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I risked getting sacked by Tiger Woods after dressing him down midway through Masters round
Sometimes things need to be said regardless of the repercussions. That was the case for Tiger Woods’ former caddie Steve Williams who once felt the need to push the boundaries of his professional relationship with the star. Steve Williams and Tiger woods were once golf’s power pairingGetty Williams handed Woods a public dressing down, and one that on another day could have had huge consequences. The incident occurred in the heat of battle at Augusta with Woods in the mix for Masters glory. And with tensions high, Williams took a calculated risk for his career but one he believes was worth it. “I’d only ever dressed Tiger down once at Augusta and we’d had a bit of an argument on the third tee,” Williams recalled. “I’d been out in the morning and scoured the golf course. So on the third tee it’s a par four and sometimes they move the tee up on Sunday which makes it possible to drive it on the green. “I told Tiger that on the range but there was no conversation about it. “We got there and he didn’t want to hit driver and at the time he was four shots back. I didn’t see why he didn’t want to, it was an easy shot. “He ended up taking driver because I’d coached him into it and he hit a terrible shot, an absolute s*** shot over into the right trees. He was bitter and he was carrying on and sulking away. “We got up to the ninth hole and I dressed him down and gave him an absolute earful and you do so knowing if he takes it the wrong way he might fire you after the round. “But it needed to be said and after the round he said ‘hey thanks very much for that, I deserve that.’” Williams wasn’t afraid to let rip at the star despite his job being on the line The pair who enjoyed incredible success together during Wood’s early years eventually went their separate ways in 2011 after a 12-year association. Their relationship changed when Woods decided not to allow his caddie to accompany him while recovering from an injury. Williams had traveled to the US Open to caddy for Woods, who was subsequently forced to pull out of the tournament. After arriving in Los Angeles, Williams was informed of Woods’ non-participation and took Scott up on his offer to caddy for him. “I had left here on a Saturday with the intention that Tiger was playing in the tournament and when I arrived there, I found out that he wasn’t going to play,” Williams explained. His decision only served to grow deep tensions between the pair which ultimately became irreparable. Williams revealed his decision to caddie for Adam Scott was in hindsight, the wrong oneGetty - Contributor Reflecting on his decision to ‘jump ship’, Williams revealed that in hindsight, he should have made a different decision. “My wife said, ‘No, if Tiger doesn’t want you to caddie, don’t do it,’ and I should have listened,” he said. “I’d probably still be caddying for Tiger today.” Despite their parting of the ways, Williams continues to laud Woods’ qualities and dedication to the sport. He said: “Tiger had a goal, and that was obviously to surpass Jack Nicklaus’ 18 majors, and he was never going to stop working hard, even to this day, even as we speak.”
Sometimes things need to be said regardless of the repercussions.
That was the case for Tiger Woods’ former caddie Steve Williams who once felt the need to push the boundaries of his professional relationship with the star.
Williams handed Woods a public dressing down, and one that on another day could have had huge consequences.
The incident occurred in the heat of battle at Augusta with Woods in the mix for Masters glory.
And with tensions high, Williams took a calculated risk for his career but one he believes was worth it.
“I’d only ever dressed Tiger down once at Augusta and we’d had a bit of an argument on the third tee,” Williams recalled.
“I’d been out in the morning and scoured the golf course. So on the third tee it’s a par four and sometimes they move the tee up on Sunday which makes it possible to drive it on the green.
“I told Tiger that on the range but there was no conversation about it.
“We got there and he didn’t want to hit driver and at the time he was four shots back. I didn’t see why he didn’t want to, it was an easy shot.
“He ended up taking driver because I’d coached him into it and he hit a terrible shot, an absolute s*** shot over into the right trees. He was bitter and he was carrying on and sulking away.
“We got up to the ninth hole and I dressed him down and gave him an absolute earful and you do so knowing if he takes it the wrong way he might fire you after the round.
“But it needed to be said and after the round he said ‘hey thanks very much for that, I deserve that.’”
The pair who enjoyed incredible success together during Wood’s early years eventually went their separate ways in 2011 after a 12-year association.
Their relationship changed when Woods decided not to allow his caddie to accompany him while recovering from an injury.
Williams had traveled to the US Open to caddy for Woods, who was subsequently forced to pull out of the tournament.
After arriving in Los Angeles, Williams was informed of Woods’ non-participation and took Scott up on his offer to caddy for him.
“I had left here on a Saturday with the intention that Tiger was playing in the tournament and when I arrived there, I found out that he wasn’t going to play,” Williams explained.
His decision only served to grow deep tensions between the pair which ultimately became irreparable.
Reflecting on his decision to ‘jump ship’, Williams revealed that in hindsight, he should have made a different decision.
“My wife said, ‘No, if Tiger doesn’t want you to caddie, don’t do it,’ and I should have listened,” he said. “I’d probably still be caddying for Tiger today.”
Despite their parting of the ways, Williams continues to laud Woods’ qualities and dedication to the sport.
He said: “Tiger had a goal, and that was obviously to surpass Jack Nicklaus’ 18 majors, and he was never going to stop working hard, even to this day, even as we speak.”
