National Dog Day! Yes, it’s finally August 26, the day set aside for the four-legged furry or non-furry ‘man’s best friends’ to be in the spotlight. Interestingly, even golfers have their dogs, among other pets, which can help or support them after a really rough day on the course. And, it’s natural to be curious about the professionals who depend on their pups.

There are a lot of PGA Tour professionals and LIV Golf pros whose love for their dogs is well-known in the community. But only some stand out among the same. And as the athletes and people worldwide celebrate the occasion, let us take a quick look at some of the professionals and their furry friends.

PGA Tour and LIV Golf Pros and their pets

1. Tiger Woods: Everyone knows Bugs and Lola. The 15-time major champion had introduced his two dogs in the 4th episode of the ‘At Home With Tiger Woods’ series. The 48-year-old, back in 2015, had a total of three dogs, including Bugs, Yogi, and Taz. Yogi was an all-white Labradoodle, while Taz, a Border Collie like Bugs. The little Australian Shepherd Lola, meanwhile, was adopted by the family in 2019 when Yogi and Taz passed away. Not only do the Woods’s dogs keep him company, but they also fetch his golf balls whenever the athlete practices his putts and swings.

2. Brooks Koepka: When it comes to the four-legged furry friends in the golfing community, Cove takes a special place. Koepka’s pet dog has been a part of the family even before the birth of their child, Crews Sims Koepka. She had been a constant source of support and comfort for the actress even when she was pregnant, as Jena Sims once shared a story on her Instagram handle. The golfer’s wife had mentioned how Cove loves being with her when she is pregnant while kissing a belly like a dolphin does. “I think Cove is also a dolphin then?” she wrote with much love for her family member.

3. Collin Morikawa: The golfer part of Jay Monahan’s circuit welcomed Koa, his dog, to the family on February 10, 2021. Part of Morikawa’s life since just a few days old, the  Multi-gen Goldendoodle also has an Instagram account by the name of Koa.the.doodle where the dog dad posts pics of the furry friend doing various activities.

4. Justin Thomas: “Dogs are the best,” said Justin Thomas while alluding to his Sheepadoodle named Franklin. The PGA Tour Pro and his furry friend have been spotted many times over the years playing along with each other. The golfer had also shared a video of Franklin running around the trees as the four-legged friend finds himself distracted by the lizards. “He’s been obsessed with these trees,” said the pro, “Whenever he gets near them he just is…infatuated with the lizards going up them.”

5. Dustin Johnson: The LIV Golf Pro has always had two dogs, along with his wife Paulina Gretzky. Back in 2018, the golfer had adopted a cute black puppy named Harry as they welcomed him to the family, which already had one Labradoodle named Daisy. Fast forward to the present, and the couple currently have two dogs in their home; Daisy and a Goldendoodle named Charlie.

These are but some of the athletes in the men’s golfing world who have a close bond with their upper friends. Even many of the LPGA Tour pros, including Nelly Korda, Michelle Wie West, and Lexi Thompson, among others, have shared their fondest memories with their dogs on their social media handles. Truly a special bond, they share!

When talking about iconic moments in golf, we can’t forget about the time Tiger Woods won the 2018 TOUR Championship. After all, it marked his 80th win on the Tour, a feat so beautiful, that everyone wanted to experience it up close. So what happens when golf fans want something? They make it happen.

The field was full of spectators that day and to say that Woods won the title in all his glory is an understatement. With the 2024 TOUR Championship right around the corner with a $100 million purse, it is only fair to reminisce about the blissful moment again.

Did Tiger Woods love seeing fans at East Lake?

So, when the 15x-time major winner won the last tournament of the FedEx Cup Playoffs with an overall score of 11 under par after carding 1 over on Sunday, a swarm of fans ran towards him on the green in hopes of getting only a glimpse of the legend. Even Woods was in awe of how everything went down. “I’ve never seen anything like the fans and the commotion,”  he said, according to Golf Digest. Comparing his win to the first major he won in 1997, Woods said, “It was similar to the 1997 Western coming down the last hole. That was a little bit like that. But not to this fevered pitch.”

