MELBOURNE, Australia — The Presidents Cup will start with a reunion of Tiger Woods and his former caddie.
U.S. captain Fred Couples and International captain Greg Norman, hopeful of putting an end to a three-month saga of Woods and Steve Williams, put them together in the last of six foursomes matches in the opening session Thursday.
“I think it’s great for the tournament,” Norman said. “It needed to be done.
“If we had to diffuse anything and just get this thing over and done with, wouldn’t you rather have it sooner than later?”
Lest anyone forget, Williams will be carrying the bag of Adam Scott, not hitting any golf shots.
On paper it will be Woods and Steve Stricker, undefeated as a tandem two years ago at Harding Park, against K.J. Choi and Scott, who hired Williams after Woods fired his caddie of 12 years.
For drama, it’s more about Woods and Williams.
It began when Scott won the Bridgestone Invitational, and an emotional Williams allowed himself to be interviewed on the 18th green at Firestone and called it “the best win of my life.” This from a caddie who was with Woods for 13 of his majors.
While getting roasted in Shanghai two weeks ago at a caddies party, Williams was asked about the interview while accepting his mock “celebration of the year” award and made a racist comment about Woods.
Williams later apologized, and even Woods tried to close the ordeal by saying they shook hands in Sydney.
