Woods blasted by former caddie

Thu, 21 Jul 15:20:00 2011

Tiger Woods's former caddie Steve Williams lashed out at his former employer after being fired on Wednesday.

Woods

The New Zealander, who had caddied for Woods since 1999, claimed that he had "wasted the last two years of my life" after sticking with the former world number one throughout the scandal, on-course deterioration and injury problems that have dogged Woods since November 2009.

Woods had Williams on his bag for 13 of his 14 Major championship victories, and the pair had apparently enjoyed a close personal friendship as well as a warm working relationship.

Yet Williams - who earned so much with Woods that he has several times been New Zealand's best paid 'sportsman' of the year - was evidently furious at the way their time together came to an end.

"I'm not disappointed I've been fired - that's part of the job - but the timing is extraordinary," the 47-year-old told Television New Zealand.

"I've stuck with Tiger and been incredibly loyal... I am extremely disappointed, given that the last 18 months has been a particularly difficult time," Williams added.

"With the scandals, a new coach, a swing change, I've stuck with him through thick and thin and been incredibly loyal -- and then this happens.

"I wouldn't ditch someone when the chips are down. I've stuck by Tiger and put myself and my family in a difficult position.

"I, along with a lot of people, lost a lot of respect for Tiger (over the sex scandals) and I pointed out before his return at the Masters at Augusta in 2010 that he had to earn back my respect.

"He was starting to do that, but it's not the case now."

Williams added in a statement on his website that he will now work full-time for Australian star Adam Scott, for whom he has caddied occasionally during Tiger's time out of the game.

"Having started my caddying career with Australian great Peter Thompson and working for Greg Norman in the 80s I am excited about the future working for another Australian," he said.

Eurosport

Comment 254 - 273 of 273

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  1. tiger made him a very rich man

    From ANGELA, on Sat 23 Jul 4:58

  2. Steve who?

    From mike, on Sat 23 Jul 4:36

  3. Tim, you are the one who is incredible. You just­ expressed an opinion without knowing he facts. Tiger­ parted ways with Williams, in a face to face, about­ three weeks ago after the AT&T tournament in the­ US. The announcement on his website is just Tiger­ makning it public.

    From kmf, on Sat 23 Jul 3:08

  4. Dont tell me this guy didnt know about Tigers extra­ marital exploits!! If he didnt then they wernt as close­ as he is making out and the soft touch doesnt wear with­ me, without #tiger who would this guy be? A no man­ just a journey man caddy. #get a life mate Tiger is the­ greates golfer seen in many years and his off course­ exploits should have nothing to do with how he has­ entertained millions of golf fans world wide.

    What he­ did wasnt new, sportsmen have have extra entertainment­ in hotels since hotels were opened, his only issue is­ that he got caught.

    From Mike, on Sat 23 Jul 2:22

  5. Tiger doesn't have a lot of friends, looks like he­ lost one more. Probably best for Stevie, it's yet­ to be seen if Tiger is even going to return to golf­ with his knee problems, and even if he does, he needs­ to prove he can still play at a high level.

    From D, on Sat 23 Jul 0:10

  6. I find you all quite incredible!
    The point here­ isn't who did what on the course, these guys are­ grown ups and have made their own decissions over the­ last decade or so.
    The point is simply that Mr Woods­ sacked the guy via his Twitter site and didn't have­ a big enough pair to actually face the guy and tell him­ first.
    That is the point.

    From Tim, on Sat 23 Jul 0:08

  7. Tiger Woods is the best out there with more majors!­ People want to jump on the bandwagon as if they helped­ him get to where he is. His life his money he can do­ whatever, and he has nothin' to prove!

    From VICTOR KEWAL, on Fri 22 Jul 23:25

  8. This Williams is ungrateful.....after all the money he­ got during Tigers fame and being the most paid athlete­ in his country for taking 10% of tigers yearly earning,­ and he complains about 2 yr lost! well let us see where­ he will go and get that much of a money now......­ douche bag!!! *long hiss*

    From Hammanyero, on Fri 22 Jul 22:42

  9. tiger is a mug i dont even no y im wrighting this i­ dont care ant got much work on tho might aswell mug­ tiger of for a few mins

    From Fergie, on Fri 22 Jul 21:14

  10. golf is not a sport its @#$%

    From Fergie, on Fri 22 Jul 21:12

  11. Very highly paid bag carrier gets the sack.

    Williams­ is a very very rich man because of Tiger Wood's­ talent and good offices.

    It would have been better if­ he had kept his trap shut.

