Golf: Golfing help from Tiger

By BOB PEARCE

Tiger Woods will be helping young New Zealand golfers from next month through his caddy, Steve Williams.

Williams, the Kiwi who has helped Woods to 11 victories, including three majors, in the past year, has decided to put the enormous interest generated by his role with the Tiger to good use.

He has set up the Steve Williams Foundation, which in conjunction with the New Zealand Golf Association will help junior golf, particularly in regions struggling for coaching expertise and finance.

The foundation will be financed by the auctioning of memorabilia, principally from Woods but also from other prominent golfers.

"I've had a lot of golf clubs and other organisations wanting me to speak at functions," Williams said in Auckland yesterday.

"Each time I do, we have an auction of stuff.



"Proceeds from those auctions will go to the Steve Williams Foundation to help to promote junior golf."

Williams singled out the Rotorua Boys' High School team defence of their world schools' title as a good cause to assist.

A caddy bib signed by Woods has raised $10,000, and at the last Halberg Awards dinner in Christchurch, one of his clubs raised $14,000 when it was auctioned.

Williams recalled the thrill he had when, as a youngster at Paraparaumu, he had a lesson from renowned coach Alex Mercer.

He is hoping his foundation can extend this kind of help to more young golfers outside the city areas.