Skovron confirmed the move to Golfweek but declined any further comment.
Ludvig Aberg has hired a veteran caddie to take over his bag for his first full season on the PGA Tour in 2024.
Aberg, a 24-year-old Swede who turned pro in June after a decorated amateur and college career at Texas Tech, added Joe Skovron to his team, Golf Channel.com first reported.
Skovron, 42, had been on the bag for another rising young star, Tom Kim, 21, since last September, beginning at the Presidents Cup in Charlotte, where Kim was the breakout star of the team competition. Kim has won three times on the Tour — twice with Skovron in Las Vegas — and finished second at the British Open in July. Skovron confirmed the move to Golfweek but declined any further comment other than to say he’ll be in Maui with Aberg in January.
Aberg had teamed with Jack Clarke since turning pro and was by his side for his victories at the DP World Tour’s Omega European Masters in September and the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic in November. He also handled caddie duties at the Ryder Cup. Clarke worked his final event for Aberg last week at the Grant Thornton Invitational, where Aberg paired with Madalene Sagstrom, who happens to be Clarke’s fiancee. (He also showed up in Naples last week as a Titleist ambassador.)
Aberg, a finalist for the Tour’s Rookie of the Year, took the golf world by storm after finishing first in PGA Tour University, and quickly has become one of the most desirable bags. Skovron, who spent the previous 13 years caddying for Rickie Fowler, is giving up the bag of Kim, the 11th-ranked golfer in the Official World Golf Ranking for Aberg, who has soared to No. 32. Many think Aberg could break into the top 10 before too long and stake a claim to No. 1.
Skovron should be a great addition to help him do so. He knows all the courses, how to get a player prepared to play his best, won’t shrink under pressure and will provide a steady hand for a budding star.
Kim has yet to name a replacement for Skovron. His agent merely said via text that he will have a new caddie at The Sentry in Maui.
“I’m playing on the PGA Tour as a 20-year-old. It’s hard to get tired from this.”
“Conversations with Champions presented by Sentry” is a weekly series from Golfweek. This week: Tom Kim, winner of the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open.
He’s just the second golfer to win twice on the PGA Tour before turning 21.
Tiger Woods was 20 years, nine months and 21 days when he earned his second win. Tom Kim has done him one better, winning a second time at the age of 20 years, three months and 18 days after claiming the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.
Kim also became just the third winner on Tour — Lee Trevino in 1974, J.T. Poston in 2019 — to play 72 holes of stroke play and not record a bogey.
“I played really solid this week,” Kim said, making perhaps the understatement of the Tour season so far. “I think I got to give big credits to Joe [Skovron], my caddie. He really kept me in it. We had a really good game plan coming into the week, and it paid off.”
Sometimes you need a little luck to win as well and, this was Vegas after all and Patrick Cantlay, who played great all week, stumbled home with a triple-bogey 7 on the 18th hole.
“I got very lucky on the 18th. I’m not going to lie, Patrick played awesome, and it was an honor to battle with him, and to come out on top, I feel very fortunate.”
Here’s the rest of what Kim said after his win.
Q: Are you surprised how quickly you’ve found success out here on the PGA Tour?
Yes and no. I’ve worked really hard, and my team has worked really hard to this point, and I’m just really grateful and I’m fortunate to have an opportunity like this. I’m having fun playing on the PGA Tour. It’s awesome.
Q: You’re the first player since Tiger Woods in 1996 to win twice on the PGA Tour before turning 21. What comes to your mind when you hear those words?
It’s really amazing. A few months ago, I didn’t have any status in the U.S., and now being a two-time winner on Tour, having that place with Tiger, it’s an unbelievable feeling for me. It’s an honor for me, and it’s definitely a dream come true.
Q: What’s the last few months been like for you? Could you just describe the last few months?
It’s been crazy. It’s been really fast. Definitely doesn’t feel slow, that’s for sure. Coming off a win, Playoffs, the Presidents Cup, and a win this week is, I mean, it’s absolutely amazing. I’ve just got to keep going, and I’m enjoying the ride, so hopefully many more to come.
Q: What did it mean to you to have Sungjae [Im], S.H. [Kim] and K.H. Lee out there to see you?
It’s amazing. You know, they’re my big brothers, and for them to wait on the 18th green for me, I’m really grateful for that. It’s special for me for them to be there.
Q: Can you explain how, since you had never played this course before Thursday morning, how you play 72 holes without making a bogey?
It’s amazing. With the way I started the week, I had a really bad cough, and because of the way my body felt, I had to play nine holes and nine holes. But I felt like playing nine holes, nine holes with limited time, I had to really get my work in, and I felt like the course really suited me well. It came to my eye, and I felt like if I just strategized my course around it here, around the course here, I could have a good week, and that’s exactly what I did.
Tom Kim and his caddie Joe Skovron stand on the 18th green during the final round of the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas. (Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Q: It was basically match play between you and Patrick at some point. Did you feel that way, that at some point it was down to the two of you?
