‘Hard Pill to Swallow’: Steve Williams Once Expressed His Anguish on How Tiger Woods Ended Their 13-Year Relationship On One Phone Call

Although they remain in the background, caddies play an important role in the game of golf. They have a first-hand view of the pros’ play and hence often have precise advice. Many caddies and golfers form a special bond that extends beyond the game. Such was the relationship Tiger Woods had with Steve Williams, who had caddied for him for 13 years. Until one fateful day in 2011, when the 15-time major champion broke off ties with Williams.

Things ending shocked Williams

In the Tiger Woods documentary that aired on Sky Sports in 2021, Steve opened up about his relationship and controversy with Woods. The caddie was heartbroken with the way things had ended. He said, “To this day I find that a hard pill to swallow.”

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Williams saw Woods as more than just a colleague. They were very close, and Steve was taken aback by how easily the champion had let him go. He said, “Someone you spend 13 years with, with all your time and all your effort, and the guy can’t even speak to you.”

He said that despite being fired, Williams had hoped that he and Woods would stay in touch and remain friends, but that was not the case. The two hadn’t spoken since, and Steve felt the pinch of it. He sadly stated, “Tiger was the best man at my wedding; I didn’t think we’d have no communication for the rest of our lives.”

The incident that led Tiger Woods to let Williams go

In 2011, after the Masters, Tiger had taken a break from the sport to deal with a few small injuries and clear his mind. But Williams claimed there was a lot of “uncertainty” about his return. Tiger had pulled out of the US Open too, and when Adam Scott heard this, he rang up Williams and asked him to caddie for him.

Steve ran it by the golf legend, who said it wasn’t a problem. But later, Woods changed his mind about it, and his agent told Williams, “If you go and caddie for your friend, that will be the end of your time caddying for Tiger.”

But Williams, by then, had already committed to Scott and didn’t think it was fair to back away. He said, “I wasn’t prepared to ring Adam up and say I can’t do it. I’m a man of my word.” Woods, on the other hand, stood by his words too, and soon after the US Open told Williams over a call that he “no longer had a job.” Thus, ending a great partnership on the PGA tour on a sour note.

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Will both Woods and Williams ever reconnect? And could their friendship rekindle if they do? Let us know in the comments below.