Golf: Williams slams reports of split with Tiger

Steve Williams has slammed speculation that golf world number one Tiger Woods is planning to dump him as his caddy.

Williams has been Woods' caddy since 1999, carrying his bag for 13 of his 14 major victories, but there have been reports the relationship has been strained since Woods admitted to cheating on his wife earlier this year.

Williams told LiveSport this morning that reports of a split between the two was just speculation.

"I'm sure if there was going to be some parting of the ways, I'd be the first to know. There's always a lot of speculation in sports, as you know in general. But from my point of view I don't see any chance of that happening.

"Obviously he's not playing well. His results aren't what we're used to but people speculate.

"Tiger and I are very good friends and we've been through a tough time, there's no question of that. I'm fully supportive of the guy and he's been great through this whole situation with me," he told the radio station's Breakfast of Champions show.

Woods has had mixed results since his return to golf after taking a break from the game earlier in the year for personal reasons.

He returned to play the US Masters in April, finishing in a tie for fourth at Augusta and recorded another top five finish at the US Open in June but since then his form has taken a downward spiral.

Woods was well off the pace at the Bridgestone Invitational earlier this month carding an 18-over and finished tied for 28th at the USPGA Championship on Monday,

Williams however is happy with how Woods is playing and is confident he can bounce back and retain his number one spot.

"Tiger didn't even manage to hit 50 per cent of the fairways for the week (at the USPGA Championship) and to finish under par for the tournament was just a remarkable effort of courage and never giving in."

"He did prove a little bit from the week before. There were some good signs last week and I'm looking forward to next week's tournament.

The question still remains whether Woods will represent the United States at the Ryder Cup which starts on October 1st after he missed out on automatic qualification.

Williams confirmed that Woods will be playing in the FedEx Cup opener later this month after qualifying for the end of season series when he made the cut at Whistling Straits on Monday.

But with Woods ranked 108th in the FedEX standings, the world number one will need to perform each week to ensure he isn't eliminated from the series, effectively ending his year.

"We're actually in an unsual predicament which you would never thought Tiger Woods would be in.

"Any week in the next few weeks if he has a poor week, like he did at the Bridgestone, then his year is finished.

Williams is confident that Woods will return to the form that has seen him win 13 majors in just 11 years.

"He'll get back to his best. It may not be this year but it will come."

- NZHERALD STAFF