I just had to really focus on my own game, and I feel like the experience from the Presidents Cup, like you said, it could have been match play, but I didn’t really think of it that way because really, on this golf course, there’s a lot of low scores, and anyone who plays well will have a chance. Someone just shot 9 under I think last year to win and come back and win by a lot. I just told myself, stick with the game plan. Whether I win or not, as long as I execute my shots and do what I need to do, that’s all I focused on, and I’m just grateful to be on top.
Q: You had talked earlier in the week how you feel like your life hasn’t changed. Everyone else is telling you you’re this rock star and superstar, but you feel like you’re the same person.
Of course, 100 percent.
Q: Does this change with this second win?
No, it hasn’t, absolutely not. I’ve still got a long way to go, and I want to hopefully have a long career on the PGA Tour. I’ve got a lot of work to do. There’s a lot of guys that I still need to get better at golf, and there’s a lot of guys out here who have a lot more success than me, so I’ve got to learn and I’ve got to keep playing better.
Q: Twice on that back nine you set up a two-shot lead and twice he came back at you and tied it up. Just talk about the pressure that that was putting you under and the feelings you had going through that back nine.
When you have a two-shot lead and you have a guy like Patrick coming at you, no lead is safe. I just told myself, well, we have a game plan. I was really grateful that Joe was beside me with the experience he has, and he really helped me through this week. I just stayed really patient. I played my game plan, and I just got really lucky on the final hole. Patrick has played so good this week, and I got really fortunate.
Q: If you could take us through your thoughts when you saw his ball head towards the desert there.
Like I said, I played my own game plan, whether he made birdie or not. I had to hit good shots, and I just, like I said, I have a game plan, and we stuck to it. I was just hoping I could execute myself.
Tom Kim looks on a Patrick Cantlay prepares to play his shot from the desert on the 18th hole during the final round of the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas. (Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Q: I’m not sure you know, but Tiger’s first win was in Vegas, and he made the comment, I think it was the seventh or eighth tournament, he was surprised it took so long. What was your mindset coming on to the PGA Tour and your expectations?
My expectation was just to be out here and just hopefully I can win. But I’m not going to lie; I’ve been very fortunate, and I’m just, yeah, I’m really fortunate, and hopefully, I have a lot more in the bag.
Q: How will you stay motivated with all this success? What will you do to keep winning just like Tiger did?
I’ve got lots of work to do on my game. I’m not going to lie. There’s some weaknesses that I need to get better at, and I need to keep the strengths that I have. Hopefully I can have a long career, and I’ve got to work really hard. I can’t get satisfied at all. I’ve just got to keep playing better because there’s a lot of guys who work really hard and who have achieved a lot more than me. I’m not even close to Tiger. Whether it’s Tiger, Rory, Justin, Jordan, those guys, I’ve still got a long way to go, so I just need to keep working hard.
Q: What did your Korean big brothers say to you on the green there?
They were just saying, congratulations, you did a really good job, and it’s amazing. For them to just, with the busy schedules that everyone has, for them to stay there for me, I’m really grateful for that.
Q: Have you now gone to expecting to win, and now has your role kind of changed from hoping to expecting?
No, golf on the PGA Tour is really hard. It’s really hard to win tournaments. I think everything in life, you can’t expect everything. I’ve just got to keep working hard on my game, and just being,I’m very fortunate to win twice on Tour and to be even out here. I think the mindset is for me I’ve just got to keep working hard and be grateful for what things come along.
Tom Kim poses with the trophy after winning the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas. (Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Q: You’re 20, but is it a little tiring winning Wyndham, playing in the FedEx Cup, Presidents Cup, here? I think you might be jumping on a flight tonight. Are you tired, or is it just because you’re 20 that you’re good?
I’m playing on the PGA Tour as a 20-year-old. It’s hard to get tired from this. I’m a five-year-old at Disneyland for sure. That’s the way I would pronounce it.
Q: People are already talking about you as a FedEx Cup winner, major winner. What is it you’ll set your sights on?
I think goals really stay within the team, but it would be amazing to do those things. Like I said, I’ve still got a long way to go. I’m 20 years old. I’ve still got a lot to learn from these guys. I’ve just got to keep working on my game, and hopefully there’s a lot of good things along the way. But I’ve just got to keep working hard, keep my head down and keep working.
Rickie Fowler and Joe Skovron parted ways in August after 13 years together.
NAPA, Calif. — Tom Kim will have an experienced hand on the bag at the 2022 Presidents Cup.
The 20-year-old South Korean, who made Trevor Immelman’s International Team, has hired Joe Skovron, who spent the previous 13 years caddying for Rickie Fowler.
Skovron, 41, was by Fowler’s side when he won his first PGA Tour title at the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow, host course for the Presidents Cup, which begins Thursday.
