Tiger Woods' longtime caddie, Joe LaCava, giving him space during treatment: 'He's got to help himself'

Joe LaCava was on the bag for Tiger Woods for his improbable comeback victory at Augusta National in 2019. Michael Madrid / USA Today Network Share full article1AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods’s longtime friend and former caddie, Joe LaCava, said Wednesday that he has not reached out to the five-time Masters champion since his automobile crash and subsequent DUI charge for a specific reason. “He’s got to help himself, which is what I’m hoping he’ll do,” LaCava told The Athletic. “But I have not made any contact with him. I’m leaving him alone and letting him figure it out for himself.” The Hall of Fame caddie was on the bag for Woods for his last victory at Augusta National in 2019, when the 43-year-old player ended a personal drought in the major championships that spanned nearly 11 years. This year, Woods was attempting to return to the Masters after yet another round of back and leg surgeries when his March 27 arrest in Jupiter Island, Fla., prompted him to announce days later that he was “stepping away” for a period of time. Woods said he would “seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.” A judge granted the 50-year-old Woods permission to seek inpatient treatment outside the country. “He’s got enough people probably texting him and hounding him, right?” said LaCava, now caddying for Patrick Cantlay. “I don’t need to bother him. I care greatly about him. I’m not pissed at him. He knows that. He knows that I care deeply about him. He’s got enough stuff going on, so I’m sure we’ll communicate once he’s back home. I’m assuming he doesn’t have access to his phone anyway.” LaCava was by Tiger’s side for the 2019 comeback victory that was seen as highly improbable at the time. Asked if he felt a healthy, post-treatment Woods could contend at the Masters once again, the way a 58-year-old Jack Nicklaus did in 1998, LaCava said, “I don’t see why not. “He’s got anything in him, and he’s proven that. But yeah, that’s the hope for me. …He’s done everything, right? He’s going to be 50-plus, I get it. But I wouldn’t put anything past the guy. So I’d never write him off.” As for this year’s edition of the Masters, minus Woods, LaCava said, “The tournament is going to be phenomenal, but of course it’s going to miss Tiger. How could it not?” Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Ian O’Connor is a columnist for The Athletic. He is the author of six straight New York Times bestsellers. O’Connor was a columnist at various major outlets who earned multiple first-place finishes in contests run by the Society of Professional Journalists, Associated Press Sports Editors, Pro Football Writers of America, and Golf Writers Association of America. He is a proud former copy boy at The New York Times. Follow Ian on Twitter @Ian_OConnor