In a revealing new interview, Tiger Woods' former long-time caddie has shared intimate details about the golf icon's behaviour away from the public eye, highlighting a simple yet profound habit of gratitude that defined their partnership.
A Simple 'Thank You' That Meant Everything
Steve Williams, the New Zealand-born caddie who carried Woods' bag from 1999 to 2011, recently spoke on the Tee It Up podcast. He disclosed that Woods, without fail, thanked him after every single round they played together, regardless of the day's performance.
"The thing that stood out for me more than anything when I first went to caddie for Tiger is that after every single round, good or bad, indifferent, whatever, 'Thanks for your help today, Steve'," Williams recalled. He admitted this consistent demonstration of manners from the superstar initially took him by surprise.
Williams contrasted this with the norm, where players often shun their caddie after a poor performance. "A lot of times when you are carrying for guys, and things don’t go well, they’d rather not see you. They don’t want to talk to you. But he was remarkable," he said. He emphasised the impact this had on him as a young caddie under immense pressure, stating, "Every day, he thanked me for the job. And as a young guy under the pressure, that was the first. I couldn’t believe it."
A Successful Yet Tested Partnership
Williams took over the role three years into Woods' professional career. Their alliance became one of the most successful in golf history. Together, they celebrated 63 victories on the PGA Tour, including 13 of Woods' 15 major championship wins.
Despite the harmony and success, Williams has also opened up about a rare but significant clash between the pair. Speaking on GOLF's Subpar podcast, he described giving Woods a "public dressing down" during the Masters at Augusta National.
"It was at the Masters," Williams began, explaining he had scouted the course and knew the tee on the third hole was placed far forward. Believing it was an easy green to reach, he urged Woods to use a driver. "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."
Williams believes that bogey cost Woods the tournament. The tension simmered for five holes until Williams confronted him on the ninth. "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," he revealed.
Life After an Iconic Pairing
The celebrated partnership ended in 2011, three years after Woods' last major win at the 2008 US Open. Following the split, Williams enjoyed a successful seven-year stint, across two periods, caddying for Adam Scott. He also had brief spells working with Jason Day and LPGA star Danielle Kang.
Williams' reflections paint a nuanced portrait of Tiger Woods: a fiercely competitive legend who never forgot the basic courtesy of thanking his teammate, yet whose single-minded focus could occasionally lead to explosive disagreements even with his most trusted ally.
