Woods lures caddie from Johnson

TIGER WOODS has hired Joe LaCava to be his third full-time caddie.

LaCava decided to leave Dustin Johnson, one of the most talented young Americans, to go to work for the former world number one who hasn’t won in the last two years.

“Joe LaCava is an outstanding caddie and I have known him since I was an amateur, really looking forward to having him on the bag,” Woods posted on Twitter on Sunday night.

David Winkle, Johnson’s agent at Hambric Sports Management, also confirmed LaCava was going to work for Woods and a search for a new caddie would begin immediately.

“Needless to say, Dustin and I were completely surprised, as they have enjoyed a great relationship and have been very successful together,” Winkle said. “Nonetheless, we think highly of Joe, both as a caddie and a person, which is why he was hired in the first place. We wish him nothing but the best with his new employer.”

LaCava was the long-time caddie for Fred Couples, a relationship that ended in the summer because Johnson was looking for a caddie and Couples’ playing schedule was being reduced because of his health.

Swing coach Butch Harmon recommended LaCava to Johnson, and said he was “shocked” by the change.

“The thing that bothered me the most was TW not calling Dustin and asking if he could talk to Joe,” said Harmon, who used to work with Woods. “That’s the way it’s done. I’m a little disappointed with the way Tiger handled it. But I’m not surprised.”

Woods fired Steve Williams after nearly 13 years this summer after Williams worked for Adam Scott while Woods was recovering from a knee injury.

LaCava bid Johnson farewell after Sunday’s closing round of the FedEx Cup play-offs in Atlanta. The question now is whether Woods can make this a profitable move for LaCava.

Woods hasn’t won in more than two years on the PGA Tour and he did not qualify for the FedEx Cup play-offs this year, mainly because he missed nearly four months with an injury.

Woods has said his left leg is stronger than it has been in years and is next due to tee it up at the Frys.com Open in two weeks at CordeValle, about an hour south of San Francisco.

Woods is also playing the Australian Open and the Presidents Cup, a competition that will feature both of his former caddies — Mike Cowan (now with Jim Furyk) and Williams, who works for Scott.