As amazing as this experience was, Woods could not help but notice the difference in how fans were cheering for him. Woods said people don’t clap like they used to. Now, they yell. He thinks it’s because everyone’s holding their cell phones. “You can’t clap when you’ve got a cellphone in your hand. So people yell, and they were yelling.”

Woods vividly recalled the unforgettable crowd noise at the 72nd hole of that year’s TOUR Championship at East Lake, in an interview with the PGA Tour in 2019. “All of a sudden it gets really loud behind us, and I look back and there are people coming under the ropes and the cops are trying to organize people so they don’t rush us”. Yes, the GOAT said that, so you can imagine how many people were there.

After waiting for almost 5 years for a win, the moment was surreal, and Woods also thought so; “I’ve been sitting on 79 for about five years now, and to get 80 is a pretty damned good feeling.” He is now the golfer with the highest number of wins, that is 82.

Even though Woods was pretty stoked about his win, he couldn’t help but notice that Rory McIlroy was falling off slowly. “I was pretty emotional when Rory was tapping out,”  he said. And to this day, McIlroy considers his 2018 TOUR Championship loss to be the most gut-wrenching.

Rory McIlroy’s 2018 loss to Tiger Woods

Rory McIlroy still thinks about the 2018 TOUR Championship, but not for the reason you think. He was paired with his hero, Tiger Woods, in the final round of the tournament. And well, let’s just say, it didn’t go well for him. Woods had a three-shot lead, and McIlroy failed to live up to the challenge. He shot a 74, one of the worst scores that day, and finished six shots behind Woods.

McIlroy described the feeling when he was walking up the 18th fairway with Woods, surrounded by thousands of fans, as ‘hurting a little’. Well, we don’t blame McIlroy for feeling gutted about his performance, as the TOUR Championship is one of the most competitive tournaments out there. Although he was sad about his loss, he was happy for his fellow golfer.

Talking about the fans who came out to support Woods, McIlroy said, “We’re walking down and the Tiger chant started, right? They hadn’t broken the ropes at this point. But I said to him, ‘This reminds me of Jack in 1980 at Baltusrol.’ Like, ‘Jack is back, Jack is back.’ And he said something like, ‘Yeah, but I’m not wearing yellow pants,’ or something like that.”

Jack Vickers might have been an oil man by profession, but he was a golf man at heart. Earlier, there was an annual tour stop of the PGA Tour in Denver. This was called the International, which was played at the Castle Pines Golf Club. The era was that of Tiger Woods. However, he only played at the tournament twice, the last time being in 1999. Now, this did not sit well with Vickers, since the inability to have Woods in the course made it difficult to bring in sponsors or keep the existing ones satisfied.

“You’ve got a one-man show out there right now,” he said. Since the PGA Tour Pro arrived with his win at the Masters in 1997, there have been two kinds of tournaments – ones he plays in and ones he does not. Although Tiger Woods had scored one of the aces of his professional career in Colorado on the 185-yard seventh hole with an 8-iron, he never really liked the course. And thus, no matter how much Vickers, along with his friend Jack Nicklaus, who helped him build the course, asked Woods to come back, he did not.

“He hasn’t played here in a while, five years, I believe. That’s a definite loss when you don’t have him in here. I just think the tour’s got to address some of these things,” said an offended Vickers in 2005. With that, Vickers had to end a 21YO run with the tournament that he had put his heart and soul into. Looks like, after almost two decades (the final round of the International in 2006), the PGA Tour is back on the course. While earlier the Tour was a one-man show, that is not the case anymore. This time, after its comeback, the top 50 players of the Tour will be present in the course. Looks like Vickers has finally established what he was aiming for.

Additionally, Jack Vickers also wanted to shift the tournament to August, when thunderstorms seemingly occurred almost regularly. The PGA Tour recommended making it a part of the FedEx Cup playoffs, but the dates were aligned for September, which meant competing with the NFL. Vickers had clearly stated that golf could not beat the popularity of football, in Denver or elsewhere.

