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Tiger Woods said he was disappointed by his caddie's disparaging comments about Phil Mickelson in New Zealand newspapers.
Steve Williams was quoted in the Taranaki Daily News as saying he wouldn't call Mickelson a great player "because I think he's a prick." When contacted by another New Zealand newspaper, Williams confirmed making the comment.
Speaking in front of 250 people at a charity event in New Zealand, Williams also went on to recall a story that had Mickelson's physique as a punch line.
"I was disappointed to read the comments attributed to Steve Williams about Phil Mickelson, a player that I respect," Woods said in a statement today. "It was inappropriate. The matter has been discussed and dealt with."
Williams began working with Woods in the spring of 1999 and has been on his bag for 13 of his 14 majors.
Mickelson's management company issued a statement to respond to what it called "grossly inaccurate and irresponsible statements" by Williams. It included a comment from Mickelson.
"After seeing Steve Williams' comments, all I could think of was how lucky I am to have a class act like Bones (Jim Mackay) on my bag and representing me," Mickelson said.
Mickelson said the "joke" told by Williams in which the player was heckled by a fan over his weight during this year's US Open at Torrey Pines was "a total fabrication".
In his statement, Mickelson said Williams' account was also "grossly inaccurate and irresponsible," and that the scenario occurred during the 2002 US Open at Bethpage in New York and involved not him but a European Tour player.
In fact, Mickelson and Woods were not ever paired together at Bethpage in 2002.
Williams told the Sunday Star-Times that he didn't expect the story to reach the public.
"I don't particularly like the guy (Mickelson). He pays me no respect at all and hence I don't pay him any respect. It's no secret we don't get along either," Williams said.
"I certainly didn't make "the comments" to a media person," he said.
"I visit a lot of golf clubs and do a lot of speaking for charity and that is one of the questions I get asked the most: what is Tiger's relationship like with Phil Mickelson?
"I was simply honest and said they don't get along. You know what it's like - you're at a charity event and you have a bit of fun."
- AP, NZPA
