In May 2011 LaCava was hired by 25-year-old Dustin Johnson. Johnson was widely regarded as America's Next Great Golfer, and it seemed like an ideal gig for the veteran caddie.

That summer Johnson won the Barclays and finished in the top 10 three times (including a second-place finish at the British Open), and was seemingly on his way to the upper-echelon of world golf.

But in October 2011, LaCava abruptly jumped ship, leaving Johnson and going to work with Tiger Woods. It was a huge gamble that took two years to pay off.