The caddie’s instincts sometimes make a champion! And one of golf’s greatest collabs turned this into reality. In a revealing throwback, Steve Williams shares his crucial role in Tiger Woods‘ legendary 2008 US Open win. As Woods’ former caddie of 12 years, he sheds light on the bold move that made all the difference. Meanwhile, his 2015 memoir reveals the behind-the-scenes story of their iconic partnership.
That gutsy move came on the 72nd hole at Torrey Pines, where Williams convinced Woods to ignore the yardage book and trust his instincts on club selection. “I convinced Tiger to ignore the yardage book and hit the club I felt would deliver the best outcome. It was a hell of a discussion, but my gut feeling on how he would execute that shot proved correct,” recalled the 60 year-old-caddie in his book, Out of the Rough: Inside the Ropes with the World’s Greatest Golfers on Page 28.
It was a pivotal moment, as Woods needed a birdie for a playoff spot. Consequently, Woods’ trust in the caddie’s instincts paid off, as he sank a 15-foot birdie putt on 18 to force a playoff with Rocco Mediate. Mediate, however, missed a putt to save par at the 19th hole and Woods took advantage, sealing his 14th major victory in a sudden death hole. Ultimately, Williams’ decision and Woods sticking with it led the pair to the coveted US Open title, their last major win jointly.
In hindsight, Williams’ decision proved even more crucial, as he reflected, “ If he’d gone with the normal club for that yardage he’d probably have hit the ball too far and given himself a much tougher birdie putt.” The caddie’s decision-making and feel for the game proved invaluable in that moment. This incident showcased the pair’s trust and chemistry, a key factor in their 12-year partnership.
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As Woods acknowledged, the win was a surprise even to him: “I don’t know how it even got this far, but I’m very, very fortunate to have played 91 holes and come out on top.” This sentiment sets the stage for understanding the unlikely nature of Woods’ win at the 2008 US Open.
Tiger Woods’ unlikely win at Torrey Pines
The odds were against Tiger Woods from the start. He had not played a competitive round in 2 months and 2 weeks, and his ailing left knee was a constant concern. Moreover, his opening round of one-over-par 73 did little to inspire confidence. It was an inauspicious beginning to a week that would ultimately end in triumph.
The 83x PGA Tour champ in the post Tournament presser, reiterated, “I dealt with a few things this week and just had to keep plugging along. I wasn’t feeling my best, I didn’t get off to the greatest of starts and when I finally got off to a good start (in the play-off), I screwed that up by finding the bunker on three.”
The severity of Woods’ knee injury became clear after the tournament when he announced that he would undergo season-ending surgery. Moreover, the bond between Woods and Williams proved to be the winning formula, for their iconic partnership in golf history. Do you remember this classic incident from the 2008 US Open?
