[PHOTO: Icon Sportswire]
Tiger Woods will have veteran Lance Bennett as his caddie for the 2024 Masters.
Next to Woods’ name on the tournament’s caddie registry is Bennett, who had a long run as caddie for Matt Kuchar and has more recently worked for Sungjae Im and Davis Riley. Bennett has also spent time with Zach Johnson and Bill Haas, and had a brief stint working on the LPGA Tour. Woods and Bennett have worked together before, with the duo making their debut earlier this year at the Genesis Invitational.
“I’ve had a great relationship with him over the years going back to when he caddied for ‘Kuch’ and when we played at the Presidents Cup together back in, what, Muirfield Village,” Woods said at Riviera. “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’ previous caddie, Joe LaCava, had been on the bag since 2011. However, LaCava was given Woods’ blessing last May to jump into a full-time gig with Patrick Cantlay. Prior to LaCava, Woods had only two previous long-term caddies in Mike “Fluff” Cowan and Steve Williams.
Woods had signalled in December that he planned on adhering to a once-a-month playing cadence for 2024. However, the 15-time major winner has made just one start this season, completing one round at the Genesis Invitational in February before pulling out of the tournament on the second day due to illness. Woods is coming off an abbreviated 2023 season, where he made only two appearances before undergoing ankle surgery after the Masters. He has played all four rounds of an official tournament just twice in the past four years.
Woods, 48, will be making his 26th Masters start. He is a five-time Masters champion and has made the cut in his past 25 appearances, although withdrew on the weekend at Augusta last year due to injury. Woods is scheduled to speak to the media on Tuesday, US time.
