USA: GOLF: Tiger Woods reacts to his caddy's controversial remarks and talks about his recovery from surgery

Record ID: 1530490

  • Title: USA: GOLF: Tiger Woods reacts to his caddy's controversial remarks and talks about his recovery from surgery
  • Date: 20th December 2008
  • Summary: THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA. DECEMBER 17, 2008 (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) TIGER WOODS, SAYING: "Yeah, what ended up happening is I communicated with Phil, and we have discussed it. I talked to Stevie about it, and he feels bad, what happened. It's something that none of us really wanted to have happen, but it's over and done with and we put it to bed." WOODS LISTENING TO QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) TIGER WOODS, SAYING: "When my best is not good enough, I'm not going to be out here competing. You know, I certainly understand that more so now than ever before, because you know, if I had to play this week, my game is not ready for public consumption. I couldn't display it right now. I wouldn't want to. I wouldn't want you guys to see me out there playing that poorly. I'm just not ready yet." WOODS LISTENING TO QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) TIGER WOODS, SAYING: "I don't know. That's the most frustrating thing is the uncertainty. How is the leg going to respond to more hours of practicing, more playing, more holes of play, playing at home? How is it going to recover from day to day to day? All this is unknown. Everyone heals at different rates. I couldn't tell you and my surgeon can't tell you, trainers can't tell you. It is frustrating from that standpoint because I want to look forward to something, but I just look forward to day by day, and I've had to learn how to process that and just kind of focus on what I have to do today, instead of looking down, okay, in a few months I want to be able to do this or I want to play this event. I've had to narrow down and be more short term and goal oriented." WIDE SHOT OF WOODS AT CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) TIGER WOODS, SAYING: "As far as hitting full shots, probably the last couple weeks. So obviously I haven't really progressed too far into the bag. The ball is not going very far, so I kind of know how you guys feel (laughter). You know, that flag out there 100 yards, boy, that's a long way. " WOODS LEAVING PRESS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 5th January 2009 12:06
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA90K7VAWETHM17PVU5Z2WC7CE4
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Tiger Woods has quashed speculation that his long-time caddie Steve Williams might lose his job after making derogatory comments about world number three Phil Mickelson.

    "What ended up happening is I communicated with Phil and we have discussed it," Woods told reporters on the eve of Thursday's opening round at the Chevron World Challenge.

    "I talked to Stevie about it and he feels bad about what happened.
    It's something that none of us really wanted to have happen, but it's over and done with and we put it to bed."
    Asked if Williams would continue working as his caddie when Woods returns to the PGA Tour next year, the world number one replied: "Yes he is."
    Woods had previously expressed disappointment over comments attributed to Williams in a New Zealand newspaper, describing them as "inappropriate".
    New Zealander Williams was quoted by the Taranaki Daily News on Saturday as saying: "I wouldn't call Mickelson a great player ... 'cause I hate the prick'."
    The following day, Williams told the Sunday Star-Times the quote was accurate while adding he was surprised his comments made during a charity event had reached the public.

    "I was simply honest and said they (Mickelson and Woods) don't get along," Williams told the newspaper. "You know what it's like.
    You're at a charity event and you have a bit of fun.

    "I don't particularly like the guy (Mickelson) myself. He pays me no respect at all and hence I don't pay him any respect. It's no secret we don't get along either."
    On Sunday, Mickelson's management team responded to what it said were "grossly inaccurate and irresponsible statements" made by Williams.

    "After seeing Steve Williams' comments, all I could think of was how lucky I am to have a class act like (caddie) Bones (Jim Mackay) on my bag and representing me," Mickelson said.
    A three-times major champion, left-hander Mickelson has long been regarded as the likeliest challenger to the dominant Woods. While the two players share a mutual respect, they have never been particularly close.
    The usually tight-lipped Williams has caddied for Woods since 1999, carrying the American's bag for 13 of his 14 major victories. Mike "Fluff" Cowan, Woods's first caddie, was fired after giving a lengthy interview to Golf Digest magazine.
    Woods has no idea when he will return to competitive golf next year, despite being ahead of schedule in his recovery from reconstructive knee surgery.
    The world number one has been sidelined since winning the U.S. Open in June when he defied stabbing knee pain and a double stress fracture of his left tibia to clinch his 14th major title.
    Ideally he would like to play in at least a warm-up event before the U.S. Masters in April, the first major of the season, but he knows that will depend on the pace of his healing.

    "I've just been training and trying to get back, trying to get healthy enough to compete next year," Woods told a news conference on Wednesday on the eve of the Chevron World Challenge which he hosts.

    "Everything has been right on schedule. I couldn't have asked for anything more. The strength has come back better than ever. I'm stronger than I've ever been in my legs.

    "The range of motion is good. The only difference is I've just got to watch that I don't overdo it so the leg doesn't swell."
    Asked when he expected to return to the PGA Tour, the 32-year-old American replied: "I don't know.

    "I don't know how it's going to respond with repeated practice days and long days of practice trying to get back, and ultimately playing my way into shape. That's obviously going to take a little bit of time."
    The April 9-12 Masters has been uppermost in his mind but he accepts he will have to take things on a day-by-day basis.
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