Kobe Bryant dead: Tiger Woods shocked after playing final round unaware of friend’s death after helicopter crash

Woods, a lifelong Lakers fan, was not told by caddie Joe LaCava to avoid distracting him in the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego on Sunday

Tiger Woods was unaware of the death of his good friend Kobe Bryant during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego on Sunday.

The Los Angeles Lakers legend was one of nine victims in a helicopter crash, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, with the news breaking during the early stages of Woods’ final round at Torrey Pines.

But caddie Joe LaCava opted against telling his boss so as not to distract him, though he finally delivered the news after Woods wrapped up his round at the 18th hole and made his way to the scoring room.

“Excuse me!” said a clearly stunned Woods, who is a passionate, lifelong Lakers fan.

“Joey realised that I was locked into trying to (win and) didn’t want to distract me with this type of news,” Woods told reporters.

“I didn’t really understand why people in the gallery were saying ‘Do it for Mamba’ but now I understand.”

Woods, at 44 three years older than Bryant, was still processing the news of his friend’s death. The pair are among a select few sportsmen famous enough to be universally known by only their first name.

“He came in the league and I turned pro right around the same time and we had our 20-year run together,” said 15-times major champion Woods.

“It’s a shocker to everyone, unbelieveably sad, and one of the more tragic days. I was just told about five minutes ago.

“Life is very fragile as we all know. You can be gone at any given time and we have to appreciate the moments that we have. I just can’t imagine what his family’s going through right now.”

Woods said that from a playing aspect he would most remember Bryant’s fire on the court.

Woods during his final round at Torrey Pines (Getty)

“He burned so competitively hot. He brought it each and every night, on both ends of the floor. Not many guys can say that. He’d lock up on D (defense). Obviously he was dominant on offensive side.”

The pair often worked out together in recent years and Woods lapped up many pearls of wisdom from a fellow great.

“We really connected on more the mental side of it, the prep, how much it takes to be prepared.

“I don’t have to react like he does in my sport. We can take our time, but you’ve still got to pay attention to the details and that’s what he did better than probably any other player in NBA history.”

Woods finished equal ninth at nine-under-par 279, six strokes behind winner Marc Leishman.

Reuters also contributer to this report