Tiger / Joe LaCava

[Abh159]

Don't know why this thought popped in my head today, but does anyone else wonder what Tiger is paying Joe to be on his bag? 

 

I mean it's not like Tiger is currently raking in the prize money or planning to play more than 5-6 events a year going forward (I wouldn't think). I feel like he has to just be paying him a straight "salary" right?

[Naptime]

Seems a reasonable assumption.

[ChipStrokes]

1 hour ago, Abh159 said:

I feel like he has to just be paying him a straight "salary" right?

that’d be my guess, too. and i bet it’s an extremely generous one. 

[kmbean]

13 minutes ago, ChipStrokes said:

that’d be my guess, too. and i bet it’s an extremely generous one. 

Generous?  Tiger prob doesn’t even buy him a hotdog at the turn.

[NJBigFish22]

I think Joe is overly loyal to him.  Probably getting a good salary, but if I was Joe, after this season, I would look for another bag.  Unless he is at a point in his life he doesn’t want to be out there 25+ weeks a year.

[MtlJeff]

It's a total guess....but i'd guess Tiger is pretty generous now. While he was a psychopathic killer in his younger days (which enabled him to be the best ever) , he seems to have very good perspective now and probably loves golf more than he has since he was a kid.

 

Again all of this is just a guess....But i'd guess he's paying Joe well

[Ghost of Snead]

13 minutes ago, NJBigFish22 said:

I think Joe is overly loyal to him.  Probably getting a good salary, but if I was Joe, after this season, I would look for another bag.  Unless he is at a point in his life he doesn’t want to be out there 25+ weeks a year.

 

No way Joe leaves until #83 is in the books. 

[Trippels]

I'm guessing he's paid a grand for each time he hand's Tiger a club.

[Marco]

I remember reading that Stevie was paid like 50k per year base salary lol, wonder if Joe is paid more than that

[Shilgy]

7 minutes ago, Marco said:

I remember reading that Stevie was paid like 50k per year base salary lol, wonder if Joe is paid more than that

Those 10% earnings for each win piled up then too though

[aenemated]

Dude’s 67 years old. He’s probably doing it for the fun of it at this point.

[bscinstnct]

Prolly like 500k guaranteed plus possible spiffs if he win.

 

Thats about what a caddie for a top 20 player makes (or more) so that’s what JL leaving on the table if TW don’t pay. 

 

 

 

[ChipStrokes]

Just now, bscinstnct said:

Prolly like 500k guaranteed plus possible spiffs if he win.

 

Thats about what a caddie for a top 20 player makes (or more) so that’s what JL leaving on the table if TW don’t pay. 

 

 

 

this was my thought also. tiger is paying joey the kind of money joey woulda made if tiger was really competing. 

[redfirebird08]

1 hour ago, NJBigFish22 said:

I think Joe is overly loyal to him.  Probably getting a good salary, but if I was Joe, after this season, I would look for another bag.  Unless he is at a point in his life he doesn’t want to be out there 25+ weeks a year.

 

Joe is pretty old. Maybe he's glad to have a limited schedule these days. 

[bobfoster]

https://southamptongolfclub.com/joe-lacava-net-worth-wiki/

[Stevens24]

And his son is setup to be Charlie's caddie. I believe there is a certain trust level there. 

[Ghost of Snead]

6 minutes ago, bobfoster said:

https://southamptongolfclub.com/joe-lacava-net-worth-wiki/

 

So Joe is more like 59-60 ... must be in fantastic physical condition to lug TW's bag up and down the hills of Augusta and in the heat/humidity of Tulsa.

[bobfoster]

13 minutes ago, Ghost of Snead said:

 

So Joe is more like 59-60 ... must be in fantastic physical condition to lug TW's bag up and down the hills of Augusta and in the heat/humidity of Tulsa.

Yeah, and actually, being Tiger's caddy makes a great deal of sense. Tiger sounds like he'll likely play five or six tourneys a year even after he's fully recovered - has already said he'll never be a full time tour player again. So as a 60 year old, Joe gets to stay in the game (and, in fact, still get the buzz of being at all four majors for at least a few more years).

 

Not sure he'd even want to be a full time caddy, any more than Tiger will be a full time golfer. The average PGAT pro averages around 20 - 25 tourneys a year. Caddying is a pretty physical job, and at 60 that could get grueling. Seems like a good match for where they both are in life. Neither are ready to just sit at home and watch golf on TV, but neither want the grind of weekly tournaments either (Tiger has already said he doesn't, suspect there's a good chance Joe doesn't either).