But one thing pretty much remains the same – the absence of Tiger Woods from the course.

Why is Tiger Woods not a part of the BMW Championship?

Tiger Woods, despite his poor performances and fewer appearances on the course these days, is still regarded as one of the best players in history. However, the player that once was on No. 1 for 264 consecutive weeks (the highest so far), is now at 220, on the FedEx Cup standings. Due to his life-threatening injuries after the accident, and the diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis, he has had a terrible run this year.

Apart from the four Majors, he tried playing at the Genesis Invitational in February, which he had an invite for. But he got the flu and had to withdraw after round 1. Apart from dropping down to the bottom (60) at the Masters, he also missed the cut in the other three majors. The FedEx Cup Playoffs begin with the St. Jude Championship, and only the top 70 on the list (no exceptional exemptions) are eligible to appear to qualify for the next event. And well, Tiger Woods is far behind on the list! So, once again, he will not be a part of the Castle Pines field.

The Mount Rushmore of Golf is a polarizing topic. Picking four all-time greats from a sport that has at least a dozen of them? It’s hard to satisfy everyone, and that includes Jack Nicklaus. The 18-time major winner revealed his Mt. Rushmore of Golf, and suffice it to say it left a few extremely unhappy.

His first choice was Bobby Jones, one of the most influential and consequential figures in the history of golf. Jones founded the Augusta National and spearheaded the Masters. The next in line was Ben Hogan.

Hogan’s impact, other than his all-odds-defying U.S. Open triumph in 1950, just 16 months after a near-fatal car crash, is in modern-day swing. The book, titled ‘Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf’ was the bedrock for many of today’s swing theories.

After picking two greats from two eras, Nicklaus named Tiger Woods. The 15-time major winner brought athleticism, eyeballs, and big money to the PGA Tour. But more than that, it’s the creativity of his shots, the boldness of his execution, and the flamboyance of his celebration that made Tiger Woods one of the most consequential sports figures of the modern era.

Finally, Nicklaus picks… well, himself.  “I’d like to join them. Myself, that’s four,” the 84-year-old said. The place of the 18-time major winner in the annals of golf history is not up for debate. And there is no surprise in Nicklaus picking himself.

Back in 2018, Tiger Woods was asked the same question. This was his response: “Ok, well, probably (Sam) Snead, (Bobby) Jones, (Jack) Nicklaus… me.” So, rarely has anyone questioned Jack Nicklaus for choosing himself over others. However, not everyone was happy with Arnold Palmer’s exclusion. Some also pointed out the lack of diversity in his choices.

Fans want Arnold Palmer on Jack Nicklaus’s list

Ben Hogan or Arnold Palmer? There is little doubt about which of the two was more popular. Palmer was golf’s first celebrity, one who walked with a retinue of fans and an aura worthy of a movie star.

One user wrote, “gotta have Arnie too….everyone was in Arnie’s Army when I was growing up..he brought the average players into the game.” Palmer couldn’t manage a grand slam like Hogan, Nicklaus, or Woods. But the King’s popularity was transcendental, somewhat a precursor to what Woods would achieve in the early 2000s. Another user tweeted, “I’d trade out Hogan for the king… Arnold Palmer has to be one of the four..!!”

However, some users noted where golf would be if not for Old Tom Morris. One of them sarcastically tweeted, “Yeah right, only America (sic) had good golfers……..” Not everyone was looking at history, though. A few of them wanted Seve Ballesteros as well. “[H]e brought eyeballs to the game from people who would have never watched it without his presence,” one user opined.

But without casting any doubt on the Spaniard’s legacy, it’s hard to fathom who Ballesteros would replace on the list. Either Nicklaus had to replace himself with Ballesteros or snub Woods in favor of the five-time major winner.

