Tag: steve williams

Mexico Open champ Jake Knapp has a ball from one of Tiger Woods’s finest days at home. Here’s the story behind it.

“It’s really only the piece of sports memorabilia that I have that I really cherish.”

Tucked in Jake Knapp’s personal bio in the PGA Tour online media guide are a few assorted personal nuggets meant to give a bit of flavor for his personality: he can solve a Rubik’s Cube, if he didn’t play golf he would pursue a career in the fitness industry, and he spent roughly nine months as a security guard at a night club in fall 2021 through spring 2022.

And then there’s this: His earliest golf memory is watching Tiger Woods beat Stephen Ames, 9 and 8, at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and having Woods’ caddie, Steve Williams, toss him one of the balls Woods used during the match.

“Still got it in the same little plastic case sitting on my shelf at home,” Knapp recalled on Sunday after winning the Mexico Open at Vidanta.

As Knapp recalled, his dad took him and his brother to the WGC Match Play at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California, about an hour from his home in Costa Mesa, and they followed Tiger and Williams, his former caddie.

“I was just hounding Stevie all day to give me a ball, give me a ball, give me a ball, and he kept on telling me after the round,” Knapp said. “Then Tiger finally closed out Stephen Ames 9 and 8 on the 10th hole. I was standing back by the 10th tee. They walked right by and I asked him for a ball and neither of them really did anything. They walked into the locker room and I was like, dang, like there they go.

“Then 10 seconds later Stevie walked out and he was like, ‘Hey, kid,’ tossed me his ball. It was pretty awesome. It’s really only the piece of sports memorabilia that I have that I really cherish.”

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Tiger Woods has chosen this veteran caddie to work for him at the Genesis Invitational

Golfweek has learned this veteran caddie has been chosen by Woods for the plum assignment at Riviera.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Tiger Woods is back in action this week as the playing host of the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational. That has been anticipated for some time. But who will be on the bag for Woods now that Joe LaCava has taken up permanent residence with Patrick Cantlay?

Golfweek has learned that veteran caddie Lance Bennett has been chosen by Woods for the plum assignment at Riviera. Woods knows Bennett well from his days caddying for Matt Kuchar, including a win alongside him at the 2012 Players, during his prime.

In recent years, Bennett has been on the bag for Sungjae Im and Davis Riley and he also spent time on the LPGA with Juli Inkster, Paula Creamer and Lorena Ochoa. This season, he’s working full-time for Tour rookie Adrien Dumont de Chassart, a Belgian golfer who competed at Illinois and won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour, earning KFT Player of the Year honors last season.

Dumont de Chassart (nicknamed ADDC for short) and Woods are managed by the same agency, and Dumont de Chassart isn’t in the field this week, which makes it easy for Bennett to jump to Tiger’s bag. It’s possible that Bennett could be on the bag for Tiger at the Players Championship and the Masters too, but sources say that Tiger may bounce around between some different caddies.

Photos: Tiger Woods through the years

Rob McNamara, Tiger’s longtime business partner and vice president of TGR Ventures, caddied for Tiger at the Hero World Challenge in December and could fill the role again and Woods didn’t shut down the possibility of son Charlie serving as his sidekick in the future when asked if he might tote his bag.

Woods is making his first official Tour start since withdrawing from the Masters after making the cut in April. How much Woods plays this season will depend on his health, but he’s made it very clear he expects to play a limited schedule focused around the majors.

Woods originally had Mike “Fluff” Cowan on the bag when he won the 1997 Masters, then won 13 majors and 72 Tour titles with Steve Williams, and joined up with LaCava in 2012.

Efforts to confirm Tiger’s caddie with his management team were not returned.

In other caddie news, Paul Tesori has moved to the bag of Tom Kim. Tesori spent 12 years on the bag of Webb Simpson before moving to Cameron Young last March. Tesori started the year with Brendon Todd but wasn’t on Todd’s bag in Phoenix. Kim had Joe Skovron last season until he was hired away by Ludvig Aberg. Kim began the year with Daniel Parratt. When asked about joining Kim, Tesori said, “I’m looking forward to what will hopefully be another long term relationship on the bag. Tom is obviously extremely talented but having faith as a common denominator is something that I believe will help when golf gets difficult, which it seems to always be!”

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Cyclone delays Adam Scott’s caddie Steve Williams arrival to 2023 Genesis Invitational

A cyclone disrupted nearly 600 flights, including the flight Williams was scheduled to take.

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Adam Scott and caddie Steve Williams are scheduled to resume their partnership this week on the PGA Tour at the Genesis Invitational, but Mother Nature has had other plans.

