In the aftermath of Tiger Woods’ historic Masters victory, his caddie, Joe LaCava, found 670 text messages waiting for him on his cell phone.
Speaking with The Caddie Network’s Garrett Johnston, LaCava explained what it was like to loop in one of the most exciting Masters in history.
After Woods sunk the winning putt, he looked at LaCava and said, “we did it!” before embracing him on the 18th green. However, that was just the start of the celebration for the pair who have been working together since 2011.
When they reached the scoring area, LaCava said the two shared a special moment in which nothing needed to be said.
“We just kind of looked at each other and soaked it all in,” LaCava said. “It was still only seven minutes since he putted out and it’s hard to take it all in at that point, but we just took a deep breath. Nothing was really said. He basically said, ‘we did it,’ again. But we got to share the moment and smile at each other. It was such an achievement, a proud moment more than anything.
“Nothing needed to be said because we could read each other’s minds.”
Enjoying the celebration, LaCava didn’t get to settle in and check his phone until later that night. When he did, texts and missed calls numbered in the hundreds, but again, it was Woods’ thoughts that meant the most.
“Tiger did send a message that said, ‘We did it, appreciate you hanging in there with me, I love you like a brother,’” LaCava said. “And I sent one back very similar to that.
“Hopefully, we’ll have a nice sit-down dinner and rehash everything at the next tournament and not necessarily celebrate it, but enjoy it and reminisce a little bit.”
Among the others who sent congratulatory texts were LaCava’s former boss, Fred Couples, former New York Rangers, Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis and Chris Mara, Senior VP of Player Personnel the New York Giants.
With the Masters under his belt, LaCava is already looking forward to the PGA Championship in May.
“I can’t even imagine,” LaCava said speaking about the New York crowds at Bethpage Black. “I think the atmosphere is going to be off the hook after winning the Masters. I think it would be anyways because the New York crowds are very enthusiastic, and I can’t wait because the PGA of America is probably going to come up with some awesome threesome grouping for us.”