Some also lamented the lack of female golfers on the list. Without replacing anyone, they wanted one more spot to be added and given to LPGA Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak. Beth Ann Nichols of Golfweek reported that around 350,000 South Korean women played golf when Pak debuted on the LPGA. The figure will reach over 1 million by 2020. “She literally changed the face of women’s golf – making it a world-wide sport,” one user tweeted.

The uproar over Jack Nicklaus’s Mount Rushmore is not surprising. Like the Greatest of All Time debate, ultimately, it also boils down to personal favorites and flexible parameters. Do you judge by numbers or the broader impact on the game? Do they always align? The answers are always varied. But Jack Nicklaus made his choice. And so did the fans.

“This is Rory’s time. The dawning of a new era,” declared The Guardian after Rory McIlroy won the 2014 Open Championship and the PGA Championship in just three weeks. However, is the era dead by now? The 4X Major Championship has bagged 20 major top 10s over the last decade. But he has failed to grab any win ever since.

McIlroy was very close to having his limelight moment at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but sadly he finished with a T5 tying with Jon Rahm at a 15-under. He was just four strokes away from Scottie Scheffler. This year too, once again, he will be entering the FedEx Cup playoffs without a major win. However, it looks as if the World’s No. 3 golfer has his heart elsewhere. Just like the 48 YO Tiger Woods, who opened up a new venture called TGR design, looks like McIlroy too might follow in his footsteps.

Will Rory McIlroy take up golf architecture?

At the age of 28, Rory McIlroy stated that he would love to delve into designing golf courses. It was his close relationship with Jack Nicklaus, who was a member of the Bears Golf Club in Palm Beach. It was when McIlroy got to talk to the Golden Bear, that he wanted to follow this passion. Well, he still seems to be as passionate about golf architecture at the current time. After the practice round of the St. Jude Championship, Rory McIlroy was dubbed as the ‘architecture aficionado’. Well, rightly called so.

Last year, Andrew Green created a new fifth hole at the Oakhill. It is a par-3 which is called Little Poison, in the same spot that had a par-3 fifth for the 1968 US Open. It is slightly elevated and is surrounded by bunkers inspired by Ross. It also features a wide range of flagstick locations and distinctive challenges for players who miss the putting surface. When asked about the changes, McIlroy passionately stated, “I liked what he did at Oak Hill. Yeah, the only thing I would say about Oak Hill was he maybe made the fairways a little too narrow, or the PGA — whoever set it up. I think what he’s done at Congressional is cool, as well.”

The East Lake has now become the permanent host of the Tour Championship since 2004. Rory McIlroy had won the Championship last year, but after this year’s renovation, he has not been there as of yet. But he still is pretty excited to play as the restoration has been done by Andrew Green. “Those bunker faces and everything. I thought he’s done a — I guess the three courses that I’ve played that he’s done work on, I’ve enjoyed them, so I’m looking forward to seeing East Lake,” stated McIlroy.

From Tiger Woods’ TGR design to Jack Nicklaus’ designs, a lot of professional golfers have taken to designing the golf courses. Rory McIlroy might turn out to be another one. Nicklaus has even stated that he would want to team up with him in the future to create golf courses.

While McIlroy might be all good words about Andrew Green, he critically analyses courses and points out blatantly if something could have been better designed

Rory McIlroy calls the TPC River Highlands obsolete

At the 2023 Travelers Championship, Rory McIlroy finished with a T7 at the TPC River Highlands, five strokes behind Keegan Bradley, who lifted the trophy. The par-70 course allowed Bradley to score a whopping 23-under, which  McIlroy stated was because of the soft conditions. They made it easier to score. He even stated that he does not enjoy playing on such easy courses and called it obsolete for modern golfing.

Sixty-six out of the sixty-seven players who made the cut scored an under-par, and it was because of the easy course. “Unfortunately, technology has passed this course by, right? It sort of has made it obsolete, especially as soft as it has been with a little bit of rain that we had,” said Rory McIlroy. They limit the golf ball, and courses like these fail to be challenging enough, ruining the fun of the matches.

