Tiger Woods’ former caddie Steve Williams is convinced the 15-time major champion will stop at nothing to win another before calling time on his illustrious career
Steve Williams, the iconic former caddie for Tiger Woods, is confident his former employer will do everything in his power to win one more major championship before retiring. Woods, who has racked up 15 major titles, has endured years of injuries and inconsistent play.
Aside from a brief resurgence in 2018-2019, he hasn’t been a regular contender for major titles in over a decade and a half. Still, Williams, who was Woods’ caddie from 1999 to 2011, asserts that the Californian “is not done yet”.
He believes that Woods, now 49 years old, is still capable of capturing a 16th major, putting him just two titles away from Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record of 18. “Tiger’s still got a task at hand,” Williams told the Sky Sports Golf podcast.
“Of course, he’s facing another setback with his injury, but I really believe he won’t let the opportunity to win another major slip through his fingers. He will still be focused on practicing and getting to the point where he can stand on the tee and compete for 72 holes, knowing that he’s given everything to prepare and go for one more major,” Williams added. “He’s not done yet!”
Even though Woods has had his share of struggles, Williams’ comments serve as a reminder to golfers like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy that the five-time Masters champion should never be underestimated. However, they won’t have to worry about him at Augusta this year.
A few weeks ago, Woods ruptured his Achilles, causing him to miss the Masters and raising doubts about his ability to compete in the rest of the season’s majors. He tricked his fans with an April Fools’ post on X, claiming that he had made a miraculous recovery and would be playing at Augusta, only to later admit it was a prank.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but a few weeks after rupturing my left Achilles, the hyperbaric chamber sleep and explosive lifts my doctors have me doing have me ready to play the Masters next week,” his first post said. He later wrote: “P.S. April Fools, my Achilles is still a mess.”
Woods hasn’t competed in a PGA Tour event since last July, when he missed the cut at The Open, mirroring his performances at both the US Open and PGA Championship earlier in the year. In September, he had micro-decompression surgery on his spine to relieve nerve issues in his lower back, and he had planned to return at The Genesis Invitational in February.
However, after the passing of his mother, Woods withdrew from that event and focused on preparing for the Masters, only for his Achilles injury to stop his progress in its tracks.
Woods won 13 of his 15 majors while Williams was on the bag. During a chat on The Dom Harvey Podcast, Williams explained that Woods’ relentless drive and unwavering focus were key to his dominance in the 2000s.
Williams remembered how Woods would never allow himself to bask in his victories, always turning his attention to what came next. Even after his 15-stroke triumph at the 2000 US Open, one of golf’s most commanding performances, Woods was already thinking ahead.
“One of the very next things he said to me after signing his card was: ‘Steve, you need to get your ass across the water and get all the details from St Andrews so I can win there as well,'” Williams recalled.
The Wellington native, who has also worked with stars like Adam Scott, Greg Norman, Raymond Floyd, and Jason Day, called Woods the ultimate competitor, whose intensity elevated the stakes of every tournament. For Woods, winning wasn’t a celebration – it was simply a fulfilment of his expectations.
This helps explain why Williams is so confident that Woods still has more to give. “No chance,” he said, after being asked if his career at the top was over following his Achilles injury. His sentiments echo those of many fans, who still believe that one of golf’s favourite sons still has plenty left in the tank.