Tiger Woods Has a New Caddie at the Genesis Invitational

Veteran looper Lance Bennett is on the bag this week at Riviera but isn't expected to have the job permanently.

LOS ANGELES — Veteran caddie Lance Bennett is working for Tiger Woods this week at the Genesis Invitational.

Bennett was alongside Woods on Tuesday morning during a practice round at Riviera Country Club, where Woods will make his first competitive appearance of 2024 on Thursday when the tournament begins.

It will be Woods's first official tournament since withdrawing from the Masters during the third round last year. He later played at the unofficial Hero World Challenge and PNC Championship in December.

Caddie Lance Bennett, pictured with Sungjae Im at the 2023 Players Championship, will be on Tiger Woods's bag this week at the Genesis Invitational :: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Bennett had a long run as caddie for Matt Kuchar and has more recently worked for Sungjae Im and Davis Riley as well as some time working on the LPGA Tour. The arrangement is not expected to be permanent, Golfweek reported, as Bennett has been working for Belgian golfer Adrian Dumont de Chassart, who is not in the Genesis Invitational field.

Woods, 48, is in need of a caddie because his longtime caddie, Joe LaCava, decided to go to work for Patrick Cantlay last May after Woods had ankle surgery that would knock him out for the rest of the official golf season. Woods has suggested he might try to play once a month, perhaps next at the Players Championship, and Bennett could be a possibility there.

At the Hero, Woods's longtime friend and associate Rob McNamara caddied for him and that would be another possibility going forward with a limited schedule.

Three years ago this month, Woods was involved in a serious car crash in the area after his hosting duties for the Genesis. The crash led to severe lower right leg, ankle and foot injuries for Woods, who had a subtalar fusion for his right ankle last April following the Masters.

The Genesis is just his sixth official worldwide start since the crash. Last year, Woods made the cut here and tied for 45th.