 Elmsford, N.Y. (July 9, 2026) — Caddie Hall of Fame member Joe LaCava, his son, Joe IV and his daughter, Lauren, have been chosen as the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association’s 2026 Family of the Year. They will be celebrated at the MGWA’s 73rd National Awards Dinner on Tuesday, October 6th at Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, NJ, where they will join previously announced honorees Judy Rankin (Gold Tee Award), Mike Whan (Paul Dillon Distinguished Service Award) and Damon Hack (Lincoln Werden Golf Journalism Award).
The MGWA’s Family of the Year Award spotlights a family for its contributions to the game and for representing the virtues and ideals of golf and family. “Few people are as exemplary of this honor as Joe LaCava,” MGWA president Hank Gola remarked in announcing the award. “A true family man, Joe has been devoted to his children and could not have been prouder when Joe IV and Lauren followed him into the ‘family business.’ Likewise, Joe IV could not have a better role model as he pursues his own career as a PGA Tour caddie. His father worked extremely hard to become one of golf’s most trusted and decorated caddies.” The elder LaCava, best known for being on Fred Couples and Tiger Woods’ bags as they won the Masters, enjoyed one more emotional moment at Augusta National in 2025 when both he and his son caddied in the 2025 Masters, for Patrick Cantlay and Joe Highsmith, respectively. Although not at the tournament when his son and Highsmith teamed up to win the Cognizant Classic to qualify for the Masters, he was thrilled to know they would be caddying together at that storied event. Joe LaCava’s caddying career began in 1987 when he carried the bag for his cousin, PGA Tour pro Ken Green. Three years later, he began caddying for Fred Couples. Their 20-plus year partnership resulted in 12 PGA Tour victories, including Couples’ 1992 Masters and 1996 Players Championship wins and two back-to-back European Tour wins. After Couples transitioned to the PGA Tour Champions, where he and LaCava teamed up for four wins, LaCava briefly caddied for Dustin Johnson and was with Johnson when he won the 2011 Barclays. He began caddying for Tiger Woods late in 2011 and was by his side during Tiger’s tumultuous bouts with injuries and his many comebacks, including his historic win at the 2019 Masters. LaCava and Woods parted ways in 2023 due to Tiger’s limited playing schedule. With Tiger’s blessing, LaCava partnered with Patrick Cantlay, a role he continues to this day. LaCava’s caddying career has seen It only seemed natural that Joe LaCava’s son, Joe IV, would follow in his father’s footsteps. After working for a summer at Winged Foot Golf Club, Joe IV’s interest in his dad’s profession grew, and he continued caddying at Winged Foot for two years. After earning a business degree from James Madison University, he began his professional caddie career by carrying Steve Stricker’s bag on the PGA Tour Champions. He then caddied on the Korn Ferry Tour where he met Highsmith in 2023. They became friends, and after LaCava’s pro didn’t earn his Tour card, Highsmith asked LaCava to caddy for him on the Tour at the end of 2024 and for the 2025 season. The partnership paid off, as Highsmith got his first PGA Tour win with LaCava on the bag at the Cognizant Classic. Highsmith credited LaCava with keeping him relaxed as he faced the pressure of securing his first victory.
Formed in 1952, the MGWA has celebrated the game of golf and promoted golf journalism since its inception. Its signature event, the MGWA National Awards Dinner, has been one of the highlights on the golf calendar since its very first Dinner was held at Toots Shor’s Restaurant in January, 1953. Over the decades, the Dinner has honored – and been attended by – some of the greatest names in the sport: Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, JoAnne Carner, Gary Player, Billy Casper, Nancy Lopez, Tom Watson and Annika Sorenstam, to name just a few. This highly anticipated event is supported by golf’s leading organizations and corporate supporters, Met Area clubs and club leaders, as well as local and national golf media. Through the Dinner and other events, the MGWA has had a significant philanthropic impact in the Metropolitan New York area, raising millions of dollars for local Caddie Scholarship programs, the MGA Foundation, and the Dave Marr Journalism Scholarship. Click here to purchase tickets to the Dinner. For more information, view this one-minute video or contact Robin Sauerhaft, MGWA Executive Administrator, at: rsauerhaft@mgagolf.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Met Golf Writers Association, |
him win 28 PGA Tour titles and two major championships. He was inducted into the Caddie Hall of Fame in 2019.
Although not as well-known as her father and brother, Joe’s daughter Lauren also joined the family golf business after majoring in communications at Endicott College. Following her graduation, Lauren worked for the Golf Channel for five years before transitioning to the production department at NBC Golf where she is a Senior Associate Producer for on-air graphics under the guidance of Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame producer Tommy Roy.