Tiger Woods’s caddie Joe LaCava has left to hitch Patrick Cantlay with uncertainty over when or if the 15-times Major champion will return to top-level golf. Woods, who suffered severe leg accidents in a automobile crash two years in the past, underwent another operation after withdrawing during the Masters and is predicted to overlook the rest of this season’s Majors recuperating.

LaCava, who has labored with Woods since 2011, will crew up with World No 4 Cantlay for the primary time at this week’s Wells Fargo Championship in what is predicted to grow to be a long-term partnership."The thing about Joe is he's as loyal as loyal gets," mentioned US PGA champion Justin Thomas.

“I know that that's something that would never ever, ever be done if Tiger would not OK that. There definitely was some kind of conversation that went on there." Woods and LaCava enjoyed plenty of success working together out on the course.

But amongst a Masters victory and a whole host of PGA Tour victories, LaCava and Woods were often out of action due to the American’s fitness struggles. It remains to be seen when Woods will return amid his injuries - and who of course will now be on his bag.

In a statement following his recent ankle surgery, it was confirmed Woods was already back in rehab in a bid to get himself back out on the golf course. Former PGA Tour player-turned-surgeon Bill Mallon gave his prediction on a potential Woods return date, and it proved grim reading for golf fans.

As a result Mallon claimed the 82-time PGA Tour champion could be set for a year on the sidelines. In a series of Tweets, he wrote: “Tiger will be in either a cast, a splint, or a boot for a period of time – it's at the surgeon's discretion. He will likely get around using a rolling stroller, in which you rest your knee on a padded surface, bend your knee, and that leg will roll along.

“It usually takes 6 weeks to 3 months for the fusion to take effect, and Tiger will have limited weight-bearing during that time, which again will be at the surgeon's discretion, and also depends on how the fusion is healing. Can he play golf again? Yes, but that's at least 6 months to a year in the future.

“His tournaments for 2023 are likely over, and I would not be surprised to not see him play again until Augusta 2024. Can he play golf well again? Depends on your definition of well. He'll never be the Tiger of 2000 or even 2015. The fact that this is his right foot/ankle is the saving grace, as you need motion in your left foot/ankle as you roll over it near impact.”