Woods and William awkward at Aronimink
Tiger Woods denies being at odds with long time caddie Steve Williams, who have worked with each other since 1999. Their relationship is not just a professional one, as Woods attended William’s wedding in 2005.
Rumours spread after the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach when Wood’s made a comment that reportedly offended Williams after the final round.
“We made three mental mistakes. The only thing it cost us was a chance to win the U.S. Open,” said Woods in a post Open comment. Woods also said that at one point in the course Williams instructed Woods to aim right at the flag. Woods later admitted this was something he didn’t feel comfortable doing.
Woods has denied that the two are fighting at a press conference on Tuesday, but Fox Sports reported the famous golfer was forced to deny the feud.
"Do Stevie and I make mistakes on the golf course? Of course we do. We're not perfect [and] we made mistakes at the wrong time."
Woods claimed there was no tension between the two, and blamed the media for “reading way too much into it.” But at the AT&T National last week the two did not seem to be in harmonious spirits around each other.
Woods hit a 20-yard-too-short shot into the bunker at the par five 15th hole. He threw the club in a hard backhand flip that sent the wedge flying across the fairway falling right in front of William’s feet. Woods, disgusted, walked on leaving Williams to pick it up. The scene was humiliating for both parties to say the least.
Michael Bamberger at Sports Illustrated said its hard for there not to be tension between caddie and golfer when Woods had been leading a double life that kept everyone close to him in the dark. Bamberger is of course referring to Woods serial infidelities against soon to be ex-wife Elin Norgegren.
Woods has spoken out to the media regarding his relationship with Williams in the past. A couple of years back at the Masters tournament, Woods told the press Williams had pushed him to hit a driver on the third hole at the Augusta National course. It was during the final round of the tournament, and Woods ended up in the wood without a birdie.
Woods has also had to do damage control for Williams. In 2008 the caddie was quoted running his mouth off about Phil Mickelson, “I wouldn’t call Mickelson a great player, cause I hate that pr- - k.”
Woods and Mickleson were not currently competing when the comment was made, but it reflected poorly on Woods nonetheless.“I was disappointed to read the comments attributed to Steve Williams about Phil Mickelson, a player that I respect. It was inappropriate. The matter has been discussed and dealt with,” Woods told reporters of the incident.
Williams, 44, is known to display obnoxious behaviour. He pulled a camera from a photographer and threw it into a pond one time, and has been in the habit of running across the green when Woods holed well.
Williams is in a position to quit if he wants to, following in the footsteps of Woods' former swing coach Hank Haney. Haney retired last May and has since been on a roller coaster ride of interviews where he slams and then glorifies Woods.
Whatever issues are plaguing Woods and Williams hopefully the two can put them to rest next week when Woods flies to Scotland to play in the British Open at St. Andrews.
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