Woods stunned to learn of Kobe Bryant's death

Tiger Woods has heard just about everything from playing before biggest crowds in golf, and he tends to igre it. Most puzzling was what he kept hearing along back nine Sunday at Torrey Pines.

“Do it for Mamba.”

Only after Woods finished his final round of 2-under 70 to tie for ninth in Farmers Insurance Open did he realize what it meant. His caddie, Joe LaCava, told him as y walked to scoring room that Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash.

Woods could be heard replying, “Excuse me?”

Such was shock for Woods that he made a rare detour from his two media stops to sign autographs, presumably to collect his thoughts. Woods typically signs after he is done with his interviews.

“One of most shocking, tragic days that I've ever been a part of,” Woods said.

Woods and Bryant arrived at roughly same time in 1996. Woods won first of his 82 titles on PGA Tour on Oct. 6, 1996, at Las Vegas Invitational. Bryant made his first appearance for Lakers following month.

Woods said y spent time toger when he still had a home in Newport Beach, but y rarely connected after Woods moved to Florida.

“We really connected on more mental side of it ... how much it takes to be prepared,” Woods said. “For me, 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 details and that's what he did better than probably any or player in NBA history..

“That's where he and I really connected because we're very similar,” Woods said. “He came in league and I turned pro right around same time and we had our 20-year run toger. It's shocking.”

Most or players were t aware of trdy about two hours to rth during round, including Rory McIlroy, a sports junkie who said he grew up idolizing Bryant. McIlroy, from rrn Ireland, said 2000 NBA Finals is what led him to follow basketball.

“He was a pure master of what he did,” McIlroy said. “That's just so sad.”

For Woods, it was personal. He was a Lakers fan for as long as he can remember. Woods once told of how his late far would tell him that Magic Johnson would add a new shot to his repertoire every year. And along came Bryant, roughly same , and someone with whom he spent time.

“It's unbelievable, reality that he's longer here," Woods said.