Connecticut
Dom Amore: Meet Joe LaCava, the caddie from Connecticut who is never far from golf’s spotlight
CROMWELL – The Travelers Championship has brought nearly all of the best and most relevant names in golf to the TPC, except for one elusive Tiger and those waiting to be taken back onto the PGA Tour when (or if) the LIV Golf merger takes effect.
The celebrity pro-am Wednesday paired the big golf names with folks you know from other walks of life, especially here in Connecticut.
Star-studded field arrives at Travelers Championship: Five things to watch as tournament nears
But this Travelers also brings an elevated game for caddies, as Connecticut guy Joe LaCava, one of the best known, best respected in the business, goes to work with Patrick Cantlay.
“For me, it’s the competition,” LaCava said Tuesday, as he walked up the hill from the 18th green after finishing Cantlay’s practice round. “I realize I’m not playing, but I enjoy the competition. To get the juices flowing when your guy plays well, there’s nothing better.”
You’ve probably seen LaCava, 68, on your screen many a Saturday and Sunday afternoon. A Newtown native, he began caddying for his cousin, Danbury’s Ken Green, on the Tour in 1987. In 1990, LaCava went to work for Fred Couples, who won 12 PGA events with him.
At Couples’ urging to pair with a younger golfer, LaCava went to work for Davis Love III, Justin Leonard and for four years with Dustin Johnson before joining Tiger Woods in 2011.
Chris Carlson/AP
Patrick Cantlay will be depending on Newtown’s Joe LaCava, Hall of Fame caddie, at the Travelers this week. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
He stuck with Woods through thick and thin, but for a caddie it was mostly thin, as injuries and incidents have limited Tiger’s schedule over the last decade-plus. LaCava was there for Woods’ signature comeback at the 2019 Masters, the man Woods threw his arms around after clinching.
Last year, LaCava filled in for Cantlay and they hit it off. When Cantlay asked him to join him fulltime for this season, LaCava had Woods’ blessing.
David J. Phillip / AP
Tiger Woods and caddie Joe LaCava celebrate the Masters win in 2019. LaCava, from Newtown, is on the bag for Patrick Cantlay at the Travelers. (AP Photo)
“The season was slow to start, Tiger knew I missed caddying,” LaCava said. “Once he heard I got a decent, nice offer from Patrick, he said, basically, ‘You’d be an idiot not to take him up on that. Pat’s a good, young kid, he’s healthy, he can play the game. I wish I was healthier and I could play a little more, but I can’t. I think it’s great that you’re going to take the gig.’”
And that was that. LaCava, who still lives in Western Connecticut, has friends who belong to the TPC River Highlands and plays the course a few times a year, but he has not worked at the Travelers, or its predecessor titles, since his days with Couples. Now he’s home, and could hear a few cheers if he and Cantlay are in contention.
“Doesn’t matter who (the cheers) are for,” Cantlay said. “We’re on the same team. … He’s been in every situation before, he’s definitely going to be comfortable in every situation. Joe’s a professional and great at what he does. I’m lucky to have him.”
Joe LaCava has stayed with Tiger through a number of set backs through the years. Now he’s made a permanent switch to Cantlay’s bag, it feels like tournament golf is over for Tiger Woods. If this is it, thanks for the memories Tiger. It’s been emotional!
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) May 2, 2023
Like all sports, golf has changed during the long arc of LaCava’s career, from the days when it was all feel and instinct, to the modern world of analytics and bio-mechanics. LaCava’s longevity can be traced as much to his ability to adapt as to his love for the sport.
“I grew up where guys weren’t that analytical,” he said. “It was a ‘feel’ game and there wasn’t the technology at hand. We didn’t even have lasers back in my day. It’s a little bit different for me, but I’m adjusting to it and I do like it because I like to think that way. I like numbers, too.”
Cantlay, 31, uses TrackMan simulator equipment to hone his game and prepare for each course.
“He’s very analytical, Tiger was, too,” LaCava said. “All those years for Fred, he was certainly all feel, he played before there was technology. Pat’s big into TrackMan. He lives to analyze golf courses the same way that Tiger does, and i think he enjoys thinking through shots, thinking about the game all the time. He’s a bright kid and breaking down stuff and analyzing stuff is enjoyable for him.”
Caddying is far more than just carrying the clubs. At the highest level, a caddie fills many roles for a golfer. Woods, after 13 Majors, split with Steve Williams and found, in LaCava, someone he could trust for valuable opinions. LaCava has plenty of tales, but Woods’ win at the The Players Championship at Sawgrass in 2013 stands out.
“People always say ‘Augusta, 2019,’ which was incredible,” LaCava said. “But for me, 2013, when he won TPC was a big deal. It was a situation where he wasn’t in love with the golf course. He’s never had a bad attitude, but he wasn’t all that positive going around the golf course. I think I changed his outlook a little bit, made him believe that he could play that golf course well and we had that talk when the 2012 season was over and he went on to win the TPC in 2013, so that gave me a lot of satisfaction, just to change his outlook that he can play the golf course well and be successful there.”