With the Wyndham Championship now over, the focus shifts to the first FedEx Cup Playoff event. The field for the St. Jude Championship is ready after the conclusion of the FedEx Cup regular-season events. Does the top 125 include Tiger Woods?

The 15-time major champion has won four FedEx Cup Playoff events. Only Dustin Johnson (6), and Rory McIlroy (5) have won more than the 48-year-old. Twice has he been the FedEx Cup champion since the playoff started in 2007. Only Rory McIlroy (3) has more FedEx Cup champion titles than him (3).

However, despite having a decorated career, Tiger Woods won’t tee off at TPC Southwind this week. Actually, the 82-time PGA Tour winner has never teed off at the first FedEx Cup event since it was rebranded as the St. Jude Championship. In his former avatar, the Northern Trust, Woods has played 11 times, with two runner-ups to his name.

Nevertheless, since his near-fatal car crash, Woods has rarely teed off in regular season events. Naturally, his FedEx Cup ranks have dwindled. This year, the former world no.1 is 223rd in the FedEx Cup rankings. More importantly, Woods seems to saving up energy only for the majors. Is it realistic to expect him in the FedEx Cup Playoffs anytime soon?

Can Tiger Woods tee off in the FedEx Cup Playoffs next year?

The 15-time major champion hinted that the Open Championship would be his last competitive outing this season. Staying true to his words, Tiger Woods confirmed from Royal Troon that he won’t be teeing off until the PNC Championship with his son, Charlie. He jokingly dubbed it his ‘fifth major’. Then comes the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, the invite-only tournament he hosts at his Albany resort.

However, it’s worth noting that Tiger Woods can tee off at all the Signature events next year. Recently, the PGA Tour board agreed to extend a lifetime exemption to the 48-year-old, considering his impact and achievements throughout the last three decades. However, it’s a matter of deliberation how much of that privilege Tiger Woods is going to avail of. He decided to skip regular events, hoping to stay injury-free in the majors. At the same time, Woods also admitted that a that a lack of competitive outings has blunted his sharpness.

Quite rightly, Woods dubbed it a ‘pick your poison’ moment. If the veteran golfer can cut short the recovery window after each tournament and if his body permits teeing off twice a month, Tiger Woods and his fans can realistically think of a FedEx Cup playoff appearance.

Even then, with a limited schedule, the 15-time major champion needs to secure a handful of top-10s and perhaps a victory to earn his way into the FedEx Cup bubble. But, of course, that depends on too many ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ at this point.

You all know about Tiger Woods‘s achievements. But have you ever wondered what he is like when someone plays next to him on the range? Playing with one of golf’s all-time legendary players, Woods, will always be a thing to remember for Beau Hossler, and he revealed one such instance. So, let us find out whether the 82-time PGA Tour winner is a chatter when one swings next to him.

In an episode of the Bob Does Sports Podcast that was aired a year ago, Beau Hossler, the 29-year-old PGA Tour golfer, was asked about a picture he shared on his Instagram. He was standing next to Tiger Woods in the mentioned photograph. Hence, Bob asked Hossler to express what was going on when the picture was taken. Hossler revealed that Tiger Woods does respond to fellow players, but he has never been the one who initiates the conversation.

Hossler recalled, “I’ll tell you what, Tiger, every time I’ve ever talked to him, it’s been outstanding. But he’s certainly not someone that’s going to, like, spark up a conversation.” He also revealed how there will be moments when the 15-time major winner would give a head nod to his fellow golfer. Hossler described his nature of conversation on the green as “he’ll give me a head nod and kind of what’s up, and then move on.”

Have you ever thought about what held back one of golf’s greatest legends? However, there was a significant weakness that overshadowed the great success of the show and the host, the weakness of “The Great White Shark“. The 69-year-old former world number one with 88 professional wins, including 20 on the PGA Tour, was a physical golfer. This revelation is from the book “OUT OF THE ROUGH” by Steve Williams which gives a different view of Greg Norman’s career.

