Former caddie predicts big things for Woods
Tiger Woods’ former Kiwi caddie believes next year is shaping as the year of the Tiger.
Steve Williams, who carried Woods’ bag between 1999 and 2011, points to the list of major venues for 2019 when predicting he is well set to win his 15th major, and first since 2008.
Following the Masters at Augusta, next year’s PGA Championship will be played at Bethpage in New York. The US Open will be at Pebble Beach, while The Open is set for Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, a classic links course.
‘‘If [Woods] can win at Augusta – and he’s proven he can compete there even when he’s not at his peak – who knows what could occur on these iconic venues of the type he loves playing,’’ Williams wrote on Players Voice.
Woods won the US Open at Bethpage in wet conditions in 2002, and finished sixth in 2009.
‘‘We’ve seen how he demolished the field at the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach. He loves that course. Having grown up in California, it’s like a second home to him,’’ Williams wrote.
As for Royal Portrush, which suits players who can keep the ball low, Williams says it will suit Tiger, given he’s proven time and time again that he’s ‘‘one of the great links players’’.
‘‘He has the imagination, the array of shots and the control of his ball flight that you need on a links course. And distance off the tee won’t be such an issue – experience is what counts – though accuracy is required at Portrush,’’ Williams wrote.
Including his second-placed finish in the PGA Championship earlier this month, Woods contended in the final two majors of the year, hammering home that he’s overcome a career-threatening back injury.
Woods turns 43 in December, and next year it will be a decade since the infamous scandal sent his career nose-diving. It also marked the beginning of the end of Williams’ working and personal relationship with Woods.
‘‘In the wake of that scandal, it was obviously uncomfortable for Tiger to be under such intense scrutiny when he returned. But I was struck by how forgiving the fans were,’’ Williams wrote.
‘‘They seemed to be able separate Tiger the golfer from Tiger the person.
‘‘So, it’s no surprise that his comeback has driven renewed hype around golf – there were huge crowds at the PGA at Bellerive and TV ratings were back up. That’s because, despite everything, Tiger is a once-ina-lifetime athlete and the only person who is ever going to threaten Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors.’’