Steve Williams, the former caddie of Tiger Woods, boasts an impressive net worth due to his years spent assisting the legendary golfer. The New Zealander worked alongside Woods from 1999 to 2011, amassing a reported fortune of £15.7million ($20m) during a period of unparalleled success with the 15-time major winner.
Woods, who holds the record for the most PGA Tour victories with 82 titles - nine more than Jack Nicklaus - is also the highest earner in the history of the circuit, having accumulated a staggering £94.2million ($120m) over his 28-year career. Williams, once considered the highest-paid sportsman in his home country, earned a significant portion of his wealth through his work with Woods.
During their partnership, Woods secured 64 Tour victories, won 13 of his 15 majors, received nine Tour Player of the Year awards, and held the World No. 1 spot for 281 weeks between June 2005 and October 2010.
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And Williams' illustrious career didn't end with the American; he also caddied for Adam Scott from 2011 to 2017 and again between 2022 and 2023, as well as working with Jason Day in 2019.
However, his collaboration with Scott marked the beginning of the end of his partnership with Woods. Opening up about the circumstances that led to the end of their 12-year partnership, Williams explained that he had sought Woods' approval to caddie for the Australian at the 2011 US Open after Woods was sidelined due to injury, reports the Mirror.
Initially, Woods consented, but he later reversed his decision, which put Williams in a difficult position. Williams 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. Determined not to disappoint Scott, Williams continued: "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."
