Golf: An audience with Tiger's caddie

He would never, ever say so but Steve Williams will not mind too much that Tiger Woods didn't enjoy his usual measure of success in the first round of the Presidents Cup.

Williams is back in New Zealand for the birth of his first child. Meanwhile, the task of advising the world's No 1 golfer and probably the most famous sportsman on the planet has gone to Yorkshireman Billy Foster, the caddy of Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke.

But Williams took time out from impending fatherhood to play a few holes of golf with the Herald on Sunday and spoke candidly about his reputation as a bully, how he was offended at being labelled a cheat and how he feels completely secure in his job, even though he has handed the bag - and potentially a big opportunity - to Foster.

While Williams was waggling a club for pleasure at Auckland's North Shore course, Woods was playing for national pride at the Cup fixture in Virginia but went down in the first round foursomes (alternate shot) when partnering Fred Couples. The US pairing lost 4&3 to Retief Goosen and Adam Scott from the International team.

Speaking before play began in the Presidents Cup, Williams showed he has a relaxed, amicable side - and no mean golf game. He plays off a seven handicap, and one nine-iron from about 140m settled right next to the pin.

Williams first came under fire in 2002 when he reacted badly to a cameraman taking a photograph of Woods' down swing on a crucial bunker shot in the Amex Skins event. The photographer had encroached into an area where cameras were not perrmitted and Williams asked three times that no picture be taken. But the flash distracted and infuriated player and caddie and the Kiwi snatched the $7000 camera and dropped it into the nearby lake, sparking a media furore.

Since then, Williams' on-course behaviour has been closely scrutinised and, perhaps unfairly, been tarred with the 'bully' brush. A recent article in London's Guardian newspaper talked about the "irascible Williams, as much known for his bad-tempered antics on the course as he is for his undoubted value to the world's No 1 player".

There's no sign of irascibility in our few holes together - with Williams the perfect illustration of a laid-back Kiwi and good bloke.

But, because of the intense scrutiny on Woods and the numbers of fans and media who follow him, Williams says his job is harder and more exacting than other caddies.

That was perhaps best exemplified by cheating allegations made against him at the US PGA major recently, when members of the gallery accused him of stepping on Woods' ball when it was in thick rough next to the green.

"That was just ludicrous. Why would I stand on his ball?" asked an exasperated Williams. "It was absolutely ridiculous."

The incident was sparked by a US newspaper which claimed that Williams - who had asked for relief for Woods after discovering that the ball was trodden upon - actually stood on the ball himself.

If so, the world No 1 would have been penalised two shots and, if such a transgression had not been reported, Woods would have been disqualified from the event for signing an incorrect scorecard.

Footage from the gallery cleared Williams of any wrongdoing but that is the environment Williams says he and Woods operate in every day.

"Tiger is scrutinised more than any athlete ever has been and every move he makes there is someone there watching," said Williams.

"The scrutiny is just part and parcel of being Tiger Woods' caddy."

He said he was not at all worried by Woods playing with Foster this weekend. In fact, he encourages it as he is secure in his role. "I know that I do the best possible job I can for Tiger and I don't believe that there is anyone who could do what I do for Tiger, and he would agree with that," said Williams.

Williams believes the best caddies get a feel for what their golfer is trying to do and create a level playing field for them. "Things should be the same for Tiger as any other player and we have a lot more fans, a lot more media and attention so I just try to give Tiger the same opportunities as the other golfers."

However, caddying for the world No 1 is a much-desired position and Woods isn't shy of change. He allegedly parted ways with caddie Mike 'Fluff' Cowan because, among other reasons, he was too friendly, often signing for fans "while on the job".

Woods saw Foster at work when Clarke beat Woods in the World Match Play tournament and at Ryder Cups but Williams said he and Woods are well suited because of their competitive spirit and resolve.

"Between the two of us it's a bit of a battle," joked Williams about their competitive natures.

"I thought I was a competitive person until I met him and that meeting certainly turned a lot of corners in my life." The financial rewards are also desirable. Williams doesn't talk about his earnings but it is known he receives 10 per cent of Woods' prize money (US $8.6 million so far this season) - which is US$860,000 (NZ $1.2m) before any other earnings from sponsorship or any bonuses.

But while Williams and Woods are all steely resolve on the course, they've become "great mates" off it.

In Woods' visit to Wellington in 2002 for the New Zealand Open, he met All Blacks Tana Umaga and Christian Cullen.

The Wellington backs gave him signed All Blacks jerseys which are on the wall in his house and remind Williams of home.

"He loves watching the All Blacks, he is a huge Tana fan and he always asks me whether Tana is playing tonight," said Williams. "It is classic."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY