Tiger Woods found himself without a caddie following Joe LaCava’s switch to Patrick Cantlay.
But the 15-time major champion had not long been out of the surgery room at that stage following his withdrawal from the 2023 Masters.
Who could’ve guessed that Woods’ looper with whom he won the 2019 Masters would make such headlines at the 2023 Ryder Cup?
As Woods decided to return to the Hero World Challenge after a lengthy absence in December last year, he will need a bag carrier.
“I don’t think Charlie’s going to be able to caddie,” Woods said about his son at the Hero World Challenge. “He can’t play hooky that often, so I don’t know. Honestly, I really don’t know.”
The picture became a little clearer before Woods teed it up at the 2024 Genesis Invitational in February.
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Tiger Woods caddie: Who is his new looper?
Rob McNamara was the Tiger Woods caddie at the Hero World Challenge.
He is a long-time business partner and vice president of TGR Ventures – a company led by Woods which includes the TGR Foundation, TGR Design and TGR Live.
McNamara has been a friend of Woods since their junior golf days. He worked at IMG from 2000 to 2005 and has often been seen as a second set of eyes for Woods at many events in previous years.
“I think the best scenario would be a tournament a month,” Woods said. “I think that’s realistic. Whether that is – maybe you’d have to start with the Genesis and then play something in March – maybe The Players, and again, we have a set-up right now where the biggest events are once per month,” he added.
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“I love competing. I love playing. I miss being out here with the guys. I miss the camaraderie and the fraternity-like atmosphere out here and the overall banter, but what drives me is I love to compete.
“There will come a point in time, I haven’t come around to it fully yet that I won’t be able to win again. When that day comes, I’ll walk.”
However, McNamara wasn’t on the bag for the 15-time major champion at Riviera Country Club.
Golfweek first reported that veteran caddie Lance Bennett – the former caddie of Matt Kuchar – had been chosen as the newest Tiger Woods caddie.
Bennett has recently looped for Sungjae Im and Davis Riley, while also working for Julie Inkster, Paula Creamer and Lorena Ochoa on the LPGA Tour.
“As far as Lance is concerned, I’ve had a great relationship with him over the years going back to when he caddied for Kooch and when we played at the Presidents Cup together back in, what, Muirfield Village,” Woods said.
“In all the years that we’ve been on Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups together and the times I’ve been able to play with him in the same groups. Very down to earth, very loyal and how he conversated through the years, I’ve also taken notice of that.
“We’ve had the same type of feels in how we look at the golf course and how we read putts, they’re very similar. I think it’s a great – we’re going to be a great team and look forward to the challenge.”
Woods went on to play in all four majors in 2024, but only made the cut at one of them which was the Masters.
Woods enjoyed the most successful portion of his career with caddie Steve Williams. The legendary Mike ‘Fluff’ Cowan also caddied for him at the start of his ascendancy.
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