Years After Former Caddie Accused Tiger Woods of Treating Him Like a “Slave”, Joe LaCava Brings Out the Other Side of the Legend

Published 04/06/2023, 7:30 AM EDT

The relationship between a caddie and a golfer is of paramount importance to the latter’s success on the greens. It is true with all the top names, including five-time Masters Champion Tiger Woods. The 47-year-old has had three caddies over the course of his storied career. These are Mike Cowan, Steve Williams, and Joe LaCava. All three men will have tales of their experiences with Woods, and the 15-time Major champion’s current caddie shared some of them. LaCava’s words, which showered the golf star with compliments for his off-course actions, may have surprised many golf fans.

It may be because his statements, which brought out the other side of the legend, were in stark contrast to comments by caddie Steve Williams.

Woods’ caddie Joe LaCava, heaps praises on the golfer

When Tiger Woods claimed his 15th major championship at the Augusta National in 2019, Joe LaCava was right by his side. Four years later, the renowned caddie shed a positive light on his relationship with the golf star.

Joe LaCava spoke to the ‘New York Post‘ and threw light on their personal equation. He revealed that Tiger Woods had gifted him a Rolex following the 2019 Masters win. It was too “flashy” a timepiece for the caddie to unbox. Also, when the 15-time Major Champion learned about LaCava’s daughter, Lauren’s birthday celebrations in Florida, he insisted that LaCava and his wife stay at Woods’ beach house.

LaCava also said Tiger Woods once saw him wearing loud multicolored socks as part of a children’s hospital fundraiser and casually shared that he’d built a library for them. He concluded by saying, “He’s done so many of those things that people don’t know about.”

Tiger Woods’ current caddie’s comments were not in sync with the not-so-pleasant revelations by his former caddie, Steve Williams.

What did Tiger Woods’ former caddie reveal about him?

Steve Williams was Tiger Woods’ caddie from 1999 to 2011. Joe LaCava joined forces with the former world no.1 immediately after his hostile split with the Kiwi. While the latter greatly respected Woods’ accomplishments, he did not like his personality. In his book, ‘Out of the Rough’, Williams commented on an action of the five-time Masters champion that greatly irked him.

He wrote, “One thing that really pissed me off was how he would flippantly toss a club in the general direction of the bag, expecting me to go over and pick it up. I felt uneasy about bending down to pick up his discarded club, it was like I was his slave.”

Despite Woods’ alleged misbehavior, the former caddie was not the one to leave his job. After over a decade of working as his caddie, Williams was fired by Tiger Woods for reasons that are unknown.

Joe LaCava’s comments could put a smile on the faces of Tiger Woods’ longtime fans. What do you think about the professional caddie’s new revelations? Let us know in the comments below.

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Abantika is a fresh writer at EssentiallySports who was chosen in the recent round of ?ES Draft? for her strong passion for golf writing. Even in her early days, Abantika has displayed an impressive ability to cover golf with gripping and insightful stories backed by thorough research. Her inspiration comes from the words of the legendary golfer and flag-bearer of the PGA Tour, Rory McIlroy: "As long as I keep enjoying my golf, then hopefully I'll be able to play well," which motivates her to continue writing engaging pieces.

Edited by:

Reubyn Coutinho