Golf | Scott says caddie’s book won’t be a distraction

Tiger Woods, left, of the U.S. team and his former caddie Steve Williams

Adam Scott hasn’t read caddie Steve Williams’ book about Tiger Woods and doesn’t expect it to be a distraction when Williams is working for him.
“I haven’t been lucky enough to get a copy. Must be in the mail still,” Scott said yesterday after his opening round at the HSBC Champions. “I don’t know exactly what’s in the book. As I said, I haven’t read it. I think everyone knows probably what to expect.”
Williams worked 13 years for Woods during the peak of his career. Their relationship became strained after Woods was embroiled in a sex scandal at the end of 2009, and it ended in the summer of 2011 shortly after Williams caddied for Adam Scott in the U.S. Open while Woods was recovering from leg injuries.
Williams had been talking about a book since then, though he was concerned about a non-disclosure agreement he had with the 14-time major champion. The book, “Out of the Rough,” was published in New Zealand.
A New Zealand newspaper published a chapter of the book in which Williams described his anger and frustration at being “hung out to dry” by Woods’ management as his multiple infidelities were being revealed. Williams complained about Woods’ behavior on the course and wrote, “It was like I was his slave.”
That line has led to heavy criticism, especially considering that Williams became rich working for Woods. One year, Williams was reported to be the highest-paid sports celebrity in New Zealand.
In an interview with Australian Associated Press, Williams said he was disappointed his publishers highlighted that excerpt in promoting his book. He said the “slave” reference was “one word, one sentence, out of a whole book.”
He said it was “one word that could have been changed” when writing his memoir.
Williams has been working with Scott the last four years. He said he was retiring after 2014, but he agreed to come back at the U.S. Open this year and plans to work 10 tournaments this season in a job share.
This isn’t the first time Scott has received more questions about his caddie than his own golf.
Immediately after Scott won the Bridgestone Invitational in 2011, Williams gave a TV interview on the 18th green in which he called it the “best win I’ve ever had,” even though he was on the bag for 13 majors with Woods, including his unprecedented sweep of the majors in 2000-01.
Later that year in Shanghai during the annual Caddies Awards roast at the HSBC Champions, Williams was given the “Celebration of the Year” award for that TV interview. When he came on stage to accept, Williams shocked the room by saying, “It was my aim to shove it right up that black a——.”
Scott was grilled each day about whether he should fire Williams. He noted the caddie apologized to Woods and said that was enough for him.
Asked if he expected Williams to write a sequel, Scott laughed and said, “I’m going to be on my best behavior so there isn’t one.” Doug Ferguson, Golf Writer, Shanghai