Tiger Woods caddie's major reveal after painful British Open drama

Tiger Woods' caddie Joe LaCava has offered a telling clue about the 15-time major winner's future, in the wake of his British Open heartache.

The 46-year-old was reduced to tears after missing the cut at St Andrews earlier this month, as he continues to struggle from a leg injury that threatened to end his career.

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Golf fans found it painful to watch as Woods struggled to nine-over after two rounds, with the effects from the American's horror car crash in 2021 taking its toll on the three-time Open winner.

Woods fought back tears as he received as standing ovation from fans, eventually completing a round of 75 which unfortunately saw him drop out of the famous tournament at St Andrews.

Speaking afterwards, Woods said it felt like it might be his last time competing at the famous Old Course at St Andrews.

“I had a few tears. I’m not one who gets very teary-eyed very often about anything,” he said.

“To me it felt like this might have been my last British Open here at St Andrews. The fans, the ovation and the warmth, it was an unbelievable feeling.”

However, Woods defiantly declared that he has no immediate plans to retire from the sport.

"Maybe something next year. I don’t know. But nothing in the near future," Woods said when asked about his golfing future.

"This is it. I was just hoping to play this one event this year.”

Speaking on The Dan Patrick Show on Thursday morning, Woods' long-term caddie shed light on when fans can expect to see him back playing competitive golf again.

LaCava says he has hatched a plan for Woods to play "three, maybe four" tournament before next year's Masters tournament in. April.

The American's caddie has earmarked the Hero World Challenge in December, the PNC Championship with his son Charlie and the Genesis Invitational for Woods, before potentially tackling Augusta.

LaCava admits though that it all depends on how the 46-year-old's body holds up.

Caddie reveals golfing plans for Tiger Woods

“I’ll say, ‘Hey, Tiger, listen. If you’re starting to feel better, maybe in October, November, maybe I’ll come down [to Florida] for a couple weeks, we’ll hang out," he said.

“‘We don’t have to play every day, we don’t have to practice every day. I’ll be there and maybe give you a little motivation.

"'We’ll go down and play and practice a little bit here and there to get ready for the Hero and get ready for the following year of 2023.’

“We’ll get him ready in any respect that he needs.”

Emergency surgery after his horror car accident in 2021 has seriously compromised Woods' ability to walk long distances, with the 46-year-old obviously battling significant pain while playing.

Woods memorably made the cut at both the Masters and PGA Championship, but eventually withdrew from the latter and sat out the US Open to give his body the best possible chance to recover for The Open.

With St Andrews unlikely to host another Open until at least 2027, there is a strong chance Woods has played his last tournament at the Old Course.

“It’s hard just to walk and play 18 holes. People have no idea what I have to go through and the hours of work on the body, pre and post, each and every single day to do what I just did,” Woods said.

"I certainly feel like I'll be able to play more British Opens, but I don't know if I'll be around when it comes back around here."

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