Welcome again to the Monday End, which we’re writing on Tuesday this week. Why? We’ll get to that. For now, take into account this the column of the long run. Let’s get to it!

FIRST OFF THE TEE

Tiger and Joe.

Fascinating information broke on Tuesday from on web site on the Wells Fargo Championship when Dan Rapaport reported that Patrick Cantlay had enlisted Tiger Woods‘ longtime caddie Joe LaCava as his looper for the week. This was a very intriguing revelation given Cantlay had parted methods with looper Matt Minister after the Zurich Traditional two weeks in the past. Certain sufficient, Todd Lewis confirmed on Golf Channel that LaCava can be working with Cantlay on a “full-time foundation.”

Gulp.

Look, I’m excited for what’s subsequent for Cantlay and LaCava. I’m! I believe they’re a pure match, Cantlay’s top-of-the-line gamers within the recreation and I discover him one of many extra intriguing, too. Perhaps LaCava would be the ingredient that will get him into competition at extra main championships. However there might be time for LaCantlay speak starting this Thursday. Within the meantime, what this appears to counsel is that the Tiger-Joe period is…over. Or, if not over, not less than indefinitely suspended. In spite of everything, Woods is dealing with a prolonged restoration from his most up-to-date surgical procedure and, assuming he returns, will probably be in an especially restricted capability. And it’s not like LaCava might abruptly simply ditch Cantlay, his full-time boss, if Woods determined he was able to play subsequent yr’s Masters. Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg informed Lewis that he would “kinda see that not taking place” given his new employment standing.

LaCava informed on-site reporters that he wasn’t actively wanting however when Cantlay requested, he checked along with his longtime employer.

“When this chance arose, I checked with Tiger,” LaCava informed PGATour.com. “And he mentioned, ‘You’re loopy to not take the job, go ahead, go win some tournaments, go have a good time.’”

The alternate instantly introduced me again to 2018, when Woods lastly returned after simply 19 occasions within the earlier 4 years. LaCava had been there within the meantime, patiently ready. Requested about that loyalty for ESPN’s documentary Return of the Roar, he delivered a very poignant line.

“He mainly mentioned to me, look, should you wanna go discover one other man to work for, I’m okay with that,” LaCava mentioned. “If I might dwell one other hundred years, I’d wait one other hundred years. I used to be by no means not going to work for Tiger so long as he was going to have me. I simply needed to work for him and nobody else. And I believe that helped somewhat bit, figuring out that he had a buddy that thought that a lot of him, as an individual and along with his recreation.”

WINNERS

Who gained the week?

Tony Finau went viral after his Mexico Open victory because of an especially dad video of the PGA Tour winner seemingly caddying for his sons on the adjoining par-3 course later that night time. It was a cute shot and a reminder that Finau is a household man first and an expert golfer second.

However in media availability Tuesday he set the file straight: He wasn’t simply caddying. He was taking part in alongside his sons simply as he had each night time that week.

“Hopefully my boys are having fun with it like I used to be once I was a child, simply being with my dad and my brother,” he mentioned. “It’s simply particular to be with them it doesn’t matter what. If I’d have completed second I’d have been with them nonetheless. My boys had been relying on me and that’s one thing that I take pleasure in simply as a father.”

Extra importantly, although: he was profitable there, too.

“Man, I cleaned home final week,” he mentioned. “I beat up on my boy fortuitously all week on the par 3 after which was in a position to take the trophy on the Mexico Open. It was a superb all-around week in golf for me.”

The LPGA headed to Wilshire Nation Membership in Los Angeles, in the meantime, the place Hannah Inexperienced delivered the putt of the week to earn her manner right into a playoff — one which she’d finally win, snapping a four-year drought.

Delivering with a fist pump in Sunday pink and black! It doesn’t get a lot better than that.

ROLL CALL

Checking in on the World High 3.

All eyes are on the World No. 3 this week not solely as a result of he gained the final time the Wells Fargo Championship was held at Quail Hole however as a result of he’s gone lacking from the general public eye since an early exit from the Masters.

Rory McIlroy completed out his second spherical simply earlier than play was suspended at Augusta Nationwide, mercifully spared a post-round press convention by the incoming climate. His absence drew loads of consideration on the following week’s RBC Heritage, the place he skipped his second designated occasion of the yr and took some warmth within the course of; he’d been a vocal proponent on the very best gamers displaying up for the highest occasions and this absence appeared to undercut that message.

Lewis caught up with McIlroy throughout Tuesday’s apply spherical, who gave a comparatively easy rationalization: the run-up to the Masters and the frustration of a missed minimize overwhelmed him post-tournament.

“I wanted a break for me,” he mentioned on Golf Immediately. “Clearly after the frustration of Augusta after which — it’s been a reasonably taxing 12 months mentally. So it was good to simply attempt to disconnect for somewhat bit, get away from it. It’s good to return again refreshed and we’re on a reasonably busy run right here now till after the playoffs, so I’m excited to get going.”

McIlroy added that he was in a “higher headspace” than within the days following the Masters.