If you’re wondering, as we all have for years, if Woods will ever be seen in Cromwell, LaCava would tell you not to get your hopes up.
“He’s playing such limited amounts of golf right now, I just don’t see it happening,” LaCava said.
Cantlay, currently ranked No. 4 in the world, is certainly among the favorites to win this week. He’s playing River Highlands for the ninth time, and his second-round 60 as an amateur in 2011 is still the lowest score ever by an amateur on the PGA Tour.
Dom Amore: The characters are in place for a memorable Sunday duel at The Travelers
“He likes the course, he’s played well here in the past,” LaCava said. “I like his chances anywhere, and he’s in a pretty good spot right now, playing some pretty good golf. Like any other golfer, it’s just a matter of if the putts are going in or not.”
LaCava was inducted into the Western Golf Association’s Caddie Hall of Fame in 2019, and will bring his A-game – “a steady hand on the bag,” Cantlay calls it, home for what is now one of golf’s A-list events. He won’t be in the spotlight, but just to the right, or left of it.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to work full time for two or three really good players,” LaCava said. “And when you get to work for Tiger … I always tell people ‘I work for a celebrity, I’m not one.’ And I try to stay away from that kind of stuff. I just sit back once in a while and realize how fortunate I’ve been to work for some not only great players, but great individuals as well.”
The WNBA’s Most Improved Player DiJonai Carrington helped lead the Connecticut Sun past Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in the opening round of the postseason. Now, DiJonai and the Sun face a step up in competition when they take on Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals.
On Sunday, September 29, the WNBA Playoffs semifinals got underway at the Target Center and Nai showed up for business.
Throughout the season, DiJonai has pulled off some of the most stellar fits in the W, and Game 1 was no different as she kept it casual but still brought a killer look.
MORE: DiJonai Carrington brings the heat in fire all-red WNBA Playoff fit
DiJonai roccked a two-piece, skintight yoga set and completed the look with a Louis V bag.
DIJONAI CARRINGTON 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/gAYKhF7L7P
— kiks 🏀 (@jaecanadas) September 29, 2024
You love to see it.
Casual, confident, and coming to handle business.
MORE: Did WNBA power couple DiJonai Carrington, NaLyssa Smith get engaged?
Carrington has put together an incredible season for the Sun and has established herself as one of the best perimeter-defending guards in the league. She averaged 12.7 points, 5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game during the regular season.
The Sun and Lynx will be competing in a best-of-five series to see who will advance to the WNBA Finals where they will face the winner of the other semifinal series between the New York Liberty and back-to-back champion Las Vegas Aces, which is a rematch of last year’s finals.
— Enjoy free dish of rich and fabulous players with The Athlete Lifestyle on SI —
Grand finale: Cameron Brink wows in strapless minidress, suede boots in final fit
You fancy: Caleb Williams’ new $12.9 million baller mansion in ritzy Chicago suburb
Hot duo: Gabby Thomas, ‘Hot Ones’ Sean Evans pose for ‘spicy’ photo at Athlos NYC
Uh oh: DiJonai Carrington calls for Indiana Fever to ‘free’ girlfriend NaLyssa Smith
Golden girl: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone had the biggest flex at Cowboys game
A two-car head-on collision with one person entrapped happened on South Street in Plymouth, Connecticut, Saturday evening.
Terryville Volunteer Fire Department responded to a car crash around 9:23 p.m. with a person trapped inside, according to the fire department.
Crews had to remove the roof of the vehicle to safely remove the person from the car. The person was taken to the hospital. The extent of their injuries is unclear at this time.
The roadway was closed for a few hours and reopened around 11:30 p.m.
Preseason high school football games kicked off a couple weeks ago throughout the state of Connecticut starting the week of Sep. 12. The Connecticut regular season kicked off this past weekend with a full slate of games.
The No. 1 team in the Constitution State is the Brunswick School followed by newbie Choate Rosemary Hall School and then Masuk, which upset previous No. 3 New Canaan.
Here’s the complete breakdown of Connecticut’s elite high school football teams, heading into Week 4 of the 2024 season, as we see it.
A private school that’s loaded with talent across the board is Brunswick School, with Clemson commitment Blake Hebert running the show offensively. He’s got Notre Dame commit Matty Augustine on one side and Syracuse commit Jaylen Pray on the other. The Bruins soundly defeated Deerfield Academy 38-13 in Week 3 action.
