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Video: Williams laments not leaving Woods before scandal
Tiger Woods has stated he wishes to move on from all lines of questioning involving Steve Williams. However, it's tough to do so when his former caddie continues to speak out about the relationship between the two.
Since they split up this summer, there was the brash post-tournament interview following a win by Williams' new man, Adam Scott, at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Then, at a caddies awards dinner in Shanghai earlier this month, Williams caused a controversy by referencing his old boss with a racial slur in a speech. And now, Williams is drawing more attention due to a TV interview he taped in New Zealand October 25 that has just been released:
The part of the chat with journalist Graham Bensinger that's receiving the most scrutiny is when Williams laments that perhaps he should have left Woods following their last win together in November 2009 at the Australian Masters and before news of the 14-time major winner's sex scandal broke. Williams, who has maintained he didn't know about Woods' extra-marital affairs, says looking back, it would have been better to go out on a positive note.
"My gut feeling at some time, one part of me said that would be a good way to finish because that would be the last memory," Williams said.
Williams goes on to talk about the importance of the player-caddie relationship on the PGA Tour, the discrepancy over how the two view the way the firing went down, and that they've had no contact since (as of the time of this interview), though he said Woods sent him a congratulatory text after Williams won on Scott's bag. Woods has also said Williams apologized to him in person for his recent comment before the start of the Australian Open, where Woods finished third. As far as a future friendship between the two men, who were both part of each other's respective weddings, Williams said: "We'll see what transpires."
Williams and Woods have not been paired in the same group on the golf course since their ultra-successful 13-year run abruptly came to an end, but that could change this week at the Presidents Cup. If they are paired at Royal Melbourne, expect plenty more talk about their strained relationship -- even if there won't be much chatter going on inside the ropes.
-- Alex Myers
Follow on Twitter: [@AlexMyers3
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