Latest news with #Jakovac
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Collin Morikawa's Axed Caddie Lands on Ryder Cup Hopeful's Bag at Colonial
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As expected, it didn't take long for JJ Jakovac to get a call from a PGA Tour player after parting ways with Collin Morikawa. Jakovac is at the Colonial Country Club, tending to Englishman Matt Wallace's bag. However, this does not seem to be Jakovac's last port of call. The veteran caddie made that clear in a text message to Golfweek: "No, just helping him out for one week. Still waiting for the right long-term opportunity." Wallace is one of seven players tied for second place at 4-under after the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge. The one-time PGA Tour winner has had a difficult season so far on the American-based circuit, but remains in contention to play in next September's Ryder Cup. Caddie J.J. Jakovac on the second hole during the second round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. Caddie J.J. Jakovac on the second hole during the second round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2023 in Augusta, is currently ranked 10th in the list to make the European team for the biennial event. To include himself in the top 6 would allow him to qualify directly for the team, while finishing as close to that group as possible would increase his chances of being one of captain Luke Donald's six free picks. To do so, the 35-year-old must improve his results on both the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. He currently sits 237 points behind Justin Rose, who completes the top 6 on the standings. Jakovac and Morikawa parted ways in early May, with the player stating that it was time to make changes to his team: "Sometimes things just aren't feeling you know, on the golf course, things just don't feel right," Morikawa said at the time. Player/caddie teams for Colonial! Too many different for the week to list really, but highlights stood out. JJ (former 'Kawa) back in the saddle with Matt Wallace. — John Rathouz (@Rathouz) May 21, 2025 Player and caddie had been together since Morikawa began his professional career in 2019. That means Jakovac was at his side during his six PGA Tour victories, including two major championships. Morikawa and Jakovac's split was not the only one that occurred recently, as Max Homa also dispensed with the services of his long time caddie Joe Greiner. Coincidentally, Greiner went on to fill the vacancy that arose to man Morikawa's bag. Homa now works with Bill Harke. According to the Golfweek report, other new player-caddie pairings on the PGA Tour include Cameron Young and Kyle Sterbinsky, Harry Hall and Henry Diana, and Ryo Hisatsune and Micah Fugitt. The latter works regularly with Billy Horschel, who underwent hip surgery and will be out of competitive golf for most of the rest of the season. More Golf: Charles Schwab Challenge: Scottie Scheffler Sends Direct Shot at LIV Golf
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cameron Young, Stephan Jaeger, Harry Hall among PGA Tour stars shuffling caddies
Cameron Young, Stephan Jaeger, Harry Hall among PGA Tour stars shuffling caddies J.J. Jakovac is back to caddying this week at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. Jakovac will be on the bag for Englishman Matt Wallace this week. When asked if it was a permanent job after his former boss, Collin Morikawa, parted ways with him last month, Jakovac wrote in a text to Golfweek, 'No, just helping him out for one week. Still waiting for the right long-term opportunity.' Jakovac had been Morikawa's only caddie since turning pro in 2019 at the RBC Canadian Open and worked for him for two victorious majors and six wins in all. Morikawa hired Joe Greiner as a replacement. In other caddie news, Cameron Young, who had been using Steve Underwood for more than a year, had Kyle Sterbinsky on the bag last week at the PGA Championship. Stephan Jaeger split with veteran caddie Henry Diana, who was on the bag for Jaeger's lone Tour title last season. Since parting ways after the Masters, Jaeger has had a different caddie with him in three of his last four starts. Diana has hooked up with Englishman Harry Hall, who previously had Brian Ziegler as his caddie, and they are off to a good start. With a crop of college players about to be newly minted pros and starting their college careers, expect the caddie carousel to be active in the coming months.
Reuters
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
World No. 4 Collin Morikawa splits from longtime caddie
April 30 - World No. 4 Collin Morikawa has split with J.J. Jakovac, his only caddie since turning professional in 2019 and winning six times on the PGA Tour, including two majors. Jakovac confirmed the news, which was first reported Tuesday by SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, in a text message to Golfweek. Morikawa, 28, has already found a replacement, veteran caddie Joe Greiner, according to reports. Greiner became available after choosing to part ways with close friend Max Homa in early April. Morikawa's next event is the Truist Championship from May 8-11 in Philadelphia. Greiner filled in for Justin Thomas' injured caddie Matt "Rev" Minister at the Masters and at the RBC Heritage, which Thomas won for his first tour victory in nearly three seasons. Thomas, No. 5 in the Official World Golf Ranking, said the arrangement was temporary until Minister recovered from his ailing back. Morikawa's six years with Jakovac included victories at the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship. Morikawa last won at the Zozo Championship in October 2023. He has finished second twice in eight events this year (The Sentry in January, the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March). For his career, Morikawa has 11 runner-up finishes, two thirds, 29 top-fives and 44 top-10 placings while making 109 of 129 cuts. Morikawa and teammate Kurt Kitayama missed the cut last weekend at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Collin Morikawa splits with longtime caddie, hires Joe Greiner to carry bag
Collin Morikawa splits with longtime caddie, hires Joe Greiner to carry bag Collin Morikawa will have a new caddie next week when he tees it up at the Truist Championship in Philadelphia. Morikawa has hired veteran caddie Joe Greiner and parted ways with J.J. Jakovac, his only caddie since turning pro in 2019 at the RBC Canadian Open. Morikawa's decision was first reported by CBS golf commentator and former PGA Tour pro Colt Knost via a social media post. "When we first heard this, I thought there's no way this is happening," Knost said on his Sirius/XM PGA Tour Radio show. Jakovac confirmed to Golfweek he is no longer working for Morikawa via text message. Jakovac was a three-time All-American at Chico State and twice won the NCAA Div. II individual national title and was named the winner of the Jack Nicklaus Award as the nation's top D-II golfer in 2004. He first caddied for Matt Bettencourt and also has done stints with Peter Tomasulo and Ryan Moore. He sent an email to Morikawa's management team before he turned pro and had been on his bag ever since. Morikawa won two majors and six times on the PGA Tour and reached as high as No. 2 in the world with Jakovac on the bag. Greiner had success with childhood friend Max Homa, winning six times, too, but chose to part ways with Homa, who is mired in a slump, last month. Greiner stepped in to work for Justin Thomas at the Masters and the RBC Heritage, which Thomas won, while veteran caddie Matt Minister recovered from a back injury. Morikawa is ranked No. 4 in the world. He finished second at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, one of two runner-ups this season among three top-10 finishes this season, but hasn't won since the 2023 Zozo Championship. Morikawa missed the cut last week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pro golfer makes an ace on No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass, jumps into the lake in celebration
There was not one but two aces on 17 on Wednesday at TPC Sawgrass. Collin Morikawa's caddie J.J. Jakovac made a hole-in-one during the annual Caddie Competition. Then it was Alejandro Tosti's turn and while Jakovac's celebration was cool, Tosti did him one better: by jumping into the lake that surrounds the island green. Adding to the legend: Alejandro Tosti just made ace on the 17th during his Wednesday practice round … and promptly jumped into the pond — James Colgan (@jamescolgan26) March 12, 2025 Tosti is among the 144-player field for the 2025 Players Championship. He's one of the 24 first-timers teeing it up in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, but chances are he's hoping he could've saved that ace for tournament play this week. This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Alejandro Tosti aces the 17th at TPC Sawgrass, then dives into lake
