Tiger Woods' caddie expected to join bag of PGA Tour star at RBC Canadian Open

Max Homa has parted ways with another caddie and is now expected to have Tiger Woods' looper Lance Bennett on the bag at this week's RBC Canadian Open.

Homa, 34, confirmed after carrying his own bag to an agonising playoff defeat at U.S. Open Final Qualifiying on Monday that he was no longer working with caddie Bill Harke. 

That relationship lasted just under two months. 

A source has since told Associated Press that Harke "lost his job". 

In other words, Homa fired him. 

Homa acquired the services of Harke just before finishing a respectable T12 at The Masters. 

But in the four tournaments with Harke since, Homa went on to finish 70th, 30th, 60th and 51st.

By Homa's own high standards, those results are simply not good enough, especially in a Ryder Cup year. 

Once ranked fifth in the OWGR, Homa now looks on from the 90th rung of the world ladder and seemingly out of contention for a place on Keegan Bradley's United States Ryder Cup team this September. 

Homa has represented the United States for three consecutive years at the Presidents Cup (2022, 2024) and Ryder Cup (2023). 

Prior to working with Harke, six-time PGA Tour winner Homa had his good friend Joe Greiner on the bag. 

But that relationship ended earlier this season after six years together when Greiner felt it was time for him to move on.

Homa spoke about being sacked by Greiner ahead of The Masters. 

Greiner now works for fellow six-time PGA Tour winner and World No.4 Collin Morikawa, who is searching for a first win himself since October 2023. 

That then saw Morikawa's caddie of six years, JJ Jakovac, forced to find another bag.

Jakovac moved over to rising talent Michael Thorbjornsen. 

The PGA Tour caddie merry-go-round then continued as Thorbjornsen therefore had to get rid of his caddie.

That man happened to just be Tiger Woods' caddie Lance Bennett.

Given Woods is on the sidelines for the rest of this season, and he has been since last year's 152nd Open at Royal Troon, Woods has reportedly given Bennett his blessing to find work elsewhere on the PGA Tour. 

Fast forward to this week's RBC Canadian Open and it would appear Homa has given Woods a quick text to make sure it's all good for him to have Bennett on his bag at TPC Toronto.

Golfweek's Adam Schupak has heard on the ground that a green light has been given for Bennett to join Homa.

For how long exactly remains to be seen. 

"Word from the caddie yard: Max Homa will have Lance Bennett on the bag this week," tweeted Schupak.

"Bennett was working for Michael Thorbjornsen but Thor hired JJ Jakovac as his full-time caddie.

"If you’re scoring at home, JJ had been on Collin Morikawa’s bag until Joe Greiner left Max for him."

Homa lost out to Cameron Young in a playoff at U.S. Open Final Qualifying on Monday. 

Just to rub things in, Homa three-putted the par-5 9th - his final hole of the second round - to end up in a five-man playoff.

"I'd much rather talk about the golf instead of all the questions about the caddie," said a frustrated Homa.

"I'm good. Just hoofed it 36."

Of his performance, Homa said: "It's going to probably be heartbreaking, but it’s all right.

"I haven't carried my bag 36 holes in a while so I'm a little tired."

Homa is not out of the U.S. Open yet.

He will just need to win a seventh career title on the PGA Tour and his first since January 2023 at this week's RBC Canadian Open.

That's because he needs to haul himself back into the world's top 60 when the rankings get updated on Monday. 

Homa has played in the last 21 consecutive majors. 

Sam Burns and Sungjae Im will join Homa for the first two rounds.

Check out a full list of RBC Canadian Open tee times. 

Rory McIlroy returns to competitive action at the Canadian Open three weeks after shunning the media en route to a T47 at the PGA Championship. 

McIlroy is seeking a third Canadian Open title and his fourth win of the season.

His eagerly-anticipated press conference will take place after his pro-am on Wednesday. 

You will likely want to get the popcorn for it. 

Who is Lance Bennett?

Lance Bennett first assumed the role of Woods' caddie at the 2024 Genesis Invitational.

He is known for his partnership with Matt Kuchar and was on his bag when Kuch won the 2012 Players Championship at famed TPC Sawgrass.

Bennett has also worked for Sungjae Im and Davis Riley and has spent time on the LPGA looping for the likes of Juli Inkster, Paula Creamer and Lorena Ochoa.

If rumours are led to be true, Bennett will now be working for Homa at the 2025 RBC Canadian Open.

Prior to Homa, he was looping for Belgian golfer Adrien Dumont de Chassart and rising American star Thorbjornsen. 

What has Tiger Woods said about Lance Bennett?

Woods reckons Bennett's best qualities are that he is 'very down to earth' and 'loyal'.

Speaking in February 2024, Woods said of Bennett: "We’ve had the same type of feels in how we look at the golf course and how we read putts; they’re very similar.

“I think it's a great — we’re going to be a great team and really looking forward to the challenge."

Bennett caddied for Woods during his last competitive appearance at the 152nd Open.

Woods missed the cut that week at Troon.