The New Zealander caddie gave a detailed blow-by-blow description of his interaction with the world’s best golfer. His view of Greg Norman is quite enlightening. While placing him higher than Woods in terms of physical ability, Steve Williams emphasizes that mental toughness is the key factor in the game. He said, “Of all the players I have worked for, including Tiger, Greg would be the best in terms of the pure physical side of the game. But his weakness, and it was a huge weakness, was not being able to get over a bad break”.

The 60-year-old Steve Williams noted that Greg Norman had a very strong ego that did not allow him to consult with sports psychologists or mental coaches. He said, “He wouldn’t listen to anyone else; his ego was too big for that.” This arrogance probably cost him several potential wins. Also, he was always held responsible for the mistake, even if he provided the correct yardage.

He gave an example of a situation where even the slightest hitch would result in prolonged frustration. “If he dropped a shot, I’d say to Greg, ‘C’mon, let’s get more focused,’ and he’d yell, ‘What do you think I’m doing? I’m f**king focusing. Can’t you see I’m f**king focusing?’”. This mental barrier, Steve Williams said, was the complete opposite of Greg Norman’s physical skills, which were superior to many, including the 15-time major champion Tiger Woods.

Greg Norman had been through so many ups and downs with Steve Williams. However, their split was a rather unexpected move for many. What could have caused this sudden break-up?

The breakup of a legendary duo: Greg Norman and his caddy Steve Williams

It was the time when Greg Norman was at the top of his career. Steve Williams, his caddie, was his right-hand man during the golfing tournaments. Altogether, they made a perfect combination that became a symbol of the show. But in the year 1989, their professional relationship was cut short. Thus, Greg Norman and Steve Williams had different attitudes to the game. Greg Norman was an aggressive and ambitious man. Steve Williams was methodical and patient. These contrasting styles led to tension over time.

An example was during the Open Championship in 1989. Norman’s decision-making to take dangerous shots resulted in a confrontation with Steve Williams. This clash was a turning point in their relationship. Also, the growing popularity of Greg Norman attracted more media coverage. Steve Williams said that she was under pressure not only to manage Norman’s golf but also his image. The media also played a big role in their interactions by amplifying the situation and making it even worse.

Greg Norman took certain actions that affected the company without informing Williams. This sidelining was very painful to the caddie because he felt that his skills were not being utilized as they should. Williams later on felt that it was about time that he changed his team and so he did.

Steve Williams continued to caddie for other famous golfers including Tiger Woods.

Since 2019, when Tiger Woods grabbed his 15th major, the GOAT Debate has been never-ending. On one hand, it’s the 48-year-old, and on the other, it’s 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus. The Golden Bear has the majors, while Woods has total PGA Tour wins (82). One thing is common though: Both have 0 Olympic wins.

However, in a recent viral post on X, Jamie Kennedy posted a theory about the majors crowing players like the Olympics with gold, silver, and bronze medals. And surprisingly, there too, Nicklaus dominated Woods. Massively! As per their current standings, the 84-year-old would have amassed 18 gold 19 silver, and 9 bronze medals, representing his marvelous first, second, and third finishes at the majors.

Woods, on the other hand, would have 15 gold, 7 silver, and 4 bronze medals. And while this is nothing but a theory, it does show that when it came to the big 4 events in golf. Jack Nicklaus was a force that perhaps even Tiger Woods could never keep up with.

Interestingly, currently, Woods and Nicklaus have reversible ages. The veteran is 84 while the golf champ is 48. Yet these debates of one being better than the other persist. But when it comes to internal relations between the two, things couldn’t be more friendly. Woods looks up to Nicklaus as a mentor. He often even seeks out his advice. As for the senior golfer, he’s always rooting for the 25-time major winner. Even now!

Jack Nicklaus believes Tiger Woods has a lot more to give

Can Tiger Woods still roar? Golf legend Jack Nicklaus certainly thinks so! At the 2000 PGA Championship, Woods’ unbelievable performance convinced Nicklaus, then 60, to hang up his golf clubs. But now, 23 years later, Nicklaus still believes that 48-year-old Woods still has what it takes.

