Tiger Woods' caddie breaks routine to watch Ryan Fox win Open Championship

Tiger Woods' longtime caddie Joe LaCava broke a 25-year habit to watch Ryan Fox win the Open Championship at Royal Troon on 21 July 2026.

What happened?

LaCava, who has worked with Woods since 2011, normally follows the Open from the couch. But this year he made the trip to Scotland after Fox, the 40-year-old Kiwi, surged into contention. Fox carded a closing 65 to finish at 14 under, two clear of Tommy Fleetwood. The win marked Fox’s first major title after 170 starts on the PGA Tour.

Why it matters for Tiger Woods

Woods and LaCava have shared a partnership for 15 majors and 18 worldwide wins. LaCava’s shift shows how even the most ingrained routines bend for a breakthrough. Woods himself has not played the Open since 2019 due to injury and scheduling. Still, the caddie’s presence at Fox’s triumph underscores the global pull of the championship.

What comes next?

Fox now joins a small club of Open winners who claimed their first major at 40 or older. LaCava returns to Woods’ bag for the next event, the 3M Open in Minnesota on 31 July. Woods is scheduled to play, though his form remains untested in 2026. The caddie’s brief detour may spark questions about Woods’ own future plans.

How the caddie explained the change

LaCava told Golfweek he simply couldn’t miss Fox’s charge. “I’ve watched this every year from home,” he said. “But Ryan’s been knocking on the door so long, I had to be there.” The moment capped a week where LaCava’s bond with Woods took a back seat to a rival’s glory.