It is an indicator of Steve Williams’ status that his absence as this golf season rumbles into 2015 will be as notable as that of any player.
The 50-year-old, famous as a routinely ferocious and occasionally offensive caddie, has hung up his bib after a career which was in full swing by the time he reached his teenage years. The New Zealander wishes to spend more time at home with his family; he can afford to, having earned roughly $12m when working for Tiger Woods from 1999 to 2011.
Williams’ subsequent spell may have been the more rewarding. During three years with Adam Scott, the caddie played a significant role in a maiden major win – at the 2013 Masters – and subsequent surge to No1 in the world. Scott, who is now in search of a new bagman, will miss Williams.
“Steve was a huge influence,” Scott said. “When all these things happen, timing is huge. When the opportunity came up to work with Steve, it was great timing because I was at that point when I just needed that one last piece of the puzzle. Steve certainly filled that during our time. He complemented all the things I had been working on and helped to push me along to get right up there where I wanted to be.
“Ultimately, about a year and a half in, we won the Masters together. He has been incredible for me. The way I see it, you cannot replace a Steve Williams. I cannot go out and look for the next Steve Williams, I don’t think that is possible. I need to go out and find what is going to work for me at this stage in my career, to complement all the things I am doing now, just like I did when I hired Steve.”
Scott raises a smile when asked if the lure of competitive golf will prove too strong for Williams to overcome in the future. “It is really hard to know,” said the Australian. “Probably, yes, at some point. He truly loves the game and loves what he has done over the last 30-plus years [on tour].
“I am sure at some point he will miss it. I absolutely understand what he has done; we are all at different points in our careers and I knew when Steve came in to work for me that we were on borrowed time a little bit. I am sure he would say that he thought after Tiger he would never caddie again. I was very fortunate to have three great years with him.”
Scott will take his time before deciding on Williams’ replacement. He has received “hundreds” of applications for the role with Dave Clark, who normally caddies for Cameron Tringale, on duty for this week’s WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.
Not all of those approaching Scott have been entirely valid. “I heard from some guy in Florida who lives at home and looks after his mum. He figured it would be a good job, I guess,” Scott explained.
More serious is the issue of what precisely happens next. “I am in the process of using a few different guys and personalities, to see what fits best. Obviously I am also very sensitive to other people’s situations. I am trying to ask guys to fill in who aren’t working that week for other players. I have known Dave Clark for 12 years.
“I have a little time on my side. Although the nature of the job is trial and error, I want to make the right decision when I make a permanent choice.
“It is good to know that people would want to work with me. If the phone didn’t get a message, I would be a little worried about what they all think of me. The caddies are very aspirational as well. I think the way I have talked about what I want to achieve, some of the guys think they can help me do that and they want to do the same. That’s an important part of it.”
