'I gave Tiger Woods a real talking to on course – we didn't talk for five holes'

Daily Mirror

5 hours ago

Steve Williams caddied for Tiger Woods for 12 years and the pair barely had any arguments during their partnership, but Williams has now revealed the one time they did row
Legendary caddie Steve Williams has opened up about giving Tiger Woods a rare public telling-off during their time together on the golf course. The Kiwi bagman, who was by Woods' side for 12 trophy-laden years from 1999 until their parting in 2011, was present for 13 of Woods' 15 major victories.
Despite a largely harmonious partnership, it all ended three years post Woods' last big win at the 2008 US Open when the golfer decided to fire his trusty caddie. Known as perhaps the most iconic player-caddie pairing in golf's annals, Williams and Woods were not accustomed to fiery clashes.
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Nevertheless, the Mirror US reports Williams disclosed the details of a rare heated moment between them recently.
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Whilst making an appearance on GOLF's Subpar podcast, Williams narrated the incident of their worst disagreement which took place at Augusta.
"It was at the Masters, I'd been out on the course early in the morning and knew where the tee placement was on the third hole. They'd moved the tee right up to the very front of which I'd never seen before.
"Easy to knock it on the green. He made a 4-4 start, it was automatic in my mind that he needed to hit a driver there. I couldn't talk him into it and I did.
"He hit the worst shot he's ever hit over the trees in the right [and] took a bogey which basically took him out of the tournament because the scoring average might have been 3.5 or 6 on that hole on that day.
"He didn't say a word to me for the next five holes and going up the ninth hole, I dressed him down and gave him a speech he'd never heard before and that was the first and only major argument that we ever had."
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On the topic of Woods' perceived competition during the early years of his career, Williams surprisingly stated: "David Duval, unparalleled," revealing that Woods saw Duval – who won 13 PGA Tour events in four years – as a fierce contender.
"He thought that David had what it took to compete week in and week out and challenge him for number one supremacy. He was the guy, but it was a very short-lived time.
"David had that wonderful patch where he got the number one in the world, captured the Open Championship, and then he made a drastic change with his body.
"And hence, he lost feel with his golf swing in there, and it took him a long time to get it going again. But he was the guy that he had the most respect for and the guy that he thought could challenge him."
Following the end of his partnership with Woods, Williams spent seven years as Adam Scott's caddie in two different stints. He also enjoyed brief spells working with LPGA star Danielle Kang and Jason Day.