Another private school that’s loaded with talent across the board is Choate Rosemary Hall School. The Wild Boars picked up win No. 2 last week, 49-14, over Kent School. Connecticut’s top player per 247Sports resides at Choate Rosemary in 4-star offensive lineman Will Black, who is committed to Notre Dame. A Nov. 2nd date with Avon Old Farms looks to be a highly anticipated meeting.
Allen / Jimmy Zanor/The Bulletin / USA TODAY NETWORK
We had to do it, folks. The Masuk Panthers enter as the top public schools in the state after they pulled off the upset victory over New Canaan last week. It’s been a great season for Steve Christy in making his return after a year away from the sidelines.
The Beavers opened up the season with a loss, but bounced back with a Week 2 victory over Kent School, 42-6. In Week 3, AOF defeated Loomis Chaffee School 28-7. They feature one of the state’s most overall talented programs. Avon Old Farms has 3-star offensive tackle Owen Aliciene (Penn State commitment) and 3-star defensive lineman Dante Recker (Maryland commitment) highlighting a talented roster.
We really like the balance offensive attack led by dual-threat quarterback Michael D’angelo right now. The signal caller has made plenty of plays with his arm and legs, accounting for 641 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns. Greenwich just knocked off Bishop Hendricksen, the No. 1 team in Rhode Island, this past week.
We debated on how far the Rams would drop after having their 14-game winning streak snapped in a 14-0 loss to Masuk. Answer was just a few spots because this is still a really good team despite dropping a game.
No Caleb Smith anymore? No problem for this Wreckers’ offense that’s proven to be pretty dang good regardless of who’s running it. Nick Weil is at the controls and the junior has thrown for 593 yards and nine touchdowns, most importantly zero picks. Weil helped navigate Staples to a narrow 28-21 victory over Maloney last week.
Entering the rankings chat in the state is the Windsor Warriors as No. 8 after defeating Darien in a shootout, 41-35. Leading the Windsor offense this season has been the play of running back John Manning, who has rushed for 605 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
After needing one of their best efforts to upend North Haven in Week 1, its was much smoother sailing for the Cadets in Week 2 against Westhill, cruising 44-0. Week 3 was another easy win for St. Joseph, defeating Bloomfield 38-0.
The Tigers handily took care of business against Fairfield Prep in Week 2, rolling by the Jesuits 34-3. Hand made its debut last week into the rankings because of the shellacking of Fairfield Prep and this past Friday handily defeated Berlin, 44-14.
Be sure to Bookmark High School on SI for all of the latest high school football news.
SBLIVE SPORTS LAUNCHES HIGH SCHOOL ON SI
High School On SI will serve as the premier destination for high school sports fans, delivering unparalleled coverage of high school athletics nationwide through in-depth stories, recruiting coverage, rankings, highlights and much more. The launch of a dedicated high school experience expands Sports Illustrated’s reach to even more local communities as fans can now truly follow athletes from “preps to the pros” on a single platform, bringing them closer to the action than ever before. For more information, visit si.com/high-school.
To get live updates on your phone – as well as follow your favorite teams and top games – you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App| Download Android App
— Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveconn
Kalen DeBoer showed what Alabama can still be after Nick Saban in win against Georgia
How MLB players cope with — and grow from — playing on a terrible team: ‘You find ways’
In Season 3, ‘Industry’ got pulpier, nastier, and better
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25649745/2089852195.jpg "Marvel and DC lose ‘SUPER HERO’ trademarks")
Marvel and DC lose ‘SUPER HERO’ trademarks
Biden says he will talk to Netanyahu as Israel pummels Sunni terror targets in Beirut
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
'Shazam!' star Zachary Levi endorses Donald Trump for president: 'We are going to take back this country'
Paris protesters demand end to Israeli strikes on Lebanon
California Blinks: Governor Newsom Vetoes AI Bill Aimed at Catastrophic Harms | KQED
Social media critics rip Walz for celebrating Minnesota football rival, remind him he was booed: 'No loyalty'
Former Netanyahu rival Gideon Saar joins Israeli cabinet
-
News1 week agoVideo: Who Are the Black Swing Voters?
-
Politics1 week agoDem lawmakers push bill to restore funding to UN agency with alleged ties to Hamas: 'So necessary'
-
News1 week agoFour killed, dozens injured in Alabama shooting
-
News1 week agoMoney for cutting-edge climate technology could dry up in a second Trump term
-
News1 week agoElection 2024 Polls: Florida
-
World1 week agoCritics slam landmark EU competitiveness report as 'one-sided'
-
Politics1 week agoSecret Service protection bill passes House unanimously after Trump assassination attempts
-
/static.texastribune.org/media/files/5e5395400eb1f412fb6d97a439483caf/SpaceX%20Brownsville%20MGO%2005.jpeg "Cards Against Humanity says in new lawsuit that SpaceX has destroyed some of its South Texas property")
News1 week agoCards Against Humanity says in new lawsuit that SpaceX has destroyed some of its South Texas property