For a partnership that was intended to last perhaps a couple of tournaments, Adam Scott and Steve Williams had a lengthy and profitable run. But more than three years after they joined together at the U.S. Open at Congressional, however, their team is splitting up.
Scott's management company confirmed Wednesday morning that Sunday's final round of the Tour Championship concluded the player-caddie relationship.
"Steve has been an integral part of my team in a period where I have fulfilled some of my lifetime golfing goals," Scott said in the release. "(But) our priorities and stages of life are different now and so we decided that this is the best time to end our partnership."
Having talked openly about walking away from his lengthy career as a caddie, Williams -- who will turn 51 Dec. 29 -- had suggested he could work just a few months in the heart of the 2014-15 schedule. But after "discussing this in detail with Adam, it became evident that my plan was not going to fit with Adam's requirements, so we decided to end our partnership," Williams said in that same release.
Coming out of a slump that dogged him in 2009 and for parts of 2010, Scott in the summer of 2011 was in search of a caddie and the timing seemed perfect -- Tiger Woods wasn't going to play in the U.S. Open, so Scott was given the OK to reach out to Williams, who in turn was provided the green light to work for the Aussie.
What happened next remains part of the bitter Woods-Williams divorce. Williams has claimed that Woods re-thought the idea and asked his caddie not to work for Scott. Williams said he wouldn't go back on his word, he went ahead and caddied for Scott at Congressional, and ultimately was let go by Woods.
One could suggest that Williams got the last laugh, because Scott's career went to the next stage under the New Zealander's guidance. They missed the cut at Congressional, but it's been a wonderful ride since. Scott has made the cut in each of his 14 major championships starts since Congressional, including the 2013 Masters when he became the first Australian to win the coveted green jacket. When Scott made his winning putt at the second playoff hole, the par-4 10th, he was quick to give credit to Williams for a correct read.
Scott has finished top 10 in eight of those 14 majors.
Along the way, Scott and Williams have also won a World Golf Championship (the 2011 Bridgestone Invitational), a FedEx Cup playoff (The Barclays in 2013) and this year's Colonial. Scott also enjoyed success Down Under last winter, winning both the Australian PGA and the Australian Masters, as well as a team victory with Jason Day in the World Cup.
"His dedication and professionalism have been without question, and his friendship is highly valued," Scott said.
It remains to be seen who will be on Scott's bag when the Aussie plays next, Oct. 16 to 19 at the Japan Open. His schedule from there will include the HSBC Champions in China (Nov. 6 to 9), then three Australian tournaments -- the Masters (Nov. 20 to 23), Open (Nov. 27 to 30), and PGA (Dec. 11 to 14).
Scott is eligible for the Hyundai Tournament of Champions (Jan. 9 to 12), but indications are he will bypass that and return to the PGA Tour for the Honda Classic in late February.
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