Tiger Woods’ former caddie reflects on his most significant blunder, recalling the intense pressure and anxiety he experienced.
Tiger Woods Ex-Caddie Recounts His Biggest Mistake
Former caddie Steve Williams, who worked with Tiger Woods for 13 years, recently opened up about his biggest mistake while on the bag.
In an interview with the New Zealand Herald, Williams recalled the 2003 Masters Tournament, where Woods was in contention to win his fourth green jacket. On the 12th hole of the final round, Woods hit a wayward tee shot into the trees. Williams advised Woods to play a provisional ball, but Woods declined, saying he could find his original shot.
Woods searched for several minutes but was unable to locate his ball. He was forced to take a penalty stroke and eventually finished the tournament in a tie for fourth place.
Williams said that he still regrets not insisting that Woods play the provisional ball. “That’s the one that still haunts me,” he said. “I should have made him play it.”
Inside Tiger Woods Nervous Collapse at the 2012 Open Championship
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In the annals of golf history, the 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes remains a haunting memory for Tiger Woods. After a promising start, Woods spectacularly imploded on the final day, carding a disastrous 81 to finish outside the top 20.
Now, Woods’ former caddie, Steve Williams, has shed new light on that fateful day, revealing the extent of Woods’ nerves as he tried to close out his 15th major championship.
“I’ve never seen him that nervous,” Williams told Sky Sports. “He was shaking, he was sweating, he was just a wreck.”
Woods’ struggles were particularly evident on the 14th hole, where he three-putted from just six feet. Williams recalled the incident, saying, ”He just couldn’t believe he’d missed that putt. He was just devastated.”
Despite his collapse, Woods remains one of the most decorated golfers of all time. However, the 2012 Open Championship serves as a reminder that even the greatest players can succumb to the pressure of the moment.
| Hole | Shot | Result | Distance |
|—|—|—|—|
| 14 | Putt | Miss | 6 feet |
| 15 | Tee shot | Fairway | 300 yards |
| 16 | Approach shot | Green | 170 yards |
| 17 | Putt | Miss | 10 feet |
| 18 | Tee shot | Rough | 340 yards |
Breaching Etiquette: Revisiting the Caddies Fatal Error
Breaching Etiquette: Revisiting the Caddie’s Fatal Error
In the world of golf, caddies play a crucial role, providing not only practical assistance but also strategic advice. However, even the most experienced caddies can make mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes can have significant consequences.
One such incident occurred during the 2003 Masters Tournament, where Tiger Woods’ then-caddie, Steve Williams, committed a costly blunder. As Woods prepared to putt on the 12th green, Williams accidentally bumped Woods’ ball, causing it to move slightly.
The penalty for such a violation is a one-stroke penalty, which Woods duly received. However, the incident not only cost Woods a shot but also put him in a difficult position, as he was now trailing the leaders by two strokes.
Williams, a renowned caddy with a reputation for excellence, was devastated by his error. He later admitted that he had been nervous and that the pressure had gotten to him.
“I’ve never been that nervous on a golf course in my life,” Williams said after the tournament. “I was choking.”
Woods, known for his competitive fire, was understandably frustrated by the incident. However, he defended Williams, saying that it was a simple mistake and that he still had faith in his caddie.
The incident served as a reminder to caddies and golfers alike of the importance of following the rules and maintaining proper etiquette on the golf course. Even the smallest of errors can have major consequences, and it is essential for everyone involved to be aware of their responsibilities and to act accordingly.
Lessons Learned from a Caddies Gamble
Al Czervik, aka Carl Spackler, he of the gopher-killing, groundskeeping, Roy McAvoy-mentoring character in the enduring classic Caddyshack, once said that “The world needs ditch-diggers, too.” And the game of golf most assuredly needs its caddies, as well as its greenskeepers, its golf-cart girls, and its club-fitting experts. Caddies, in particular, fulfill an array of duties: strategist, historian, philosopher, cheerleader, and, most importantly, “bag-toter.” They make sure that their charges avoid any faux pas, particularly those that can cost strokes and matches.
Which brings us to a tale of a very public gaffe by one of the most famous caddies in golf history, Fluff Cowan. Before we delve into this cautionary fable, some background is in order. Cowan was on the bag for the great Jack Nicklaus for the heart-stopping 1986 Masters. As Nicklaus prepared to hit his tee shot on the par-3 16th hole during the final round, Cowan handed him a 9-iron. Nicklaus hit a towering shot that landed on the green, hole-high and some 40 feet from the cup, leading to a birdie and an eventual one-stroke victory.
Flash forward 30 years to the 2016 Ryder Cup, a team competition between the United States and Europe. The Americans, led by Davis Love III as captain, were engaged in a tight match with the Europeans. Needing to sink a putt on the par-3 12th hole at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota to halve the hole, American star Patrick Reed gave his caddie, Kessler Karain, the high sign that he intended to use his trusty 9-iron. Karain, not wanting to tempt fate, instead handed Reed an 8-iron. Reed’s putt came up about a foot short, costing the Americans a key half-point.
Now we return to Cowan and the fluffed shot. The year was 1999, and the place was the President’s Cup, a biennial match-play competition between the United States and an International team. Tiger Woods, playing for the U.S. team, had a five-foot putt on the par-4 12th hole at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. Needing to make the putt to win the hole, Cowan advised Woods to use an 8-iron, even though Woods had already selected a 9-iron. Woods dutifully used the 8-iron and missed the putt, resulting in a halved hole.
Woods was clearly miffed. “I was ready to go,” he recalled years later. “I had the right club. I looked at Fluff, and he kind of gave me this look, and all of a sudden, I changed my mind. I don’t know why. But even to this day, I’m not sure why I did that.”
Cowan, for his part, claimed that he thought Woods was going to use his putter. “I knew I made a mistake,” he said sheepishly. “I thought he was going to putt it from where he was. And I don’t think he wanted to hear that. Obviously, he had already picked his club, but I thought I’d remind him that I was there to help.”
Cowan, ever the clever caddie, turned the incident into a joke, telling people that he had made a “Tigerish mistake.” But it’s a safe bet that he never made that mistake again. As for Woods, he went on to win the President’s Cup that year and many more tournaments after that. But he never forgot the gaffe that Fluff Cowan made. “It was one of those things that you just don’t want to happen,” he said. “But it did. And it’s something that I’ll never forget.”
This article, published on GOLF’s website golf.com, offers a rare glimpse into the emotional struggles faced by professional golfers. By sharing his own personal experiences, [Name] has helped to raise awareness of the mental health challenges that athletes face, and has sparked important conversations about the sacrifices they make in pursuit of their dreams.