    I would love to have had­ his opportunities and no wonder he is p-ssed off, no­ more luxury hotels, first class travel etc "on the­ boss" Boo hoo

    From Get rid of the Lords, on Fri 22 Jul 20:30

  12. Oh ! what a sad situation Steve. Well, we are looking­ for an experienced caddie in Africa and the Carribean­ Islands to work on Cocoa and cotton plantations.­ Expenses paid. Free canoe over the Atlantic, and will­ be chained on boat to avoid being thrown overboard, and­ trained by some African boat drivers. We'll train­ you how to work in life, padlock your mouth so you­ don't get mouth desease, chain you on the field so­ you don't loose your sense of orientation, castrate­ you so you can put on weight to resist hardship. And­ when the job is over, we'll sell you to a master or­ take you back to an Island to restart your life without­ being noticed. You do not need a reference. Only one­ condition: Steve, return all the money you have­ received from Mr Wood back to him, and come and start a­ new life and new experience so you'll be able to­ compare different situation and not spend the rest of­ your life mourning about nothing. Apply asap- Caddie­ Steve.

    From George, on Fri 22 Jul 20:14

  13. not being funny but who cares whether Tiger has been­ bonking, does it interfere with his golfing NO is he­ bonking on the greens NO just let him get on with being­ the brilliant sportsman he is and as for his caddie woe­ is me, earn back his respect what a laugh with all his­ millions I'm sure he isn't in the line at the­ job centre, get a grip

    From ST, on Fri 22 Jul 20:02

  14. Woods was the boss, not Williams. So, what is Williams­ beefing about?

    From Paul, on Fri 22 Jul 19:59

  15. Tiger attack on ex-caddie would have made a more­ sensational headline. As it is, these petit squabbles­ between the fragile folk do rather clutter-up the­ countryside. As for Golf: an admirable game but it­ isn't a virtue to play it, is it?

    From ROY MIDDLETON, on Fri 22 Jul 19:17

  16. Loyalty works both ways. What loyalty did Tiger had­ from his so called sponsors, promorters and­ friends?Williams should remember, he was just an­ employee on a contract. Tiger is not obliged to renew­ his contract. He got paid handsomly for his troubles.­ Just because his ego got bruised there is no need
    to­ show his anger and frustration. This is the real­ world. People lose their jobs every day for no fault­ of their own in every walks of life. We cannot go­ around moaning about it. Williams earned his corn­ well. It is about time he just move on without­ whinging. Just get on with life and enjoy what you­ had and stop being a sour @#$%!! Be grateful for what­ you got paid, which was far more than working in a farm­ shearing sheep in New Zealand!!

    From P, on Fri 22 Jul 19:03
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Well I can agree with some of the comments made however­ we must all remember that we all have sinned and none­ of us are perfect.
    As to the role model comment: People­ shoulD stop setting their children up for failure-when­ you agree to yourself or your loved ones to follow a­ pattern after an non perfest individual it speaks a lot­ about yourself. Remember there will and always be but­ ONE PERFECT Person and that was and is JESUS CHRIST.­ Outside of that we all fail at some point in our life­ and we all make bad decisions. Therefore, how do we as­ people justify
    our short comings because we all have­ them. It is unfortunate for Tiger that his personal­ life was exploited beyond measure. It is sad that we as­ people can just love a person when all is going well­ but when our foot slips those same people kick you to­ the curb and disassociate themselves from you. What­ would any of you do if GOD had decided to do the same­ thing to you. When you decide to speak negative things­ about a person always remember what JESUS asked those­ that had prepared to stone a woman--He without sin let­ him cast the first stone. None of us are.

    From Dale Thomas, on Fri 22 Jul 18:57
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Tiger who? ........ good riddance!

    From paul, on Fri 22 Jul 18:51

  19. For those who have never played golf or played in a­ proam competition, I can understand that you think­ it's just a case of carrying a bag and handing out­ clubs. It is the caddy that generally makes the last­ decision on the club which is used. They know the­ course down to a tee and exwactly what happens to it­ when the wind is blowing or when it is raining. Theya­ re a co-worker - like two surgeons. They are the ones­ who point out hazards or other issues and the­ undulations on the green. I have seen one at work and­ belive you me they are the ones who make most of the­ decisions. A good cady can be the difference between a­ win and a second place. Why do you think Woods paid him­ so much, why do you think Scott now wants him. The­ acddies are out on the course and measuring everything.­ Their note books are wrth a fortune. Why do you think­ that people like Fanny still have a bag following on­ from Faldo?? Get your facts right before you make­ stupid comments.

    From Sue, on Fri 22 Jul 18:51

  20. I hear Simon Dyson needs a caddie. Easier job. He's­ bagless.

    From nigel, on Fri 22 Jul 18:45
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