For years, Steve Williams shouldered the clubs for Tiger Woods during his spell of unmatched dominance on the golf course, eyeing up the singular, near-mechanical conquests that are hallmarks of Woods’ legacy.
However, Williams’ career path swerved when Woods let him go in 2011, leading to a new chapter as a caddie for Adam Scott, where he discovered a fresher joy in triumph. Witnessing Scott win the 2013 Masters and become the first Australian to clinch victory at Augusta gave Williams an unfamiliar experience – an honest-to-goodness celebration, something he scarcely felt with Tiger.
Winning was always the name of the game for Tiger. And should victory elude him? The strain only escalated for the succeeding event. Williams has frequently commented on how Woods didn’t allow himself to revel in his successes, his gaze fixed firmly on forthcoming challenges.
This mindset was evident even after Woods’ commanding 15-shot victory at the U.S. Open in 2000 – a tour de force in the annals of golf. But even then, his attention quickly zoomed onto future conquests. “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 details from St Andrews so I can win there as well,'” Williams reminisced on ‘The Dom Harvey Podcast.’
That unrelenting drive, though monumental, seldom left space for jubilation. When Woods emerged victorious, it wasn’t seen as a milestone to cherish; it was merely proof that he had met expectations.
Williams, who has caddied for fierce competitors like Greg Norman and Raymond Floyd, says Tiger has taken the intense competitive spirit to new heights. Every tournament was a life or death matter with Woods, putting Williams under enormous pressure during their more than ten-year partnership.
Leaving Team Woods led to a starkly different atmosphere in his career as a caddie. Compared to that intensity, Scott’s approach was significantly more relaxed.
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“With Adam, he wanted to do well, but it wasn’t the end of the world if he didn’t,” shared Williams. The vibe was markedly distinct when Scott triumphed at Augusta, unlike anything Williams had felt before.
“When Adam won the Masters, we had a great celebration,” he recalled. “With Tiger, that was never happening.”
Despite how their partnership concluded, Williams is one of the strongest believers in Tiger’s capacity to win another major. Dismissing any suggestion that recent injuries could mark the end of Woods’ career, he confidently stated: “No chance.”
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
