The stunning reality of collaborating with the 15-time Major winner is uncovered by a former caddy.
Having officially returned to his favorite sport, Tiger Woods will be forging ahead for the next term without Joe LaCava, his former caddie.
After an amicable understanding, LaCava and Woods parted ways last year when the latter took a break from golf. The former caddie then went on to work with Patrick Cantlay.
For over 12 years, LaCava remained loyal to Woods while they achieved numerous accolades including 11 victories with one being the prestigious 2019 Masters Tournament. In a recent interview, the caddie openly shared which of Woods’ habits bothered him.
Tiger Woods’ goodness humbled Joe LaCava.
During a recent episode of the Quiet Please podcast, LaCava shared several nostalgic moments he had with Woods. Reflecting on their early days together, the caddy recounted how nervous he used to feel around Woods’ golf coach and agent Mark Steinberg who was mostly out for business. Being in close proximity to such an iconic figure as Tiger Woods made him extra anxious since he always aimed at being exceptional while ensuring that everything was done correctly.
Although he knew he would make mistakes, the golfer was apprehensive during his initial tournaments. During this time, two things stood out to him: Woods’ low maintenance approach and reluctance to complain about any issues. Despite working with the 15-time major winner for approximately a decade across nearly 110 tournaments, LaCava never had one grievance raised with him by Woods. The graciousness of the athlete left such an impression on LaCava that he found himself asking for less kindness from Woods instead of more.
Throughout their term, the golfers refrained from pointing out any inaccuracies in putts or caddy readings. According to LaCava, his employer rarely misdirects a putt and is overly considerate of others’ feelings; he wouldn’t even inform him of incorrect reads. In response, LaCava urged him not to be so gracious and requested feedback on his mistakes for future reference rather than simply knowing if he was correct or mistaken at present times.
The pair enjoyed an enduring and seamless partnership until Woods’ recent series of accidents. Their closeness was such that the caddie even revealed a significant piece of information regarding the golfer during their appearance on the show.
Does Tiger Woods feel prepared to accept retirement?
During the same episode, LaCava disclosed that Woods expressed uncertainty about his future in golf while they were a team. In addition, Woods suggested that LaCava should consider caddying for another player if an opportunity presented itself. Although he initially declined because of how well-treated he felt under Woods’ wing at the time, temptation eventually lured him back into consideration.
Finally, as Woods withdrew from the greens to recuperate, he had no choice but to release his caddy. Fortunately, the looper stumbled upon a fantastic prospect in Patrick Cantlay who was labeled by LaCava as “a promising and fit young athlete.” Presently, Woods hopes for nothing less than thriving partnership with Cantlay.
