What’s the best way to get back at an ex-employer after they fire you? Well Steve Williams knows.
You go out, find a new employer and you help them beat the old one. Then you give a verbal middle-finger to them at the very first opportunity.
Just three weeks ago, New Zealand caddy Steve Williams was let go by Tiger Woods after being his caddy for thirteen years. The pair managed to amass over 70 professional wins in this time, including 13 of Tiger’s 14 Majors victories. With Williams, his trusted caddy and friend on his bag, Tiger rose to be the world’s best golfer and one of the greatest of all time.
But Tiger, who has had to learn the art of moving on recently, thought it best that he part ways with Steve as he tries to rebuild his career in the wake of his sex scandal and numerous injuries that have plagued him for the past two years.
So Steve decided to shack up with Australian Adam Scott, who he had caddied for in both the US Open and The Open Championship while Woods was injured, on a permanent basis. A decision which, though he was forced into making it, has already paid dividends.
At the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone last weekend, Adam Scott blew the field away on Sunday with a bogey-less final round of 65 to clinch the prestigious tournament along with a US$1M+ paycheck. Williams’ knowledge of the course was undoubtedly a factor seeing as he had helped Woods win at Firestone on seven previous occasions. Woods however, could not match his previous heights after returning from three months out injured as he finished the tournament one over and 18 shots behind Scott.
The elated Kiwi was a crowd favourite over all four of the tournament days and topped off his and Scott’s victory with a typically blunt ‘fuck you’ to Tiger Woods in a post victory interview when he told the world “it’s the best win of my life” and that this was the greatest week of his life.
Leading Scott to victory last weekend was the sweetest form of revenge for Williams who was extremely surprised and aggrieved at Tiger Woods’ decision three weeks ago. However, as Tiger struggles to re-find the form that took him to the very top heights of the golfing world, it seems as if our New Zealand caddy has fallen on his feet and is going from strength to strength as he begins his new career with the rejuvenated and ever-improving Aussie.
With the FedEx Cup just around the corner, could Williams and Scott be coming into form at just the right time to claim the US$10M prize at the end of September at the Tour Championship? Only time will tell, but if this was the middle-finger to Woods, winning the FedEx Cup would be dousing it in chilli and ramming it in Tiger’s eye.