Steve Williams: Big mouth caddie

As golf approaches its final major of the year (The PGA Championship) near my childhood home in Atlanta, the biggest story in golf is not about the golfers, but about a caddie.  Steve Williams, who until this summer was Tiger Woods’ caddie for the last 12 years, was on the bag for Adam Scott this past weekend at the WGC-Firestone Invitational in Ohio.  Scott won the tournament, but Williams stole the spotlight in his initial Post-Round interview with the entertaining David Feherty and subsequent interviews.  I heard Williams’ initial comments live, and couldn’t believe them.  Williams said this was the biggest win of his career.  OK, you were on the bag for 13 of 14 majors that Tiger has won, including some of the game’s most impressive individual showings and you say this victory was the greatest of your career? 

Caddies are largely silently.  Most people couldn’t name 3 caddies on the PGA Tour.  And for those who can, I’ll bet 2 of those names are “Fluff” Cowan and Steve Williams, both of whom caddied for Tiger.  Quick, somebody name Jack Nickalus’ caddie for most of his life.  Can’t?  For that matter, name Jack’s golf coach.  Can’t do that either?  But I bet you could name Tiger’s golf instructors.  The point is we are in a time where anyone associated with Tiger achieves instant star status.  Steve is not special and, as Tiger proved over the weekend, he can find another bag guy.

Steve was a caddie long before he worked with Tiger, without the successes he enjoyed under Tiger.  And he may enjoy some success with Adam Scott.  But, at the end of the day, Steve doesn’t swing the club or putt.  He can offer advice, but the golfer’s have final say and ultimately provide success or failure.  The caddie at best gets 10% of the winnings, but not much else.  Yet, Steve thinks he helped Tiger win all those years, and now is guiding Adam to becoming a great golfer.

Memo to Steve:  know your role.  You’re a caddie.  At best, give advice when asked and shut your mouth the rest of the time.  Sooner or later, Tiger will probably go back to his old ways and be one of the best again in golf.  And then what, Steve, if Tiger proves he can win without you, or when Adam begins to struggle, which all golfers do?  Oh, and whatever happened to Fluff, Steve?  This may be your future one day, too.