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An athlete playing any sport needs something unique from others to reach the very top of their game. Tiger Woods, one of the greatest, if not the greatest, in golf, has a plethora of unique skills that have helped him stay at the top of the food chain for many years. And who would be better to attest to this than his long-time caddy, Steve Williams? Steve reveals a lot about not only Woods’ game but also his behavior towards his caddies, which makes his legacy even greater. Steve Williams was on the Tee It Up Golf podcast. Since he was a long-time caddy for the 15x major champion, questions about Woods were bound to come. The host asked him how Tiger Woods was when he was a young athlete just beginning. While answering the question, Williams also explained why Woods stands out to him. “The thing that stood out for me more than anything when I first went to caddy for Tiger is that after every single round, good or bad, indifferent, whatever, ‘Thanks for your help today, Steve.’,” Steve Williams told Tee It Up Golf podcast. He also went to mention that no matter the day, a good one or a bad one, Mr. T always thanked Steve for his work. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad While Tiger Woods thanked Williams for his job, there were also times when the game’s pressure and intensity led to some unlikable moments. Williams described moments when Tiger’s behavior, such as tossing clubs without care for the caddie’s effort to retrieve them, made him feel like a “slave.” This complicated dynamic showed that there were problems, too, in their working relationship. However, for someone like Woods, who is so much into his game, such moments shouldn’t come as a surprise. Williams himself said that Woods is too serious about golf. “He did everything a little bit different to everybody that I’d ever caddied for. The way he practiced, I mean, he was very intense with everything. His practice sessions were, like a lot of guys, just go and practice, and they have a bit of a laugh and a bit of a yawn and that, but every single shot he hit counted like it was on the course. So he didn’t hit as many practice balls as some of his fellow pros did, but everyone he hit counted, and that’s what made him such a great player,” Williams said. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad The two joined hands in 1999. It was shortly after the 82x PGA Tour winner turned professional. Thus, he knows Woods from the time he was a young kid and new on the professional circuit. They parted ways in 2011 after Williams caddied for Adam Scott. Williams had come to caddy for Tiger Woods in the 2011 US Open, but he was recovering from an injury and decided to sit out. In a surprising turn of events, Adam Scott asked Williams to caddy for him. The caddy told him yes and then received a call from Woods’ manager asking him not to caddy for Scott. But since Williams had already committed, he went against Woods’ wish and caddied for Scott. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Steve Williams once also stated that his wife had told him not to caddy for Scott. “My wife said, ‘No, if Tiger doesn’t want you to caddy, you shouldn’t caddy,’ and I should have listened… Arguably, I’d probably still be caddying for him to this day,” he had said in an episode on Don Harvey’s YouTube channel. But it was not only all good for the duo. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Despite all the intensity and love for golf, Tiger Woods is facing a lot of problems with his comeback to professional golf. However, Williams says that he still has it in him to complete a full 72-hole game. Steve Williams on Tiger Woods’ health Williams affirmed Tiger Woods’ confidence, even as the 15x major champion faced ongoing physical setbacks. According to Williams, there is “no chance” that Tiger’s career is over. He thinks that Woods still has wins left in him. He has firsthand experience of Tiger’s resilience, having seen him win the 2008 U.S. Open despite a broken leg. “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 said about Woods’ comeback. The 12-year caddy for Woods described his winning mentality as legendary but also somewhat mechanical. Woods gives little time to celebrate victories. As Williams said, Woods only accepted a good week if he won. Otherwise, the pressure intensified for the next tournament. For example, after a dominating 15-stroke US Open victory in 2000, Tiger immediately focused on preparing to win at St Andrews, telling Williams to get all the details for that goal. This even took a toll on Williams’ health. Tiger Woods’ relationship with Steve Williams highlights the blend of intensity, respect, and complexity that defined his career. Even through the highs and lows, Woods’ unmatched drive and quiet gestures of gratitude continue to shape how he’s remembered beyond his achievements. Would you like to see Tiger Woods and Steve Williams reunite?
