Heavy Toll of Tiger Woods Partnership Leaves Ex-Caddie Steve Williams With Newfound Respect for Stint With 1x Major Champ

“You know that he believes in himself, that at some point he can stand on the first tee of a major championship and feel that he is fully fit to compete for 72 holes and that he’s done the practice to do that,” Steve Williams, Tiger Woods’s caddie from 1999 to 2011, said about Woods’s confidence as he faces his latest setback, a new Achilles tendon issue. Williams even dismissed speculation that Woods is nearing the end of his career, saying “no chance” and asserting that the golfer has more wins left in him. Indeed, he comes from a place to declare that, after all, he has seen Tiger winning the 2008 US Open through the excruciating pain of a broken leg. Still, isn’t it somewhat ironic for Williams to say that?

As legendary as Tiger’s winning mentality might seem, the fact is, this very mindset probably made him somewhat mechanical, often leaving little room for even relishing a big win. And it was Williams who had offered the behind-the-scenes pictures of that winning grind that he himself often felt exhausted with. “Tiger’s only acceptance of a good week came with a win,” Williams had said in 2023. “Every week with Tiger, unless he won there was just more pressure on the next one. I have never met someone for whom winning was so important, the be all and end all,” Williams had said. He had given an instance from 2000.

That year, Tiger won the US Open by 15 strokes. But instead of taking a moment to celebrated that, “One of the very next things he said to me after signing his card was: ‘Steve, you need to get your ass across the water and get all the detail from St Andrews so I can win there as well.’ That was the kind of pressure you were under,” Williams had recalled. As intense as it might sound, the partnership ended on a sour note in 2011, with Tiger firing Williams over a phone call. Eventually, Williams went on to becoming a caddie for Adam Scott. And the difference between the jobs was evident instantly. Speaking on the latest episode of Dom Harvey’s YouTube channel, Steve Williams reflected on that.

His remarkable 50-year career as a caddie, although most famous for his association with Woods, has also seen him work with some of the biggest names in golf, including Greg Norman and Raymond Floyd. As he looked back on his incredible journey, Williams noted that his experiences with Woods and Norman were particularly intense, with both players having an “absolute determination to win” that put a lot of pressure on himself. However, Scott was more relaxed in this regard, according to him.

“I’ve the players that I’ve caddied for have all been very intense players and guys with absolute determination to win and that puts pressure on yourself, so I guess the get stepping away from the tour after being under pressure, particularly with Tiger and also Greg, to start with, maybe not so much with Ray Floyd, but you know Adam’s a little bit more laidback um you know wants to do well but it’s not the end of the world if he didn’t do well. With Greg and Tiger, it was just that was their world, they had to do and more so even Tiger.” Williams said.

Williams also shared stories about his early days as a caddie, starting at just 15 years old and going on to have an incredible journey that spanned five decades. Reflecting on his journey, he acknowledged the long years of dedication, success, and the path he took, like, leaving school early to pursue his dream. Notably, this is not the first time Williams has spoken about how he enjoyed his time working with Scott.

Williams and Scott’s best moment came when the two won the 2013 Augusta, making the latter the first Australian to do so. And Williams had a sense of fulfillment, something that he never sensed with Tiger. “I knew what it meant to Adam,” he said. “I knew what it meant to Australia as a sporting nation. It was awesome. There was a lot riding on that Sunday. When Adam won the Masters, we had a great celebration. With Tiger, that was never happening.” It doesn’t come as a surprise that Williams likes Scott’s company on the green, as he still fondly remembers the memories of the Augusta win.

Adam Scott’s historic Masters win, thanks to Steve Williams

As Scott drained his legendary birdie putt on 18 at Augusta in 2013, the skies unleashed a downpour. Ever prepared, Williams threw on his rain jacket as they roared in celebration. The best part? Williams later strutted around in his soaked gear, beaming like a proud dad.

Top Comment by Roman Beavers

I believe he always has a shot @the Masters in Augusta Ga.

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Then, the 2013 Masters will always be remembered as Adam Scott‘s win and his culmination of years of hard work. But the victory turned sweeter with the partnership he shared with caddie, Steve Williams. Scott has always spoken highly of Williams, and it’s clear that their partnership was a match made in heaven. “That was the beauty of Steve. There is no doubt about his delivery of advice,” Scott said, reflecting on their time together at Augusta National.

One of the most iconic moments of their partnership came on the winning putt, where Williams’ expertise and confidence proved instrumental in Scott’s success. “We’d done our usual routine and I said (to Steve), I think it’s a cup (outside the hole).” Williams said, ‘Adam, this is two cups.’ ‘Are you sure?’ I asked. ‘It is absolutely two cups, it breaks a lot’,” Scott recalled, highlighting the trust and confidence he had in Williams’ expertise. It’s amazing to think about how much of a difference Williams’ advice made in that moment.

But what’s even more impressive is the way Williams kept Scott grounded, even amid celebration. Scott shared a hilarious story on the No Laying Up Podcast, where Williams told him, “This isn’t over yet,” as they walked off the green. It’s a testament to the dedication that Williams brought to their partnership. With his Masters victory, Scott cemented his place in golf, and his partnership with Williams remains one of the most iconic in the sport. What do you think made their partnership so special? Let us know in the comment section below!