I remember hearing this, except last time it was MJ.

when I'm not busy doing nothing, ya

Who exactly is ship? A known Nationwide player?

They were right.

the gist I get from this:
http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/6...t-link-success

Is that Woods may have been a little ticked that Williams would dare caddy for someone else while he was laid up even though he apparently gave his blessing to him working for Scott in his absence.

Seems like an ego thing to me, he may be going towards the "I don't need anyone I did all this on my own and now I will prove it" attitude which is a pretty bad decision of course... Williams was the one stable thing he had still going so why get rid of that too.

Itll be interesting if Scott starts pouring it on and Tiger never comes back what will be said, but Tiger at the top of his game is good for gold so I have to cheer that on even more though.

That was my first thought as well, but then when I read this today (which I don't think I had seen before) I am not so sure.

Shouldn't Williams have like, asked Tiger if he was going to play in the U.S. Open before he flew from New Zealand to DC?

I don't think Tiger announced he was skipping it til pretty late and I don't think flying from New Zealand is like saying I am going to Vegas for the weekend, he also may have said I am coming regardless because I bet someone will pay me to caddy...

Who knows what happened behind the scenes, Williams didnt caddy for anyone when Woods was laid up last time and that means no money and he may have said if you cant give me a timetable then you need to know I am going to loop for someone else.

The whole thing is weird with the US Open, but mainly what it says to me is that maybe Tiger and Steve aren't as buddy buddy as they used to be if they were talking so little that Steve didn't know his US Open plan.

Tiger has officially descended into Barry Bonds territory. Still, **** Stevie. You carry a bag around and yell at photographers. Get over yourself brah.

In this case its a little more than that, we are talking about the #1 caddy on tour and I do not just think thats because of Tiger. A great caddy can elevate a players game in so many ways... Ill never discredit Tiger but like in the article I linked there is a prime example of what a good caddy can do when he is trusted...

If you didnt read it, basically on 18 in the Open when he was chasing Mediate he wanted to hit a wedge out of the rough and Williams advised against it and talked him into a SW.. and we all know how that worked out.

That was one instance and it's already been said that Stevie talking Tiger out of a shot was extremely rare. It's always the player's decision anyway, so making the caddy out to be the hero in this instance is silly.

Stevie isn't necessary #1 either, but he is amongst the 5 or so loopers that are tops in their field. He's no better (or necessarily worse) than Navarro, Bones, or LaCava.

While the two are(were) extremely close, they at time went months without contact. Who knows why, guys will be guys.

BO

I'm pretty sure it's only because of Tiger.

Stevie can't putt for him so this is unlikely.


I don't know wtf to think about this. I've always loved the Woods/Williams tandem and thought for sure they'd be together til the end.

In Woods I trust, I guess.

I almost feel sorry for the former Butcho. This is like watching the auto wreck in The Blues Brothers when the squad cars just keep coming and keep coming into the wrecked pile of scrap metal.

BO

Steve was salaried from Woods and the down time probably didn't really cost him anything of substance.

For a guy who has nothing to do though you actually stay quite busy...

Ha! Hardly....just a good amateur who took a shot at Q School and made the Natiowide for a year and now due to boredom can't give it up.

He didn't make a commission at all?

Tiger is notoriously cheap so I actually kind of doubt it. But the salary is most likely at or near 7 figs.

I heard that back in the 2002 time frame that if caddies were on the PGA money list Williams would have been the #3 or 4 highest earning people.

I heard every car that woods won was given to Williams as well. Both of those could be wrong cause I think I heard them a while ago.



Oh and on another note this whole thing seems like Woods didnt like Williams caddying for someone else. Now woods is acting like he got cheated on by Williams. Kind of ironic the way I see it.

MIght have been mentioned in the beginning of the thread, but damn, if Williams EVER writes a book, #1 best seller in guaranteed. But I digress.

Whoever mentioned Notah, that'd be rather interesting indeed.

Are we even sure Tiger will actually play a competitive tournament (Not counting the reported Charity event for Notah @ Turning Stone) before the fedex playoffs start?

I don't think Tiger makes it into the playoffs if he doesn't play beforehand

I would love a book, but there certainly might be a confidentiality clause somewhere along the way.

I thought the same of the Notah idea...that would possibly be a very good fit.

There is no way he would...and even less chance he would care!

Maybe they were.

This seems to be just another in a string of terrible decisions by Woods. Earl may have prepared him for golf, but IMO didn't prepare him for life.

I may have missed it being mentioned in this thread, but I read that their wives were good friends. There had to be some very weird dynamics going on there post-fire hydrant. I can't imagine how uncomfortable that must have made it for them to continue working together.

Had a debate with friends about this.

How much would you guys estimate Stevie made a year with Tiger? Both during the good-times and the bad.