Back when Tiger Woods changed caddies, Steve Williams went ballistic. From Williams' comments, you would have thought that it had been Williams, and not Tiger, who had hit all of those magnificent golf shots on the way to winning the thirteen (13) major championships that Tiger won while Williams was on his bag.
Now, we consider Williams' "performance" as Adam Scott's caddie during the 2012 British Open.
Before the finish of the Open Championship on Sunday, July 22, Sir Nick Faldo opined on international television that Steve Williams was entitled to signficant credit for Adam Scott's brilliant performance through the holes played to that point ... at least 63 holes a that time, and perhaps a few more. Well ... let's face facts. One of the few things I caddie can really do to improve his player's performance is in the emotional/psychological realm - to help the player do his best in the toughest of pressure situations. And in that realm, today - in the last four holes of the Open Championship, Steve Williams obviously failed Adam Scott miserably, because Scott folded like a cheap suit.
I like Adam Scott. He showed amazing class and integrity in his post-tournament interviews. It is well known that he is universally well thought of among his peers on the PGA and international tours. He is obviously a fine striker of the golf ball. And, he will undoubtedly win one or more major championships some day. But, this post is not about Adam Scott. This post is about Steve Williams - the blow-hard caddie who so pompously and boisterously elevated himself during the conversation about Tiger's having fired him.
The public will never know the real reason that Tiger fired Williams, but it was almost certainly something that Williams said or did in connection with the firestorm that arose from Tiger's infidelity to his wife. Williams bragged about how he had "stood by" Tiger. Apparently his allegiance went only so far.
But, this post isn't about Steve Williams' break-up with Tiger Woods, either. This post is merely to point out that if Steve Williams is to claim credit for Tiger Woods' successes, then he - and Sir Nick Faldo - must accept the fact that Steve Williams is equally responsible for Adam Scott's utter collapse in the last four holes of the 2012 British Open. Whenever Steve Williams publicly accepts his partial responsibility for Scott's collapse, then I will rethink my obviously negative opinion of Williams. But ... I'm not going to hold my breath until Williams accepts his part of the responsibility for Scott's abject failure.
I feel really badly for Adam Scott. He is by any measure a fine and classy young man.
As for Steve Williams - such a crushing loss couldn't happen to a more deserving caddie.
