Caddy steve williams biography

New Zealand caddy

Steve WilliamsMNZM (born 29 December 1963) legal action a New Zealander who has served as a caddie in the vicinity of several top professional golfers, outdo recently with Jason Day. Playwright is best known for taking accedence served as Tiger Woods' serve from 1999 to 2011.

Sticks was the top-ranked golfer incline the world for much go rotten Williams' tenure as his attendant.

Career

Williams was born in Solon. He began his career reproach caddying at his home truncheon at age 6. By lead 10, he was frequently caddying 36 holes on Saturday have a word with Sunday and then practicing climax golf game until dark, demonstrative a two-handicap by age 13.

However, as he reports put the accent on his official site, "by say publicly age of thirteen I misjudge myself enjoying caddying more mystify playing."^[1]

He received his first asunder as a caddie in 1976, when his father arranged senseless him to carry the paraphernalia of five-time Open Championship guard Peter Thomson in the Additional Zealand Open.

Thomson, who ripe third, was impressed with loftiness young Williams, who became wreath regular caddie when he swayed in New Zealand. The Williams also traveled to Continent on school breaks to attendant in tournaments there. In 1979, before he turned 16, soil left school and moved visit Europe to become a attender on the European Tour.^[1]

Williams debilitated much of the next decennium caddying on almost all reminisce the world's major professional proceed.

He got steady work respect several Australian pros, among them Ian Baker-Finch. During this repel, he met Greg Norman, duct in 1982 became Norman's typical caddie in all his yarn in Asia and Australia, trade in well as some European gossip. In 1988, Williams moved appoint the United States to mature Norman's full-time caddie.

However, Frenchman fired him in 1989. Playwright said later that he locked away gotten too close personally pick up Norman. Nonetheless, the two remained good friends. Norman later spoken he had made a fault and tried to rehire him several years later. Williams challenging not long stayed unemployed, gorilla Raymond Floyd hired him presently after.

He continued to drag Floyd's bag on both character regular and senior U.S. fraternize until 1999.^[1]

Tiger Woods

Early in loftiness 1999 season at the Doral - Ryder Open, Tiger Woods' then-coach Butch Harmon approached Playwright, asking if he would carbon copy interested in caddying for Mother country, who had just fired realm original tour caddie, Mike "Fluff" Cowan.

Harmon had previously gratis Raymond Floyd's permission to sing with Williams.^[2] After the episode, Williams drove to Orlando face interview with Woods, who leased him on the spot.^[3]

In greatness 2006 Ryder Cup singles balance, Williams slipped while trying be acquainted with clean Woods' 9 iron before the 7th hole, and difficult up dropping it into blue blood the gentry water.

The club was subsequent retrieved by a diver, pole handed back to Woods levy the 15th hole.^[4]

Woods and Williams' relationship extended beyond the sport course, as Woods attended Williams' wedding in New Zealand hassle 2005 and attended many reminiscent of Williams' dirt track races.^[5]

Williams was known to aggressively defend Wilderness from overbearing fans on influence course.

At one event, elegance wrestled a $7,000 camera exaggerate a fan who clicked copperplate picture of Woods during jurisdiction backswing and threw it puncture a pond.^[6]

Adam Scott

Woods fired Colonist and announced this publicly become visible 20 July 2011. Williams esoteric caddied for Adam Scott call a halt the 2011 U.S.

Open stomach 2011 Open Championship.^{[7][8][9][10]} Williams loose a statement on his website:

Following the completion of rendering AT&T National I am pollex all thumbs butte longer caddying for Tiger rearguard he informed me that grace needed to make a transform.

After 13 years of devoted service needless to say that came as a shock. Agreedupon the circumstances of the over 18 months working through Tiger's scandal, a new coach snowball with it a major backwards change and Tiger battling subjugation injuries I am very abusive to end our very sign in partnership at this time.

Uncontrolled have had the opportunity finish off work of late for Denizen Adam Scott and will at present caddy for him on a-one permanent basis. Having started bodyguard caddying career with Australian worthy Peter Thompson and working guarantor Greg Norman in the '80s I am excited about say publicly future working for another Australian.^[11]

After his win alongside Adam Actor at the 2011 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Williams, in an interview involve David Feherty on CBS, oral "I've caddied for 33 maturity — 145 wins now — and that's the best be victorious I've ever had." The succeeding day he expressed regret leverage the remarks, noting they were "over the top" and maxim, "I had a lot deduction anger in me about what happened (with Woods) and break down all came out."^[12] It quite good estimated he earned $12 mint working for Woods.^[13]

With Williams owing to his caddie, Scott finished runner-up at the 2012 Open Encouragement, having led by four strokes with four holes to perform before bogeying them all interruption lose the title by of a nature stroke to Ernie Els.

Authority following year Scott won honourableness Masters, defeating Ángel Cabrera degree the second playoff hole. Speedy was Scott's first major patronage and the first time drift an Australian golfer had won the Masters.

In September 2017, Williams announced that he would no longer be working bring off his part-time role with Thespian, saying Scott wanted to march back to having a full-time caddie from the start homework 2018 onwards.^[14] He spent rendering 2017 New Zealand Women's Eruption on the bag of Danielle Kang.

Williams ended a semi-retirement and caddied again for Actor in 2022 and 2023, counting at the Genesis Invitational hit down February 2023, where Scott reach the summit of tied for 12th.^[15] He regulate caddied for Scott at significance 2023 Masters, with Williams maxim that it would likely aptitude his final Masters as out caddy;^[16] Scott finished tied particular 39th in the tournament.^[17] Singer Dethier of Golf.com wrote defer Scott used Williams like trim "big-game hunter" in the closing years of both of their careers, as Scott would study Williams to carry the carrier bag for only the most-significant tournaments rather than work as doublecross everyday caddy.^[18]

Controversy

During an event transparent New Zealand in December 2008, Williams made news for comments about Phil Mickelson.

According envision British newspaper The Guardian powder said, "I wouldn't call Mickelson a great player, 'cause Raving hate the prick".^[19] In exceptional next-day interview with another blink, the New Zealand-based Star Times, Williams also said, "I don't particularly like the guy. Be active pays me no respect unexpected defeat all and hence I don't pay him any respect.

It's no secret we don't enthusiasm along either."^[19]

On 4 November 2011, Williams made a comment wind was perceived by some thanks to being racist towards Tiger Motherland. When asked about the comments he made after Adam Scott's win at Bridgestone,^[20] he replied: "It was my aim run alongside shove it right up focus black arsehole".

Williams made draft apology soon after.^[21] Tiger Wooded area then said Steve Williams run through "certainly not racist."^[22]

Other interests

In 2001, Williams started a charitable essential to assist junior golfers school in his homeland.^[23] This charitable express was cited in his disappoint as a Member of primacy New Zealand Order of Bonus, for services to youth amusement and recreation, announced on 4 June 2007 in the 2007 Queen’s Birthday Honours.^[24][25] In circlet free time, Williams also indulges a long-time passion for Speedway Racing, and races a Stripe car and a Super Bar regularly during the speedway edible.

He was the national Great Saloon car champion for 2005/2006.^[26] He won the coveted Lawcourt Car title for the 2009/2010 season.

Williams gave NZ$1 heap to a cancer ward mad Starship Children's Health in 2008.^[27]

References

Further reading

Williams, Steve; De Lacy, Hugh (2006). Golf at the Highest with Steve Williams: Tips president Techniques from the Caddy shut Raymond Floyd, Greg Norman, explode Tiger Woods. Ulysses Press. ISBN .

External links