Steve Williams, arguably the most famous caddie in golf, is to split with Adam Scott in 2018 after announcing he will not be on the bag of the Australian next year.
New Zealander Williams has been sharing caddying duties for Scott with David Clark, a regular on the PGA TOUR, with the major winner believing it was a benefit to have two men to work with.
But Williams revealed that Scott has decided to go back to one caddie for the 2017/18 season and the pair will split as a result.
“I’m not going to caddy for Adam next year, he’ll return to having a full-time caddie,” Williams told the New Zealand Herald. “He’s had a job share where he’s had two caddies for the last two seasons but he wants to return to one caddie next season.”
During 2017, Scott had said of Williams: “Steve is obviously one of most accomplished caddies out here, most experienced.”
There is still time in the game for 63-year-old Williams, who hopes to carry on caddying in a part-time role having been involved in the game for 39 years. He is having a stint in the women’s game too, after he agreed to work with 2017 Women’s PGA Championship winner Danielle King at the New Zealand Women’s Open.
A household name in golf
Williams, who was awarded an MNZM—the New Zealand Order of Merit—in 2007 for his work with a charitable foundation for young golfers, is one of the sport’s most famous faces having worked with Tiger Woods for a large chunk of the 14-time major winner’s career.
Williams also worked with Australians Peter Thompson and Greg Norman during his formative years as a caddie, as well as another Aussie Ian Baker-Finch and American Raymond Floyd, who he caddied for until 1999 before teaming up with Woods.
The Woods and Williams partnership lasted between 1999 and 2011 and was in place for 13 of the American’s 14 majors. The pair teamed up to win the U.S. Masters three times, the U.S. Open on three occasions, the Open Championship three times as well as four PGA Championships.
It was a period of domination for Woods, who helped Williams become New Zealand’s best-paid sportsman. It is estimated Williams earned $8.8 million during his 12-year stint on Woods’ bag, courtesy of a 10 percent prize money share. His total earnings reportedly topped $12 million.
Williams teamed up with fellow Australasian Scott in 2011, after learning that he had been dismissed by Woods despite standing by the former world number one during his marriage scandal, injury and various form problems.
Williams and Scott enjoyed an instant victory when triumphing in the 2011 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, a win the caddy caused controversy with when suggesting it was the best win he had ever had. The pair also went close to major success when finishing second in the 2012 Open Championship.
But Williams did earn a 14th major victory as a caddie a year later when he helped Scott win the 2013 Masters at Augusta. He remains one of the most successful bagmen the sport has known.
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