“That run-up to Augusta is all the time a hectic sufficient couple weeks simply making an attempt to verify every part’s in the fitting order and ensuring your recreation’s in form,” he defined. “I believe for me it was a pleasant reset as a result of I nonetheless needed to understand there’s nonetheless three majors this yr, there’s a ton left to play for. I assume it was like, not a brand new starting in a manner however it was like, okay, I’ve performed nice golf up till then. I would like to depart the final 12 months within the rearview and give attention to what’s forward of me and I believe the final three weeks has helped me acquire that perspective and put me again heading in the right direction.”

As for the World Nos. 1 and a couple of? Jon Rahm performed final week’s Mexico Open (ending second to Finau), whereas Scottie Scheffler‘s been off since Hilton Head. However neither is displaying up for this week’s Wells Fargo; they’re selecting to make the most of their single skip for the yr.

Subsequent yr there aren’t any one-off occasions; the designateds might be clumped collectively. There might be limitless skips allowed, too, if gamers select to take them. These within the know have talked about this as a bridge yr; the weirdness round Rory’s absence illustrates that and the names lacking this week does, too.

Rahm and Scheffler aren’t the one top-50 Tour professionals skipping this week: Will Zalatoris and Hideki Matsuyama are out with damage whereas Billy Horschel, Tom Hoge, Russell Henley, Justin Rose, Lucas Herbert and Aaron Sensible are absent, too. There’s loads of golf left this season, in any case.

Bonus Roll Name: Bronte Legislation and fellow Brit Jodi Ewart Shadoff had been none too happy when their would-be teammates Georgia Corridor (battling a foot damage) and Charley Hull (coping with an sickness) had pulled out from this week’s Hanwha Lifeplus Worldwide Crown, leaving Group England scrambling for 2 extra professionals within the four-player occasion.

“Didn’t get any type of message from the 2 that determined to not play,” Legislation mentioned. “Was disillusioned about that. Nevertheless it’s irrelevant now. We’re right here, and that is our group, and that is Group England.” She added that anybody “with some stage of decency” would message teammates to inform them of their absence.

“Not discover out from different gamers on tour who’ve heard issues from them saying issues on the match final week. I don’t assume that that’s rather a lot to ask for.”

Ewart Shadoff added that her schedule this yr has been “all primarily based round being right here this week as a result of it implies that a lot to me to play for England.”

So, yeah. Undecided they’ll all be splitting a trip rental in Cornwall this summer time.

MONEY MONEY MONEY

Who’s making financial institution?

Forbes launched its checklist of highest-paid athletes for 2023, which they outlined because the interval between Could 1, 2022 and Could 1, 2023. Nicely, gang, guess what else occurred in that point interval?! There’s a purpose there weren’t any golfers on final yr’s checklist (sure, Woods is lastly off) however two on this yr’s.

Whereas Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi rank first and second, every raking in additional than $130 million, new LIV signees Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson got here in neck-and-neck at Nos. 6 and seven. Johnson’s “on-field” earnings got here within the type of an enormous signing bonus plus a preposterous $35.6 million in prize cash (together with an $18 million season-long prize). Certain, his off-field earnings shrank from $29 million to $5 million, however his complete of $107 million suggests he made up for that after which some.

As for Mickelson? The 52-year-old had a turbulent 2022 however it included him crossing the $1 billion mark in pre-tax earnings. Forbes had him at No. 7 with $104 million in “on-field” earnings plus one other $2 million off the course. There’s no query one in every of his most satisfying paychecks got here at Augusta Nationwide, after all.

Forbes estimated that Mickelson acquired $200 in assured cash from the Saudis whereas Johnson acquired $125 million — with half of that paid up entrance.

WHAT’S NEXT?

3 issues to observe this week.

1. RORY’S PUTTER

There might be sufficient consideration on McIlroy this week that you simply’ll see loads of his putter, and his driver, and his irons, too. However he’s gone again to the Spider, the weapon that he says guided him to an all-time placing season in 2022.

Oh yeah, keep watch over his wedges, too: Jonathan Wall has a scoop on McIlroy’s new lob wedge and the explanation he was testing 4 of them on Tuesday.

2. TEAM CHAMP

It’s the primary Hanwha Lifeplus Worldwide Crown since 2018, and the format sounds actually enjoyable. So what’s the deal? Eight international locations break into groups, 4 gamers every, they usually compete Thursday-Sunday at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. There are 4 groups in Group A and the opposite 4 in Group B, and the highest two groups from every group advance to the semifinals on Sunday, the place the format switches from all better-ball to 2 singles matches plus one alternate-shot (foursomes) match. Spicy!

3. FATHER-SON U.S. OPEN?

Cameron Kuchar is finest referred to as his father Matt’s PNC Championship associate. Nevertheless it seems the 15-year-old can maintain his personal in stroke-play, too, after capturing three-under 69 to bust his manner by way of Native Qualifying. Given Matt has to make his manner by way of Ultimate Qualifying, too, I can’t assist however surprise if the 2 signed up for a similar web site — and if they might each make it by way of for an uncommon household summer time trip to L.A. Nation Membership.

We’ll see you subsequent week!