How were 2 Arnold Palmer’s most interesting pairing caddies

On Thursday afternoon at Arnold Palmer Invitational, Joe Lacava will go to the first Tee box with a sliding bag around his shoulder, and for the first time, a second question will follow that simple act.

Which joe lacava?

Yes, on Thursday and Friday at API, the day group – at least for a New York Metro area – will belong to Patrick Cantlay and Joe Highsmith. However, more specifically, the group of the day will belong to the player cades, Joe Lacava III and his son, Joe IV, who will share an afternoon walk in their career in PGA Tour.

You probably know Lacavas already. Elder Joe is one of the most decorated game loopers, a nonsense boy from Newtown, Conn. Who went up to the golf ranks with Fred’s couples and eventually spent a decade in the Tiger Woods bag, an attempt to culminate in Woods win in Masters 2019. Lacava left Woods bag in 2023 for one The most regular loop with Patrick Cantlaywhere he remains today. A Diehard New York Gants fanBig Joe is a light place on many tournaments-his blue and red birthplace that appears from the dress under his caddy bib.

Lacava IV, however, is a new addition to the professional game. Little Joe joined his friend Joe Highsmith’s bag in early 2025, and rode the first hour of PGA Tour all the way to his first Cogizant Classic victory last week. Keen Golf fans will know his name: Joe IV has undoubtedly been Caddy World’s most famous surrogate over the past few years, complementing Charlie Woods as the annual PNC championship.

Lacava’s newest journey to caddying followed a nonlinear path. He spent four years at James Madison University, where he graduated with a marketing degree and debated following a career in security. However, Golf was calling, and so Joe IV went to foot, where he spent several years in the club’s caddy program. He remained in the orbit of a handful of young players in favor during that time, including Highsmith, who eventually invited Lacava IV for the beginning of the ’25 season.

“Kinda like Fred with me again in the ’90s,” Lacava Z. said AND over the weekend. “I work for four weeks on the west coast, Fred never tells me whether I have work or not. He says LA, ‘see YA in Florida.’ “

When Highsmith shot 64 for the second direct day last weekend to win the famous classic, Lacava IV knew his life had also changed. A win not only closed the one year salary for newer lacava, it also provided the status of the signature event for Highsmith for the remainder of the 2025 season. The signature status would bring the twenty-something caddy to the highest game tours-and also closer to his father.

After the victory, Highsmith and Lacava made the short trip from West Palm to Bay Hill, where a collision course began in the new challenge of the week. It was not long after they arrived, however, that a second part of the information followed: the pair would pass their first two rounds alongside a friendly face, Patrick Cantlay and his Caddy, Joe Sr.

The father and son will be in the bag together starting at 1:30 pm on Thursday afternoon at Bay Hill, and you can bet the rest of the Lacava family will look closely. For Lacava Sr., the round will be an opportunity to spend some precious time inside the ropes alongside his son, but for Lacava Jr. The opportunity is even greater: the chance to build a family passion in his career.

“He’s a great caddy,” Highsmith said after his Cog victory. “He’s really good at what he does, but he is also just one of the boys, and we have a pretty good time there, and he just keeps it easy.”

Lacava IV will look to maintain good times to roll over Thursday afternoon at Arnold Palmer, and again Friday morning. With dad looking closely, this should not be too difficult.