At the 1989 Masters, the weather in Augusta was terrible. It was raining and cold at the last hole, and the pair needed a par to force a playoff. Norman asked what Williams thought he should do, and the caddie, having seen that the shark was driving the ball very well, said, “Absolutely driver.”
Williams explained the situation to Norman and said, “You can’t reach that bunker today in these conditions and you need to be as far up as possible.” But Norman disagreed. He picked up his 1-iron and swung at the ball, but he couldn’t gain enough distance.
The next shot Norman took was off a steep slope. Williams suggested the 4-iron, but Norman again had made up his mind to go at it with the 5-iron. The caddie tried to reason with him. He said, “With a five-iron, there’s no way it can get there.” Williams added, “It will spin off the front of the green because it’s wet. Take the four-iron and take some spin off it.”
Greg took his 5-iron, and the ball spun just like Williams said it would. The last chance Norman had to make the putt was nearly impossible. He missed out on the green jacket by a stroke.
Steve was just as devastated as Norman. He was furious, too, that he hadn’t listened. His only reassurance was Mark O’Meara, Greg Norman’s playing partner at the Masters. He had overheard the whole conversation at the last hole. He said to Williams, “Steve, you did your best.” You tried to persuade him every way you could and he wouldn’t listen.”
O’Meara’s words that day weren’t the only comfort he provided. Him overhearing the conversation on the 18th hole was the best thing to happen to Williams, because a decade later, when Woods was looking for a caddie, he consulted his close friend, Mark O’Meara. And Mark undoubtedly recalled Williams’ advice to Norman and suggested his name to Woods.