“For me, it’s great to be at a course that I’m so familiar with, that Rickie had a ton of success at and we went back to every year,” said Skovron, who spoke while waiting to catch a flight to Dallas to work with Kim this weekend before heading to Charlotte next week. “At least I’ll have familiarity with the golf course as we get a feel for each other.”
Kim has had a meteoric rise to No. 21 in the Official World Golf Ranking. He won the Wyndham Championship in August despite making a quadruple bogey on the first hole of the tournament. In doing so, he became the first winner on the PGA Tour born in the 2000s and the second-youngest winner since World War II, trailing only Jordan Spieth at the 2013 John Deere Classic.
It’s a smart move to pair the inexperienced Kim with a seasoned veteran with plenty of local knowledge. Kim’s agent, Ben Harrison of SportFive, sought out Skovron, a veteran of three Presidents Cups and someone who knows the ins-and-outs of international competition, and made the introduction. Skovron, who first took note of Kim at the Scottish Open this summer, said he’s agreed to work with Kim at the Shriners Children’s Open, Zozo Championship and the CJ Cup this fall.
“It’s an exciting opportunity with Tom and we’ll see how it goes,” he said.
Asked about Skovron teaming up with Kim, Fowler said he hoped the two would click and form a lasting partnership.
“I’m stoked for him,” Fowler said. “We were in Memphis (at the FedEx St. Jude Championship) and Tom was making faces and playing with my little girl. He seems like a great kid. It was great to see him play the way he did at Wyndham. I’m excited for Joe. He’s getting a younger guy who is fresh.”
Joe Skovron at the 2019 Masters.
Fowler and Skovron parted ways last month after 13 years together. For Fowler’s fan club, it will take some getting used to seeing their guy with Ricky Romano, who started on the bag for Fowler this week at the Fortinet Championship in Napa, California.
“With us, it was so much more than a player-caddie relationship,” Skovron said. “We have history from the time he was a little kid, growing up in the same town, my parents knowing him that long, me knowing his family that long, it was tough and I think we did the best we could with it and everything is fine with us. I look forward to our relationship going forward.”
“I’m just trying to get back to playing golf than worrying and playing golf swing,” Fowler said.
New season, new team for Rickie Fowler.
The five-time PGA Tour winner announced last month that he parted ways with Joe Skovron, his caddie of 13 years. On Tuesday, Fowler confirmed reports that he also ended a relationship of more than three years with swing instructor John Tillery.
“I couldn’t love the guy any more, and we gave it a good run but it was almost like speaking another language in a way and it never really clicked,” Fowler told Golfweek. “He’s had plenty of success with his guys and I wish I would have played significantly better. I’ll take a lot out of the time we spent together. It’s not like the last few years were for nothing. I gained a lot of knowledge and I feel like I’m in a very good spot.”
When Fowler shows up next week in Napa, California, at the Fortinet Championship, the season opener of the 2022-23 PGA Tour campaign, he will have veteran looper Ricky Romano on the bag.
“He’s about my size,” said the 5-foot-9-inch Fowler. “So, I won’t look too small out there, which is a good thing.”
Scott Piercy and caddie Ricky Romano during the second round of the 2022 Zurich Classic of New Orleans in Avondale, Louisiana. (Photo: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports)
Romano, who played at the University of Houston and on the mini tours before turning to caddying and working for the likes of Nate Lashley and Scott Piercy, grew up in Fowler’s hometown of Murrieta, California, and is four years older than him.
“He’s a good fit for me just because he’s someone I know, someone I know is a good player and I can trust his insight from the get-go,” Fowler said. “There won’t be necessarily a big learning curve.”
And who will Fowler be relying on for swing advice? He’s decided to spend more time with his former coach Butch Harmon. Fowler always had remained in contact with Harmon, who he last spent time with ahead of the CJ Cup last October. Fowler held the 54-hole lead before finishing T-3, his best result of the season.
“That was like a stamp of approval from someone who has helped in some of my best years of my career,” Fowler said of Harmon’s contribution that week. “I’m planning to have more communication with him this fall, but not committing or going anywhere outside of that right now.”
Fowler said he plans to play in the Shriners Children’s Open in October and expects to visit with Harmon ahead of that week.
Fowler last won at the 2019 WM Phoenix Open. He missed the FedEx Cup playoffs for the first time in 2021 and snuck into the first playoff at No. 125 in the standings this season.
“I’m just trying to get back to playing golf rather than worrying and playing golf swing,” Fowler said.
In 21 events this season, Fowler has just one top-20 finish, a T-3 at the CJ Cup in November 2021.
Another player-caddie relationship is biting the dust.
Rickie Fowler, the last man in the field this week for the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee, and longtime caddie Joe Skovron have parted ways, according to Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner.
Fowler’s game has been trending in the wrong direction for years, with his last win coming at the 2019 WM Phoenix Open.
In 21 events this season, Fowler has just one top-20 finish, a T-3 that came all the way back at the CJ Cup in November 2021. In 2022, he’s missed eight cuts in 17 starts.
