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Tiger Woods may be down, but his former right-hand man doesn’t believe he’s out.
Joe LaCava was Woods’ caddy when he ended his 11-year major drought and miraculously won the 2019 Masters, his first green jacket since 2005.
Woods is now 50 years old, and in recent memory his performances on the course have been unforgettable.
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Tiger Woods celebrates with his caddy Joe LaCava on the 18th green after winning the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 14, 2019. (David Cannon/Getty Images)
But LaCava, now on Patrick Cantlay’s bag, puts “nothing” beyond the 15-time major champion, who certainly has a flair for the dramatic.
“He’s got something in him, and he’s proven it. But yeah, that’s my hope. He’s done it all, hasn’t he?” LaCava told The Athletic when asked if he might ever compete again at Augusta.
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“He’s going to be over 50, I understand. But I wouldn’t leave anything behind this guy. So I would never write him off.”
LaCava said he hasn’t contacted Woods since his drunken driving arrest, but “leaving him alone and letting him figure it out for himself.”
“He needs to help himself, and that’s what I hope he does. But I haven’t made any contact with him…” LaCava said.
Golfer Tiger Woods stands near his overturned vehicle in Jupiter Island, Florida, Friday, March 27, 2026. (Jason Oteri/AP)
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“He probably has enough people texting him and harassing him, right? I don’t need to bother him. I care about him a lot. I don’t blame him. He knows that. He knows I care about him deeply. He has enough going on, so I’m sure we’ll communicate once he gets home. I guess he doesn’t have access to his phone anyway.”
In 14 major tournaments since his last victory, he has failed to crack the top 20. This is his longest streak since failing to finish in the top 20 in the first six majors of his career in 1995 and 1996. In his last 26 majors, he has only finished in the top 20 four times.
Since finishing tied for ninth at the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open, his best finish in his 18 official events since then has been a tie for 37th at the 2020 PGA Championship.
He hasn’t competed since 2024, when he only competed in five events – the Genesis Invitational and all four majors. He withdrew from the Genesis, finished dead last at the Masters and missed the cut at the other majors.
Tiger Woods celebrates during the trophy presentation after winning the Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019, in Augusta, Georgia. (Allen Eyestone/Syndication The Augusta Chronicle: Palm Beach Post)
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Woods ruptured his Achilles tendon last year just before the Masters, returning from his injury at the Golf League Championship just four days before his arrest.
