his caddie’s sixth in his career.

Joel Stock’s family and other 

Living in the state of Oregon, Stock described taking care of his family as one of his hobbies. The veteran caddie has a loving family and has been married for twelve years to his wife, Barbara Stock. The couple has two beautiful girls, Emerson and Avery. Other than keeping up with his family, Stock also has a passion for hiking, traveling, and working out.

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Besides being a caddie, he is also a real estate agent. Stock holds a license of practice in the state of Oregon and when he is off caddie duties, he helps people buy houses. It has been twenty-four years since Stock started caddying and in the last three decades; he has made a name for himself in the golf world as one of the most seasoned caddies!

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