• PGA Tour

Former caddie in race row after Tiger comments

ESPN staff
November 4, 2011
Steve Williams worked for Tiger Woods for 12 years © Getty Images
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Steve Williams, the former caddie of 14-time major champion Tiger Woods, finds himself at the centre of a race row after allegedly making racist comments about his former employer at a gala dinner.

Williams, now the caddie of Australian Adam Scott, was in attendance at the annual Caddie of the Year awards in Shanghai on Friday, an informal event taking place during the ongoing WGC-HSBC Champions that is meant to shine a light on some of the men - and women - who carry the bags of the professionals all year round.

The event is meant to be light-hearted in nature, but Williams caused shock with his comments about Woods when he went up to receive the award for celebration of the year - given to him in light of his controversial post-round press conference after winning his first tournament with Scott in August.

"It was my aim to shove it up that black arsehole," Williams is reported to have said, according to The Times and Daily Mail.

One of the more unpopular figures among the media for his bullish manner, Williams has been no stranger to controversy since parting ways with Woods. He refused to go quietly after the 14-time major champion let him go after 12 years together in July, attacking Woods for his lack of loyalty despite asking to take Scott's bag on a temporary basis while Woods was out injured.

"I'm a very big stickler for loyalty and I stuck with Tiger through his difficult period when a lot of people thought I should have left his side," Williams said at the time.

"My name should have been cleared immediately. It wasn't and that's what makes it even more disappointing what's transpired. I never really got pardoned from that scandal so the timing of it is extraordinary. You could say I've wasted two years of my life."

Scott quickly offered Williams his bag on a permanent basis, but the New Zealander courted more controversy when the pair won together almost immediately, at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational.

"I've been caddying for 33 years, 145 wins, and that's the best week of my life," Williams said pointedly, in comments that led to him earning the celebration of the year award.

The relationship between Woods and Williams is believed to have broken down in recent times but that was not always the case - as they both acted as the other's best man for their respective weddings.

Woods has consistently refused to be drawn into a war of words with Williams, only noting after the Firestone outburst: "Well, that's what he says and what he feels."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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