In the world of professional golf, few partnerships have matched the longevity and loyalty of Tiger Woods and his longtime caddie Joe LaCava. Though their working relationship ended in 2023, new details reveal the depth of their friendship — and Woods’ generous nature — during their 12 years together.

After clinching his fifth green jacket at the 2019 Masters, Woods presented LaCava with a Rolex watch in appreciation for his support throughout the tournament — and their journey as a team. Though LaCava reportedly found the timepiece too flashy to wear, the gesture underscored Woods’ gratitude during one of the most emotional wins of his career.

Their bond extended far beyond the course. According to the New York Post, when Woods learned that LaCava’s daughter, Lauren, would be celebrating her birthday in Florida, he invited her and LaCava’s wife, Megan, to stay at his private beach house. The hospitality didn’t end there — Woods arranged a celebratory lunch aboard his luxury yacht, complete with surprise birthday balloons and gifts.

Speaking ahead of the 2023 Masters, LaCava offered insight into Woods’ lasting appeal and generosity. “Tiger’s still well received,” he told the Post. “We played a practice round Monday morning and there were still a million people out there going crazy for him.”

While Woods remains one of the most celebrated golfers in history — with 15 Major titles and 82 PGA Tour wins — his off-course philanthropy often goes unnoticed. “He’s done so many of those things that people don’t know about,” LaCava noted, citing a library the golf icon funded at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Woods, now 49, has struggled with injuries in recent years. After finishing 60th at last year’s Masters, he has not returned to the PGA Tour since The Open Championship in July. His absence from this year’s Masters comes after rupturing his left Achilles tendon in March.

In a statement shared on social media, Woods said: “As I began to ramp up my own training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was deemed to be ruptured. This morning, Dr. Charlton Stucken of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida, performed a minimally invasive Achilles tendon repair. I am back home now and plan to focus on my recovery and rehab. Thank you for all the support.”

Despite the physical setbacks, Woods’ legacy — both on and off the course — remains deeply etched in the sport, and in the lives of those who’ve stood beside him.