 

Doubt he really needs the money at this point. Caddies certainly don't make the fortunes golfers do, but those at his level (considering the people he's carried a bag for), probably have lifetime earnings similar to the average executive at a large corporation. 

[mizuno player]

Joe isn't going anywhere. He's enjoying time with his family and he is very loyal. I agree that Tiger is paying a handsome amount of money to sit home .. I want that job!!! Just the sitting home and getting paid. Not actually working. 😁

[Go Cougs]

4 minutes ago, bobfoster said:

lifetime earnings similar to the average executive at a large corporation

Are we talking saltysupercharger money?

[vikingjr25]

Tiger is worth a billion dollars. Joe is getting paid.

[Loki]

I read that when TW was on one of his "hiatuses", Lacava was paid $1mill to not caddy for anyone else. We have heard the stories of Woods being stingy with money...but for some reason I believe the above is true.

[grm24]

https://www.insider.com/tiger-woods-paid-caddie-joe-lacava-back-injuries-2020-11

[NJBigFish22]

2 hours ago, Ghost of Snead said:

 

No way Joe leaves until #83 is in the books. 

He may be dead before that happens.  Watching him at Augusta and the last 2 days I don’t see 83 happening.

[NJBigFish22]

1 hour ago, redfirebird08 said:

 

Joe is pretty old. Maybe he's glad to have a limited schedule these days. 

Exactly my point as to why Joe remains on the bag, because he probably doesn’t want to be carrying a bag 25 weeks a year.

[A.Princey]

36 minutes ago, NJBigFish22 said:

He may be dead before that happens.  Watching him at Augusta and the last 2 days I don’t see 83 happening.

6 rounds in, for a guy most thought wouldn’t be capable of walking a single round in ‘22(much less consecutive cuts made), it’s a little premature to speculate such foolishness, no? He just bested OWGR #1 today, I’d lay off the wild takes until we get a healthy man out there.

Edited May 21, 2022 by A.Princey

[Greg_B]

44 minutes ago, NJBigFish22 said:

He may be dead before that happens.  Watching him at Augusta and the last 2 days I don’t see 83 happening.

I dunno. The Zozo is pretty easy. 

[ea19]

Good question.  I would find it hard to believe he is getting $500K to $1M.  He has worked like three weeks in last year and a half.  I don’t see him making that much.  
Hopefully I am wrong though. 

[NJBigFish22]

23 minutes ago, A.Princey said:

6 rounds in, for a guy most thought wouldn’t be capable of walking a single round in ‘22(much less consecutive cuts made), it’s a little premature to speculate such foolishness, no? He just bested OWGR #1 today, I’d lay off the wild takes until we get a healthy man out there.

So in all the years he was number 1 nobody ever shot a round better than him.  Your argument is weak and foolish on that.  If he played in the morning wave today he isn’t making the cut.  Also his game at this point isn’t sharp enough to contend, and I don’t see him getting to the point where he can practice enough to make that happen with his injuries.  

 

JT probably had the best round of the day, Zalatoris, Mito and bubba with nine birdies may have had lower scores, but not the best round.

[OnTheBag]

Very few loopers last beyond their mid 50's.  Terry Holt, Mike Cowan, and Bones are the few that come to mind.  But the wear and tear on the legs is what did me in from a full time gig at 57.  Joe has had an amazing and lucrative career.  Unlike those of us that never got lucky enough to land a superstar, he landed many of them and his bank account shows it. 

 

Bones had a great run with Phil and then took 5 years off.  So he has fresh legs so to speak.  Terry is working a 26 stop schedule that's only 54 holes a week.   

 

Fluff is an anomaly and is still on the bag for two reasons.  1) He loves the sport and 2) His youngest daughter is still in college.  Once she graduates, he's vowed to hang it up.  

 

Don't read too much into all this.  I'm sure Joe is on a healthy retainer from TW, but it's more about the convenience of the schedule at his age while still getting to enjoy the game.  

 

If you've ever wondered what it's like to caddy professionally....Load up your bag to 45 lbs, then go out for a 1 pm tee time mid summer.  Now do it for 6 rounds a week every week all summer.  The hips, knees, and back take a beating.