Johnson has 'no hard feelings' after caddie LaCava defects to Woods' bag

Dustin Johnson says there is no friction between him and Tiger Woods after losing his caddie to the former No. 1.

Joe LaCava left the fifth-ranked Johnson on Sunday to become Woods’ full-time caddie.

“I spoke to Tiger about it,” said Johnson on Thursday at the Dunhill Links Championship on the European Tour. “There’s no hard feelings at all.”

Johnson says Keith Sbarbaro, vice president of his club makers TaylorMade, will carry his bag for the rest of the year. He said he has “quite a few caddies wanting the job” to replace LaCava.

Woods had been without a professional caddie since sacking Steve Williams this summer after almost 13 years together, but announced on Sunday that he had linked up with LaCava.

Johnson's coach Butch Harmon -- also a former coach to Woods -- said he was "disappointed" by the way the move happened.

"The thing that bothered me the most was Tiger not calling Dustin and asking if he could talk to Joe,” said Harmon. “That's the way it's done. I'm a little disappointed with the way Tiger handled it, but I'm not surprised."

However, Johnson played down LaCava's switch.

"Things happen, he (Joe) has got to do what he's got to do," Johnson said. "Joe got offered Tiger's job so he took it. I can't blame the guy, he can do what he wants. I will be fine, I've got a few guys who want the job.

"I still like Joe. It's a business,” he added. “We have to make decisions. I talked to Tiger, it's all good, no hard feelings at all. We had a good conversation."

Johnson carded a 1-under 71 at Kingsbarns on Thursday to open the Dunhill Links, where his amateur partner is his brother, Austin, who played basketball for Charleston Southern.

“He hits it far, just like me,” Johnson said. “But he three-putts a lot. The only reason I’m [here] is to play with my brother. He’s jacked up. He’s more jacked up than I am.”

Johnson said his brother plays off a 5 handicap, and is capable of shooting anything.

“If he’s got it going, it can shoot around par,” Johnson said. “If he doesn’t, he shoots 90. He’s a little wild off the tee. At St. Andrews he’ll be all right. I’ll tell him to hit it left all day.”