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SC Cancer Patient Who Met Tiger Woods Passes Away

Shane Caldwell's stepdaughter, Jordan Miller, posted on social media that Caldwell died Monday.

Columbia, SC (WLTX) - A Columbia man whose family surprised him with a meeting with Tiger Woods, his favorite golfer, has passed away from cancer.

Shane Caldwell's stepdaughter, Jordan Miller, posted on social media that Caldwell died Monday.

'My angel," she wrote. "Fly high, my sweet superman."

Caldwell had been battling Stage 4 lung cancer since early last year, and had previously dealt with colon cancer twice. Her dad was an avid golfer, and was a big admirer of Woods' golf career. He'd been a fan of the superstar since Woods was 12 years old.

Credit: Jordan Miller
Shane Caldwell visits a wax statue of Tiger Woods in Hollywood, CA. 

And like so many other golfers, he loved The Masters tournament held over in Augusta.

So as a special gift, late last month, Jordan began putting together an effort not only to get him inside the Masters, but also a face-to-face meeting with Tiger Woods.

She took to social media to plead for help. Her goal was to get the attention of someone to make a meeting of her dad and Woods possible.

Her efforts were a success.

So on the first day of the Masters tournament, on April 5, Shane got to meet the golf legend.

"He came over and I shook his hand and I probably said something kind of funny," Shane recalled in an interview with News19 afterward. "I said, 'Go out there and knock them dead.' And he said, 'I will'."

Woods also gave him a golf glove On it, written by Woods himself, were these simple words of encouragement: "stay strong."

"[Jordan] didn't do it for recognition," Shane said. "She didn't do it for any other thing. She just wanted me to have it. She wanted me to meet Tiger Woods."

The story received not only local, but also national attention.

"He deserves it," Jordan said afterward. "He deserves to meet a hero of his. He's a hero of mine, so he's our superhero. He deserves that moment."

On Facebook after his passing, Jordan showed a picture of her and her stepdad's hands clasped together.

"Until we meet again," she closed her post.

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