Steve Williams worked with Woods for 12 years (Image: Getty Images)
Steve Williams caddied for Woods between 1999 and 2011, racking up a serious fortune thanks to the 15-time major winner’s own success out on the course
Tiger Woods’ ex-caddie, Steve Williams, has an enviable net worth thanks to carrying the golfing great’s clubs.
The New Zealand native worked with Woods for 12 years between 1999 and 2011, and is said to have a reported fortune of £15.7million ($20m) following an unprecedented period of success alongside 15-time major winner Woods. Woods is the PGA Tour’s most successful player in history, taking home 82 titles on the circuit to date – nine ahead of legend Jack Nicklaus.
The PGA Tour’s site notes that Woods is the circuit’s highest-ever earner, with an accumulative prize pot of £94.2million ($120m) throughout his 28-year stint. Williams, who was once touted as the highest-paid sportsperson in his nation, received a fortune of his own for his duties to Woods out on the course thanks to both his salary and earning a percentage of Woods’ own winnings.
Woods achieved 64 victories on the Tour during that time. He also won 13 of his 15 majors, nine Tour Player of the Year awards, and spent 281 weeks at World No. 1 between June 2005 and October 2010. And the golf legend isn’t the only pro player that Williams has had the pleasure of working with either.
He caddied for Adam Scott between 2011 and 2017 – also taking to the courses with the Australian between 2022 and 2023 – while working with Jason Day in 2019. However, his association with Scott represented the beginning of the end of his partnership with Woods.
Williams asked for Woods’ permission to caddie for the now 44-year-old at the 2011 US Open, after Woods himself was ruled out through injury. While Woods agreed to the move, Williams revealed at the time that his boss of 12 years had a change of heart – ultimately leading to a withering working relationship.
The caddie told CBS: “Adam heard Tiger pulled out and wondered where I was. I phoned Tiger about it and he said, ‘No problem’. After some thought, though, he didn’t agree with it. Tiger changed his mind. Well, I’d already told Adam I would be there.”
Speaking on not letting Scott down, Williams added: “I wasn’t prepared to ring Adam up and say I can’t do it. I’m a man of my word. I had no idea I was going to get fired over it. I also hadn’t worked a lot. Not that I needed the money, but I wanted to work. I was told [by Tiger] after U.S. Open that I no longer had a job and it’s as simple as that.”