Williams, who lives in New Zealand, was still en route from his home in Auckland after Cyclone Gabrielle hammered the country’s North Island. When asked if Williams had made it to the Golden State yet during his 2 p.m. PT news conference Wednesday, Scott said, “Not yet, A couple hours out still.”

The cyclone disrupted nearly 600 flights, including the flight Williams was scheduled to take. Government officials in New Zealand declared a state of emergency after what reportedly was one of the worst storms in years. Scott used Liam Bedor, the head of operations for L.A.B. Putters, as a fill-in caddie during Wednesday’s pro-am.

Williams, who was on the bag for 13 of the 15 majors won by Tiger Woods, worked for Scott from 2011 until 2017, including when Scott won the 2013 Masters and reached No. 1 in the world. Scott said they had remained friends and in communication and had a conversation about reuniting at the end of last season. They worked two events together in Australia in December.

“We slipped back into the rhythm really quickly and we had a good couple weeks and I expect that to happen out here as well,” Scott said. “Having him come out fresh at this point, it’s just funny how at different times in your life, he’s now hit a point where his kid’s grown up and probably doesn’t want to hang with Dad quite as much and he’s itching to get back out here, as much as he’d hate to admit it, it’s in his blood to be out here and caddie and he loves it, and I’m pleased that we’re going to have the opportunity to do a bit more together.”

Scott’s plan is for Williams and Greg Hearmon to share caddie duties.

“[Stevie’s] a pretty intense guy. Whether he was working for me or working for any other pro, whether he’s competing at driving his race car or whether he’s raking the leaves off his lawn at home, he’s an intense character once he gets his mind on something,” Scott said. “There’s no changing that personality. He’s out here to achieve. I think that can be a really good influence on me.”

Scott said he’s eyeing the next three years as a window where he can add at least another major to his resume, and no caddie has been more successful in the majors than Williams.

“I thought about it long and hard. Given where my life is overall, a full season of Steve could be too intense and not productive but a bit of Steve and a bit of Greg could really complement me,” he said. “The next three years unless I have some injury pop up, I’m in good shape to contend. I see everything settling into place where I can be a top 10 player in the world and therefore a legitimate contender.”

Scott last competed at the Sony Hawaiian Open in January, where he finished T-29. Scott won the Genesis Invitational in 2020 and 2005 and finished T-4 last year.  He has a 69.54 career scoring average in 52 rounds at Riviera.

Scott’s tee time for Thursday’s first round is 10:35 a.m. ET (7:35 a.m. local time). He’s hopeful that Williams will be by his side.

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Adam Scott reunites with caddie Steve Williams for pair of Australian events and more in 2023

Williams was on the bag for Scott from 2011 to 2017 and helped the Aussie win his first major at the 2013 Masters.

Adam Scott and Steve Williams are getting the band back together.

According to Golf Digest, Williams is coming out of retirement to pick up the bag once again for Scott, beginning with this week’s Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland in Brisbane as well as next week’s Australian Open at Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Club in Melbourne. Scott will have Williams and regular caddie Greg Hearmon share the role for 2023.

“For me it’s exciting to work again with Steve and see if we can rediscover the magic,” Scott said to Golf Digest. “As a player, you experience different points in your career. Right now on the PGA Tour is a time of change, and I’m adjusting to it. Having Steve and Greg doing a job share is going to help me get everything I need and that’s to be fresh at the biggest events.”

The pair began working together in 2011 after Williams was fired by Tiger Woods following a 12-year partnership that produced 13 major championships. Williams was on the bag for Scott from 2011 to 2017 and helped the Aussie win his first major at the 2013 Masters as well as claim the title of World No. 1 in 2014.

“My goal is to win majors; I had a good run with Steve in the majors and we did win the Masters, but it’s about getting an overall balance for what I need to perform in the biggest events,” Scott said. “Steve is at a point in his life where he’d like to have a dabble again, so to speak. It’s a good balance for him because it won’t be a full year’s grind.”

Scott has earned 10 top-10 finishes in majors since his 2013 victory at Augusta National, the last coming in 2019 at the PGA Championship (T-8) and U.S. Open (T-7).

With Williams as his caddie, Scott finished T-5 at both the 2013 PGA Championship at Oak Hill in Pittsford, New York, and the 2014 British Open at Royal Liverpool in England. The PGA Championship returns to Oak Hill in 2023 (May 18-21), same with the Open to Royal Liverpool (July 20-23). Woods also won the Open at Royal Liverpool in 2006 with Williams as his caddie.

“The time I spent caddieing for Adam was very memorable; helping him becoming the first Australian to win at Augusta,” Williams said. “I feel Adam is in a good shape with his game, and I’m fresh having not caddied for a few years, so I’ll bring a lot of enthusiasm.

