Tiger and Steve: The Odd Couple
Perhaps one of the most famous caddies ever to work on the PGA Tour, Steve Williams has decided to make his opinion known regarding the recent events surrounding his Tour player boss Tiger Woods.
According to an article posted on PGA.com, Williams is more than a little upset regarding Tiger's sex scandal and is stating that he basically had no idea what was going on:
"It's been the most difficult time of my life, no two ways about it, because every single person believed that I should know or did know or had something to do with it," Williams said. "I knew nothing, that's my answer. I don't have to clarify or extend that answer, I knew nothing."
While I think there is about as much chance Williams knew nothing about Tiger's affairs as there is Steve winning the Masters, what I find to be more interesting is the way Tiger and his caddy discuss one another to the media.
Let us not forget that just a few months ago
Tiger had the following to say regarding a few comments his looper had regarding Phil Mickelson:
"I was disappointed to read the comments attributed to Steve Williams about Phil Mickelson, a player that I respect," Woods said in a statement Monday. "It was inappropriate. The matter has been discussed and dealt with."
In no way am I trying to compare Tiger's extramarital affairs with Steve's name-calling, however the fact that both men decided to disclose his personal feelings regarding the other to the media takes me aback. I understand that people will want to know their opinions regarding the other individual, especially in the time of controversy or scandal, but we are all forgetting one particularly important factor at play: these two guys are supposed to be friends.
I don't know the relationship you may have with your closest friends, but if there is one thing I can count on is for any personal issues that come up, everyone keeps their mouth shut and handles it internally.
Williams has worked with Tiger for 11 years and has repeatedly referred to him as his "best friend", or at least "one of his closest friends". Heck, Williams is even the godfather of one of Tiger's children. Since when is it customary to discuss personal matters about your friend in such a way to the media?
Oh yeah, I forgot; sports personalities don't play by the same rules.