When "diehard lakers fan" Tiger Woods penned a note for late NBA legend Kobe Bryant

Tiger Woods, a lifelong Lakers supporter, once paid tribute to Kobe Bryant, highlighting a friendship built on mutual respect and a shared competitive drive. Both turned professional in 1996 and went on to become icons in their respective sports.

On April 13, 2016 shortly after Bryant retired from the NBA, Woods posted a tribute on X (formerly Twitter). He wrote,

“As a diehard @Lakers fan, thank you @kobebryant for all the memories and of course the 5 titles!”

Bryant won five NBA championships with the Lakers while Tiger Woods is famous for his five Masters Tournament victories. Later that year, the City of Los Angeles declared August 24 as Mamba Day to honor Bryant’s career and legacy.

When Tiger Woods learned about Kobe Bryant’s death

Tiger Woods’ respect for Kobe Bryant turned deeply personal in 2020 during the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. While playing the front nine, Woods had no idea that Bryant and his daughter Gianna had died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. Bryant was 41, and Gianna was 13.

His caddie, Joe LaCava learned about the accident but waited until Woods completed his round to share the news. The moment left Woods visibly shaken.

“It's unbelievable, the reality that he's no longer here. I just can't imagine what their entire family's going through right now. It's just shocking,” he said.

Reflecting on Bryant Woods added,

“I grew up a die‑hard Laker fan, always have been my entire life. That's all I remember, and he was part of the most historic franchise in all of the NBA.”

Woods spoke about Bryant’s toughness and competitive spirit.

“Ultimate toughness, ultimate competitor, and one of the most shocking, tragic days that I've ever been a part of in a very quick span here … 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.”

Woods and Bryant shared a close personal connection, especially during the peak of Bryant’s career. When Woods lived in Newport, the two would often work out and spend time together. After Woods moved to Florida they didn’t see each other as frequently but they stayed in touch. The bond went beyond friendship, as Woods added:

"We really connected on the mental side of things, the prep, and how much it takes.”

Tiger Woods finished the tournament tied for ninth, six shots behind winner, Marc Leishman. At the time he had 82 PGA Tour wins. He later added his 83rd win and now holds 15 major titles but the loss of Bryant left a lasting impact beyond the golf course.