British Open: Tiger Woods, Steve Williams appear to reconcile at Muirfield
GULLANE, Scotland – With a heartfelt handshake on the 18th green Sunday, Tiger Woods and former caddie Steve Williams appeared to bury the hatchet and signal an end to their long-running feud.
The two were in the same pairing Sunday during the British Open at Muirfield, with Williams on the bag of his new boss, Adam Scott. That had the making of an awkward afternoon, given the verbal shots Williams had taken at Woods since Woods fired him in 2011, but it ended on a conciliatory note.
At the traditional post-round handshake – after Scott finished tied for third and Woods tied for sixth – Williams grabbed Tiger’s hand and held it for a few moments while speaking to him. Then he patted him on the shoulder before the two went their separate ways.
When asked about the conversation, Woods acknowledged that it was good to have a positive conversation with the man who carried his bag for 13 of his 14 major championships.
“He was saying it was a good fight out there today,” Woods related.
Woods’ current caddie, Joe LaCava, said the two actually had an ice-breaking conversation earlier in the day while walking down the eighth fairway.
“If [the relationship] is getting better, that’s great for both of them,” LaCava said. “Life’s too short, right? I’m glad Stevie’s making the effort, and Tiger’s accepting the effort.”
LaCava said he shied away from listening to their conversations, both on the eighth hole and after the round, saying it was personal between the two.
After his firing by Woods, Williams crowed to the press following his first victory with Scott, at the 2011 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
“I’ve caddied for 33 years — 145 wins now — and that’s the best win I’ve ever had,” Williams said.
Williams and Scott were together to win The Masters earlier this year, while Woods is still searching for his first major championship since parting company with Williams.
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