While smarting the success of Adam Scott in securing the the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational, Steve Williams has accused Tiger Woods of being ‘incorrect’ in matters surrounding his sacking from the bag of the 14-time Major Champion.
Australia's Adam Scott - 2011 WGC Bridgestone Invitational champion. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
Scott became the third Australian to capture a World Golf Championship in winning by an impressive four strokes after a final round 65, for a 17-under par tally in the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.
The win is Scott’s 19th success around the globe and on the Firestone Country Club course where boyhood idol, Greg Norman captured his last PGA Tour success in 1997.
Scott continues to enjoy a remarkable trend of having won at least once every year since turning professional in mid-2000.
Victory also is a superb boost for the 31-year old Queenslander as he also seeks to become the first Australian, since Steve Elkington in 1995, to win the U.S. PGA Championship, and also the first Australian since Geoff Ogilvy to win a Major after Ogilvy captured the 2006 U.S. Open.
“This is obviously one of the biggest wins of my career, to win a World Golf Championship is what I set out to do this year along with winning Majors,” said Scott.
“I wanted to focus on the big events, and I’ve done a pretty good job so far of getting myself in the hunt.
“But that’s the goal to give myself a chance to win these big events. It’s what I’ve wanted to do my whole career, and for whatever reason I haven’t performed my best.
“I really feel like I’ve got a good plan in place to get myself ready for these events now. That’s working nicely.
“And heading into next week, this win is a great confidence boost, really.
“It’s good to know you’re a winner. It’s not easy to win, and the year was slipping away from me, and having won every year of my career somewhere in the world, and this year was slipping quickly.
“So it was great to get a win, and hopefully I can take this form to Atlanta and play my way in with a chance next week.”
And while many of the questions asked of Scott prior to the final round were dominated by talk of Williams, it was Williams’ remarks that very much commanded much of the limelight following Scott’s victory.
A picture we've seen at Firestone now on eight occasions, as Steve Williams embraces the WGC - Bridgestone Invitational champion. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
The 47-year old Williams indirectly had a ‘dig’ at Woods over his sacking when interviewed by CBS David Feherty straight after his round.
“The only place I am interested in finishing in first, and I am a confident front-runner when I am racing cars, and I am a confident front-runner at a golf tournament,” said Williams.
“But I would be honest if I didn’t say I was nervous today, and while a lot has been said this week I’ve always believed in myself and it’s good to back it up.
“I have caddied for 33 years and this is my 145th win, and this is easily the most satisfying.”
And Williams later inflamed the issue of his sacking when he denied Woods had handed him his notice ‘face-to-face’, as Woods’ had stated on the eve of the Firestone event.
Williams said it was ‘incorrect’ Woods had phoned him after the final round of the AT & T.
“It was incorrect Tiger did in person at the AT & T National,” said Williams.
I was told on the phone that we needed to take a break, and that at the AT & T the details of why I was fired were discussed.”
Scott revealed he had first approached Williams during the week of the Colonial, and when he phoned Williams he was at home in New Zealand.
Williams then indicated to Scott that while he was unavailable for the Colonial in Texas, there was a strong chance Woods would not be playing the U.S. Open given he was still recovering from an Achilles Heel concern.
So Williams returned to the States to caddy for Scott at Congressional.
Smartly, Scott sought to distance himself for any of the controversy.
“I don’t know what to say about what Steve said,” said Scott.
“That’s between those guys. I’m not involved in it at all, and they know that. I’m just out here to do my job.
“I’ll let them figure that out that themselves. They’re both grown men.”
