LOS ANGELES, September 26, 2011 (AFP) - Tiger Woods has hired Joe LaCava to replace long-time Kiwi caddie Steve Williams whom he had a falling out with earlier this year.
The 14-time major winner Woods took two months to find a replacement after splitting with former bagman and best man at his wedding Williams in July.
"Joe LaCava is an outstanding caddie and I have known him since I was an amateur, really looking forward to having him on my bag," Woods wrote on his social networking Twitter site Sunday.
LaCava worked 20 years as a caddie for 2011 US Presidents Cup team captain Fred Couples. Most recently he has been carrying the golf bag for rising PGA Tour star Dustin Johnson.
Johnson's swing coach Butch Harmon first told Sky Sports TV about the caddie hiring during the telecast of the Sunday's final round of the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
Woods, who was the best man at Williams' wedding, sacked his former caddie after 13 years of working together.
Williams has since been hired by Aussie star Adam Scott.
Woods is five short of breaking Jack Nicklaus' all-time record of 18 major championships but he has not won a tournament since November 2009 in Australia. He is coming off a frustrating season and is still trying to bounce back from a shocking sex scandal and a string of injuries.
Woods also used Twitter to be one of the first to congratulate Bill Haas and Hunter Mahan on the richest one-hole showdown in PGA Tour history which was won by Haas in a playoff Sunday.
"Great finish to the season today," Woods wrote of the final round of the Tour Championship which doubled as the finish of the FedEx Cup playoffs. "Fun to watch Bill & Hunter, two good friends and players, go at it."