“I’ve always said to Adam and to others, to be remembered as one of the great players, you have to win multiple majors. The opportunity to try and get Adam major No. 2 and elevate himself to a special group of players in history, would be a privilege.”

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Photos: Caddies and their flags from the 18th hole after winning a tournament

Every week on virtually every tour, the winning caddie grabs the flag on 18.

It has become a tradition unlike any other.

Every week on virtually every tour, the winning caddie grabs the flag on 18. It has become the caddie’s trophy, as much of a ritual as players removing their hats and shaking hands after the round. But what is the origin of this tradition and who started it? No one seems to know.

“I don’t know how it happened,” says Ted Scott, who earned his third Masters flag working on the bag of Scottie Scheffler in 2022 to go with the previous two he pocketed with Bubba Watson in 2012 and 2014. “But it’s a cool tradition, a huge reward and a special thing. Whoever started it, I’m grateful for it.”

Golfweek did some digging, hoping to get to the bottom of this unsolved mystery, and along the way the stories we heard about caddies and flags were too good not to share.

Unsolved mystery: How did the flag at 18 become the caddie trophy?

It has become a tradition unlike any other. Every week on virtually every tour, the winning caddie grabs the flag on 18.

No caddie has enjoyed his winning flag quite like Ted Scott, who posted a video of himself with the 18th-hole flag and pole from this April’s Masters on his tractor, motorcycle and while brushing his teeth among other random things.

Jim “Bones” Mackay was on the bag for his sixth major at the PGA Championship in May, but this flag likely means the most to him and will get top-shelf status. Then there was England’s Billy Foster, who finally tasted victory at a major after 40 years on the bag and kissed the flag in the lower right corner as Matt Fitzpatrick was victorious at the U.S. Open in June. New Zealand’s Sam Pinfold made off with both a Players Championship and British Open flag this year working for Aussie Cameron Smith. And who can forget Japan’s Shota Hayafuji’s beautiful gesture: removing his hat and bowing his head after claiming the flag at Augusta National last April following Hideki Matsuyama’s triumph. From all four corners of the globe, caddies know the routine.

“As a youngster watching golf tournaments on TV in Japan, I saw that it is a tradition for caddies to take home the 18th-green flag,” Hayafuji says. “My heart was full of gratitude, and it was the natural thing for me to bow and show respect for the Masters.”

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It has become a tradition unlike any other. Every week on virtually every tour, the winning caddie grabs the flag on 18. It has become the caddie’s trophy, as much of a ritual as players removing their hats and shaking hands after the round. But what is the origin of this tradition and who started it? No one seems to know.

“I don’t know how it happened,” says Scott, who earned his third Masters flag working on the bag of Scottie Scheffler to go with the previous two he pocketed with Bubba Watson in 2012 and 2014. “But it’s a cool tradition, a huge reward and a special thing. Whoever started it, I’m grateful for it.”

Golfweek did some digging, hoping to get to the bottom of this unsolved mystery, and along the way the stories we heard about caddies and flags were too good not to share.

PGA Championship: With Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay back in pursuit at Southern Hills, who are the most successful caddies in men’s majors of all time?

Caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay is in pursuit of his sixth major title, but who has more?

Jim “Bones” Mackay is at it again, carrying the bag and helping to strategize for Justin Thomas in this week’s PGA Championship as Thomas has climbed the leaderboard. Bones has five major titles to his caddie credit, making him one of the most successful loopers of all time in golf’s biggest events.

But, he doesn’t have the most wins.

Below, find a list of some of the caddies who have looped for the most men’s major championships. The list includes some caddies you might have heard of, and plenty who worked in the era in which caddies received almost none of the credit and were often expected to “Show up, keep up and shut up.”

But most of them can claim plenty of credit in helping their golfers earn big titles. Then check out the Caddie Hall of Fame, from which some of this information has been obtained.

Celebrity Sooners: Oklahoma’s most famous fans and alumni

We see some of them striding the sideline while others work behind the scenes. Here are some of the most famous alumni and fans of the Oklahoma Sooners.

A university with a long and distinguished history as the University of Oklahoma is bound to have a distinguished group of alumni and fans. We’re not simply talking about athletes, because the Oklahoma Sooners have some of the most recognizable athletes going in Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Trae Young.

But outside the lines, the Sooners are well represented by alumni and fans as well. There are actors, CEOs of major corporations, owners of professional sports teams, pro wrestlers, musicians, a Miss America, and an astronaut.

We took the liberty to compile some of the most famous personalities with connections to the University of Oklahoma. We mostly stayed away from sports figures, but several former Sooners have become famous for something other than the sport they played at the university, so they’re worth mentioning.