The 10 things we learned in the explosive new Tiger Woods book by former caddie Steve Williams
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Lies, impersonations, and targeting 21 majors: Steve Williams reveals what it was really like to caddie for Tiger Woods.
Three years ago, Steve Williams spent several hours on the Chasing Majors Podcast, opening up about the 12 years he spent caddieing for Tiger Woods between 1999 and 2011. He shared never-before-heard stories about their greatest wins, the lies they told each other, and the challenges and frustrations they faced in the eye of the media.
Now, with the help of co-author Evin Priest, he’s turned those stories into an explosive new book, Together We Roared, which reveals even more about the depths of their relationship, the handwritten notes they sent one each other, and why they didn’t speak for 12 years after their break-up.
Now, we’re not going to give away all the juicy details about their split and the fallout from Tiger’s infidelity (they still want you to buy the book, right?). But we can divulge a few key revelations that will make you see Tiger in a whole new light…
Williams told Tiger to f*** off when he tried to hire him
We all have that friend who fancies themselves as an impressionist. Williams has one too… and that friend almost cost him a job with the greatest golfer of all time. Williams was half asleep and battling jet lag when he took a call from Tiger Woods in 1999. Or at least, someone he thought was pretending to be him.
“Bob, f*** off, mate. I’m going to bed,” was how Williams responded.
Tiger tried again. “Steve, it really is Tiger. You got a minute?”
Once more, Williams slammed the phone down. Had a young Tiger been a little less eager to have Williams on his bag, it could all have been so different. He tried one more time.
“Steve, it’s Tiger! Please don’t hang up! I’ve split with my caddie. I’d love to talk to you about possibly working for me.”
The penny dropped, and Williams realized, somewhat sheepishly, that it was not a prank call after all. It was the beginning of the greatest player-caddie partnership of all time.
Tiger’s target was 21 majors
In interviewing Steve Williams for the job, Tiger told him “in no uncertain terms” that he wanted to beat Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors. The original target of 19 soon became 20, as Tiger “always rounded up”, but Williams’ favorite number was 21.
Tiger used to jokingly agree to the number but eventually put it in writing 18 months later by scribbling 21 on the palm of his Nike glove and throwing it to Williams after winning his eighth title of 2000. It lived in Williams’ backpack until their split several years later.
Tiger had a lucky charm
We didn’t take Tiger for the superstitious type, but there was a particular wooden tee – given to him ahead of the 2000 Open Championship – that he relied on heavily throughout the glory years.
He used it for the first time on the 2nd hole at St Andrews and hit such a good drive that he kept using it for the entire tournament. He eventually retired the tee to a pouch within his bag, which is where it lived for years to come.
Occasionally, when things weren’t going well, Williams would urge him to grab hold of the tee to bring him good luck. Eight years later, when he was playing the US Open on a broken leg, Williams said to Tiger: “Get the 2000 Open tee out. But don’t just hold it; put it in your f***ing pocket”.
The secret to their success? Handwritten messages
It sounds like something from the 1940s but Williams was really against using mobile phones. He refused to buy or use one up until the late ‘90s. Even after Tiger gifted him one in the early 2000s, they would often communicate by writing handwritten messages of encouragement or instructive feedback to each other.
The most memorable exchange occurred in 2006 after Stephen Ames referenced Tiger’s wayward driving as an Achilles heel during an interview. The night before they were due to play each other in the WGC Match Play, Williams left a message for Tiger, telling him not to lose a single hole.
Tiger responded by thrashing Ames 9&8, a new tournament record. The following morning, Tiger slid a note under Williams’ door, but you’ll read about that in the book…
The duo shared an unusual hobby
You’d think Tiger and Williams could probably afford for someone else to be doing their dirty work, but outside of a tournament week, they used to bond over washing Tiger’s cars. It led to a running joke that would last for years.
“If I don’t get my shit together, you’ll be working for me at TW’s Car Wash. I need to get my ass into gear, and you do, too.” Tiger would repeat the same line after every bad round or result.
Tiger used to bet on his own success
It’s not uncommon for golfers to have bets going during practice rounds but tournaments? That’s how Williams used to motivate Tiger. Every night, he would fill in an exercise book with notes and stats from every round Tiger ever played. If there was a streak or trend that stood out, he would tell Tiger about it and make a bet. Usually with a lot of cash riding on it.
Other times Tiger would set himself a mini goal, something as simple as not making a bogey, and Williams would arrange a side bet against him, usually to the tune of $100.
Either way, Williams always knew he was going to be quids in. If he lost a bet, it usually resulted in Tiger winning the tournament anyway and giving him a 10% cut. Happy days indeed.
Bob May gave Tiger his toughest battle in a major
On the list of Tiger’s greatest rivals, Bob May probably wouldn’t make the first two pages. But for one day in August 2000, the 31-year-old journeyman made him work harder for his PGA Championship victory than he did in any other major.
Williams’ account of that day make for a fascinating read.
Tiger told Williams he was thinking about walking away from golf after the first round of the 2004 US Open
This probably goes some way to explaining why Tiger never featured on the first page of the leaderboard that week at Shinnecock Hills. Clearly, he had other things on his mind, which is why he couldn’t wait to tell Williams that he was giving serious thought to joining the Navy SEALs.
Though shocked, Williams didn’t try to talk him out of it and says he was actually relieved at the idea of retiring. Winning the Masters eight months later went some way to changing their minds.
Williams was behind Tiger’s no driver strategy at Hoylake
You remember the 2006 Open Championship on Hoylake’s baked-out fairways, right? The one where Tiger only hit driver once across four rounds. That was Williams’ idea.
He believed – and with good reason – that if Tiger could eliminate the pot bunkers and avoid three putting, he would be difficult to beat. Tiger agreed to the gameplan “instantly” and proceeded to hit 48 of 56 fairways. He won by two.
Tiger started preparing for the 2008 US Open six years earlier
No, the above isn’t a misprint. Williams says Tiger was “obsessing” about the 2008 US Open as soon as Torrey Pines was announced as the host venue in 2002.
During the 2003 Buick Open there, he spent the entire week badgering Williams about how they might set the course up in five years’ time.
“When he had a chance to win four consecutive majors with the 2001 Masters, that didn’t compare to his fascination with Torrey Pines,” Williams says.
Not that it made for easy viewing once they got there. Midway through the second round, Williams begged an injured Tiger to quit the tournament after “hearing the nauseating crunch of his left knee”.
It was one of the few times he didn’t accept his advice.
Rrp: $30.00
Rrp: $30.00
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Steve Williams and Tiger Woods won more than 80 times, including 13 majors, before their split in 2011.
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Steve Williams and his wife Kirsty were good friends with Tiger Woods' ex, Elin.
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Tiger Woods and Steve Williams were renowned for their celebrations.
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Tiger Woods and Steve Williams didn't speak for 12 years after their split.
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Steve Williams was by Tiger's side when he won the 2006 Open Championship a few months after the death of his father.
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Tiger Woods handed out a monumental beating to Stephen Ames after being criticised by him.
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Steve Williams asked Tiger to quit days before he won the US Open on one leg.