Nicklaus, who, keep in mind, was the biggest thing in golf back in the late 1900s, has been impressed with Woods’s recent performances, including the display he put on at the Masters earlier this year. Woods made the cut with an impressive first 2 days. And even though he finished dead last on Sunday, Nicklaus believes he has it in him to win.

“Tiger has the ability to still play,” Nicklaus said at the Legends Luncheon according to Golf Digest. “He doesn’t play, obviously, quite as well as he did, but I think a lot of that is his physical ailments.” And well, it is true. Tiger Woods has had his fair share of injuries in the past couple of years. From his knee to his back, Woods has had several surgeries too, and that has affected both his skill and appearance on the greens. But the 15-time major winner remains adamant that he can win. And with the other GOAT in golf agreeing, who’ll dare contest that?

Steve Williams is a world-renowned caddie and for all the right reasons. But you might also remember him from the infamous firing incident he had with Tiger Woods. The 15-time major winner fired Williams after 12 years of service after the 2011 US Open. That did not demotivate the veteran caddie, as he continued to do what he loved and even wrote a book, Out of the Rough: Inside the Ropes with the World’s Greatest Golfers, that came out in 2015. This was his memoir, which consisted of moments from inside the ropes from his time caddying for the golf greats. Successful stints have now helped Steve Williams to have a net worth of $20 million.

Based on his extensive experience, Williams shares the surprising key to his success in his memoir. Notably, this strategy was often employed with none other than Tiger Woods himself, revealing a fascinating dynamic between the two.

Steve Williams played mind games to be fearless

In his book, the 60-year-old caddie revealed a surprising tactic he used to get the best out of his players: occasionally withholding or distorting information. This unorthodox approach was employed to influence players’ decision-making and boost confidence in high-pressure situations.

When golfers face uncertain situations, such as navigating creeks or thick rough, they rely on their caddie for clear guidance. And the renowned looper stressed the importance of providing absolute certainty in these moments, even if it means making tough calls. He puts it in his book on page number 25, “If a player asks you a question, they don’t want to hear umming and ahhing—they want a firm answer.” This emphasis on certainty led Williams to sometimes withhold or distort information, such as yardages, to influence his players’ decisions.

Williams admits to using this tactic with Tiger Woods, saying, “I often did this with Tiger.” He acknowledged that this approach may seem unorthodox but argued it was necessary to give his players the edge they needed to win. As he wrote, “In those cases, I was less of a confidence booster than a confidence trickster.”

Moreover, his unconventional tactics, blended with Woods’s extraordinary talent, created an unbeatable synergy that ruled the golf world for over a decade. The Williams-Woods era (1999–2011) was a golden age in golf, with Tiger Woods claiming 13 major championships under the looper’s guidance, which he has acknowledged in the past.

But is Tiger Woods the only top name the Hall of Famer caddie has ever caddied for? No, he has some other big names up his sleeve. Let’s explore the highlights of his journey and some of the players he’s worked with.

Williams’ illustrious career beyond Tiger Woods 

While his partnership with Tiger Woods is iconic, Williams’s caddying journey began long before. At just ten years old, he started caddying at his home club in New Zealand. By 13, he worked with Australian legend Peter Thomson, a five-time Open Championship winner.

At just 19, Williams joined forces with Greg Norman in 1982, caddying for him in Asia, Australia, and Europe. After a brief stint in the US with Norman, he was let go in 1989 but quickly found work with Raymond Floyd. He caddied for Floyd on the regular and senior US tours until 1999, amassing a wealth of experience and expertise.

This extensive background laid the groundwork for his future success, including his remarkable partnership with Woods. With a career spanning over four decades, the looper has worked with some of golf’s biggest names, including Adam Scott, LPGA golfer Danielle Kang, and Jason Day.

The candid insight offered a glimpse into the psychological trickery behind the scenes in professional golf.