Paul Casey has revealed that his long time caddie Johnny ‘Long Socks’ McLaren had a brain tumour removed last April.
Consequently, Casey believes the PGA Tour would have been too hectic for McLaren so a switch to a more relaxed environment on LIV Golf made sense.
The Englishman also revealed that there were “breaking points” with the conditions on the PGA Tour including being stuck in a hotel room for ten days in Japan due to false positive Covid tests.
The 46-year-old told the Are You Not Entertained? podcast that McLaren’s health was the emotional factor behind his move to the Saudi backed tour.
“This is something I have not talked about but people know it on LIV and the DP World Tour, PGA Tour as well.
“You know my dear caddie, Johnny McLaren? Johnny ‘Long Socks’ McLaren as he’s affectionately known.
“Anybody who wonders what that means just has to look up a picture of Johnny and they’ll see a 50-year-old guy wearing his Jordan 1s and his big long socks lolloping around the golf course.
“Johnny and I have been best mates and a team for the last eight years. Well, Johnny had a brain tumour removed last April.
“So when you’re never quite sure what is going on in peoples’ lives, there’s a lot.
“That is something Johnny and I spoke about and that is another reason why we went to LIV because we couldn’t keep doing what we were doing.”
Casey also believes that PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan’s lack of urgency in terms of reacting to golf’s divide has seen himself, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Henrick Stenson made out to be scapegoats.
“We take the blame for this, as players, but I’m not sure the blame rests squarely on our shoulders.
“For the longest time we’ve just wanted to play golf. That’s it.”
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