Tiger Woods’ longtime caddie Joe LaCava will be on the bag for World No. 4 golfer Patrick Cantlay beginning this week at the Wells Fargo Championship, the Golf Channel reported on Tuesday.

Per the report, LaCava is expected to be with Cantlay for “the foreseeable future,” with Woods giving the caddie his “blessing” to do so. Woods recently announced that he underwent a subtalar fusion procedure to address post-traumatic arthritis from the injuries to his right foot that he sustained in a car accident two years ago.

LaCava will replace Matt Minister, who had been with Cantlay since 2017. LaCava briefly worked with Cantlay during the 2021 Northern Trust, with Minister missing that tournament due to COVID-19.

Golf Digest reported Cantlay and Minister parted ways after last month’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

–Field Level Media

Consider Tony Finau thankful to work through the nuances of altering his tournament lineup to fit the PGA Tour’s evolving schedule.

The way Finau sees it, the product is improving the experience for the fans. And, yes, the 33-year-old is certainly reaping the benefits as well.

When LIV Golf debuted last year, Finau’s name was rarely associated with rumors of players bolting for the rival league. He stayed loyal to the PGA Tour despite having the reputation of an uber-talented golfer who had too often faltered on Sundays throughout his career.

Flash forward, and Finau is coming off his second win of the season on Sunday and fourth in his past 19 worldwide starts. He also survived a Sunday push from world No. 1 Jon Rahm.

It was the latest in a string of marquee Sunday battles on the PGA Tour this season, with Rahm and Finau the two highest-ranked players at the Mexico Open. Finau pointed to the burgeoning rivalries, many contested in the new elevated events, as the primary reason he is a fan of the new scheduling format.

This week’s Wells Fargo Championship is also the ninth of 17 “designated events” in 2023. With a $20 million purse at stake, the events have been drawing deep fields.

“I think if you look at the leaderboards, you look at the rivalries that it’s already created and the pressure-packed moments, I think it’s been pretty dang cool for our game,” Finau said Tuesday. “I think our last one we had (Jordan) Spieth and (Matt) Fitzpatrick in a playoff. We’ve had Rahmbo and (Max) Homa, we’ve had Rahmbo and (Scottie) Scheffler. Rahmbo and (Collin) Morikawa, right?

“You’ve had these heavyweights go at it in our game more often, which I think is good for our game.

“I think we have to move toward how the game is going to be more presentable on TV, how it’s going to be more accessible, more watchable. I believe that the best way to do it is have the best players play against each other more often and that’s what we’re seeing.”

While all of the change has fractured the professional landscape, it has certainly worked out well for Finau. The soft-spoken Salt Lake City native has risen to No. 11 in the Official World Golf Rankings and has already topped $5 million in earnings through 13 events this season.

Finau was featured in the Netflix docuseries “Full Swing,” where he balanced the burden of trying to elevate his game while also traveling with his family on tour for the 2021-22 season.

The 2022-23 season has brought further change with the elevated events. This week will already be Finau’s 12th tournament of 2023, and the PGA Championship is just two weeks away.

This is a transition year of sorts, with the PGA Tour returning to a calendar year-based schedule in 2024. There will be more elevated events and more changes to Finau’s schedule, but he’s willing to adapt to help improve the end product.

“It has thrown my schedule a little bit for a loop,” Finau acknowledged. “It will do the same next year, but I think these are the sacrifices that I’m willing to make as a player to play these events as elevated events.

“Overall, everybody has to sacrifice a little bit I think as far as their schedule is concerned. Next year we’re going to see more of that, and it’s just cool to be a part of it.”

–Field Level Media

Jim Furyk was named the captain for the U.S. team at the 2024 Presidents Cup on Tuesday.

The biennial event between U.S. and international teams is slated for Sept. 24-29, 2024 in Montreal.

Canada’s Mike Weir was named captain of the international squad in November.

Furyk, a 17-time winner on the PGA Tour, makes his debut as captain. He played in seven Presidents Cups from 1998-2011, compiling a 20-10-3 record, and was a captain’s assistant in 2015 and 2017.

“Being selected by my peers to take on the role as captain of the U.S. Team for the 2024 Presidents Cup is truly an honor that I am humbled and excited to accept,” said Furyk, captain of the victorious U.S. squad at the 2018 Ryder Cup.

“Over the span of several decades this event has evolved tremendously into the global showcase it is today, and I am thrilled to help continue that momentum. So many legendary captains have come before me, so now to be here as the 2024 U.S. Team Captain is quite remarkable.”

Furyk participated in the only previous Presidents Cup staged at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Quebec back in 2007, posting a 3-2 record in the Americans’ 19 1/2 to 14 1/2 victory.

“Royal Montreal holds some unforgettable memories for me, as I know it does for so many other players and fans that witnessed the 2007 Presidents Cup,” Furyk said. “The golf course is a perfect setting for match play, and I know the passionate Canadian golf fans will create an amazing atmosphere onsite, delivering an extremely special iteration of the event.”

The U.S. team has won the last nine Presidents Cups, including the most recent edition in Charlotte, N.C., in 2022 under captain Davis Love III. The international team has not won since 1988 in Melbourne, Australia.

Furyk, 52, won the 2003 U.S. Open and was runner-up at the 2013 PGA Championship. He was the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year and FedEx Cup champion in 2010 and established a tour record with a round of 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship.

“Jim has been a role model and a tremendous ambassador for the PGA Tour during his remarkable career,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said. “And given the role he has played in the growth and success of the Presidents Cup over the last 25 years as both a competitor and a captain’s assistant, it’s fitting he will bring his leadership skills to Montreal in 2024 where he takes on the role of U.S. Team Captain.”

–Field Level Media