Posted by Blogger Name. Category:
Adam Scott
,
Augusta National
,
golf
,
Steve Williams
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The Masters
,
Tiger Woods
Adam Scott's reign as Masters Champion is almost over. With just four holes to play, he is back in the pack, and will not successfully defend his title.
But it could be Scott's caddy's final journey to the hallowed grounds of Augusta National; Stuff reports:
Retirement and Steve Williams have been well discussed in recent months. But this week, Augusta National's unique aura is making the penny drop a little.
Rather than simply smelling the azaleas, Williams is making sure to savour them.
"Could this be my last Masters? It could be, yeah. It's a definite possibility," Williams told the Sunday Star-Times.
"It does make me feel different going in to this week, absolutely. I'm definitely taking it in a bit more than I normally would. This week is quite a special week to me."
At 50, Williams is well short of retirement age. And on form, his results with Australian Adam Scott are more the start of an enduring and history-making partnership, than the end of a glittering career.
But life on the road, and moreover, life away from his family, have Williams ready to call time.
Having announced this would be his last season caddying full-time, Williams' future, including the possibility of one more time at Augusta, sit solely in the hands of Scott.
"My plan is to see out 2014 and next year I'm either going to caddie half the year, or not at all. If Adam wants me to caddie for half a year, then that's what I'll do," Williams says.
"If he's not agreeable to that, then that's me done."
As insurance, Williams even thought it best to call in a favour this week, while he still could.
"One of the things that Adam was kind enough to do was get me some tickets, I've got six friends here this week. They've not been here before, they always watched it on TV."
After annual visits to Clifford Roberts and Bobby Jones' golfing mecca over the best part of three decades, this week Williams, for the third time in his career, wears the number "1" patch on the left breast of his white boiler suit, the digit reserved for the caddie of the returning champion.
Although he wasn't carrying Tiger Woods' bag when Woods won his first Masters in 1997, Williams has caddied for the winner four times; three times for Woods, and Adam Scott last year.
And who will ever forget this moment from the 2005 Masters?
Steve Williams has had a stellar career. If he walks off the 18th green at Augusta for the final time in a few minutes, he has much with which to look back on with pride.
