Tiger Woods' former caddie Joe LaCava is latest to offer advice to golf legend
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Tiger Woods might have been playing at the 90th Masters if it weren't for his rollover crash, DUI arrest and subsequent check-in to rehab.
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People around him have sent tons of support but no one is acting as a yes man for Woods. Those in his camp and who surround him are holding their friend and loved one accountable for his actions.
The latest is his longtime caddie Joe LaCava, who told The Athletic he hasn't reached out to him since the latest incident.
LaCava said he is "leaving him alone and letting him figure it out for himself."
"He’s got to help himself, which is what I’m hoping he’ll do. But I have not made any contact with him ..." LaCava said. "He’s got enough people probably texting him and hounding him, right? 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 has faith that Woods can make a return to the Masters some day, even at 50-something years old.
"He’s got anything in him, and he’s proven that. But yeah, that’s the hope for me. He’s done everything, right? LaCava said. "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."
Woods, 50, was attempting to play at the 2026 Masters, but another car crash, this one near his home in Florida, ended those hopes.
According to an arrest affidavit, officers found two hydrocodone pills in Woods' pocket after the crash. Woods said he would "seek treatment" to focus on his health. Florida prosecutors said during a state court filing on April 7 they want to issue a subpoena seeking copies of “any and all prescription medication on file” for Woods as part of its case.
Throughout Woods' career, he's suffered a number of injuries that left his body ailing which led him to medication for pain management and sleep deprivation.
Three-time Masters champion Gary Player offered a solution for Woods.
"All you got to do is don't drive a car and get a chauffeur," Player said at an April 9 news conference.
Player just got done hitting a ceremonial first tee shot with fellow golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson to officially break open the 90th Masters golf tournament. But his concern for Woods was evident.
"Do I blame him for taking medicine? Hell no," Player said. "He has sleep deprivation. Do I blame him for taking something to help him sleep? No. But I don't think he should drive a car. When you're taking that medicine, it's dangerous when you're driving a car. Same as it's dangerous when you look at your cell phone in the car."
Woods reportedly was driving near his home on a Jupiter Island residential street at a considerably high speed, given the area, on March 27. He hit the back of a pressure-washing trailer being towed by a truck and his SUV rolled on its side and scraped down the street. Woods had to climb out of the passenger window.
He pleaded not guilty to DUI with property damage after blowing a 0.00 on two alcohol breath tests. He was arrested because he declined to submit to a urinalysis, a relatively new Florida law.
The new legislation states drivers who refuse a breath or urine test face a second-degree misdemeanor charge including an automatic one-year driver’s license suspension and up to 60 days in jail.
"I mean my reflexes I think are as good as when I was 20, but I don't drive anymore. I get a chauffeur and I think that's the answer to it," Player said. "But my heart goes out to him. There's nothing worse than living in pain every day of your life. You can't think of anything worse. I just hope he can get it all sorted out because he's such an asset to golf and has done so much for the game."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tiger Woods' ex-caddie Joe LaCava has advice for golf legend at Masters